This film involves a young orphan named "Heidi" (Shirley Temple) who is living with her "Aunt Dete" (Mady Christians) in Maienfeld, Switzerland. Not really caring that much for her, when Dete is offered a new job she decides to give Heidi to her grandfather "Adolph Kramer" (Jen Hersholt) who has a volatile temperament and lives alone up in the Alps. At first, her grandfather doesn't want to be bothered but he soon begins to love Heidi more than anything in the world because of her cheerful attitude and honest nature. Unfortunately, a couple of years late, while he is out doing chores, Dete comes along and takes her away in order to essentially sell Heidi to a wealthy family who needs a young playmate for their crippled young daughter "Klara Sesemann" (Marcia Mae Jones). Howling in pain and rage, Adolph immediately sets out to find Heidi and bring her back at all costs. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was a splendid, little movie which probably ranks among the best of the Shirley Temple films ever produced. It does, however, deviate somewhat from the original story but even so it was quite enjoyable and for that reason I have rated it accordingly. Above average.
