The New Adventures of Heidi
| The New Adventures of Heidi | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Ralph Senensky |
| Produced by | Charles B. Fitzsimons executive producer Pierre Cossette |
| Written by | John McGreevey |
| Based on | Heidi by Johanna Spyri |
| Starring | Katy Kurtzman Burl Ives John Gavin |
| Music by | Buz Kohan (songs) Allyn Ferguson (score) |
| Cinematography | John M. Nickolaus Jr. |
| Edited by | Gene Fowler Jr. |
|
Release dates
|
1978 |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The New Adventures of Heidi is a 1978 made for television musical using the Heidi character; updating the character to the present time and shifting the action for Switzerland to New York City. A novelisation was written by John Pearson. The film was released theatrically in Spain and Australia. Charles B. Fitzsimons had the idea to turn the film into a musical with comedy writer Buz Kohan writing ten songs for the film, sung by the stars Katy Kurtzman, Burl Ives, John Gavin and Marlyn Mason who played Heidi on stage in 1954 at the Player’s Ring Theatre in Hollywood.
Contents
Plot
When Heidi's grandfather finds he is losing his sight he doesn't wish to tell Heidi, but he makes her live with her relatives, Cousins Tobias and Martha to attend school in a large city. There Heidi meets the troubled Elizabeth Wyler who is fascinated by Heidi and her rural life. Through his secretary Mady, Heidi joins Elizabeth and her busy widowed father Dan Wyler for a Christmas in New York City.
Production
With the low budget of the made for television film precluding having the film shot in Switzerland or New York City, the crew shot Swiss sequences in Snowmass, Colorado with imitation red poppies and the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles, California with imitation snow.[1]
Cast
- Katy Kurtzman ... Heidi
- Burl Ives ... Grandfather
- John Gavin ... Dan Wyler
- Marlyn Mason ... Mady
- Sherrie Wills ... Elizabeth Wyler
- Sean Marshall ... Peter
- Alex Henteloff ... Chef Andre
- Charles Aidman ... The Hermit
- Walter Brooke ... Cousin Tobias
- Amzie Strickland ... Cousin Martha
- Molly Dodd ... Mother Gertrude
- Adrienne Marden ... Sister Agnes
- Arlen Stuart ... Telephone Operator
- Barry Cahill ... Hotel Manager Krebbs
- Bartlett Robinson ... Oscar the Butler
