Heidi's Song

Heidi's Song is a 1982 animated musical film adapted by Hanna-Barbera from Johanna Spyri's famous book and directed by Robert Taylor. It was released to theaters November 19, 1982 by Paramount Pictures.

Overview[]

Johanna Spyri's best-loved children’s classic, Heidi, is affectionately retold in this colorful, full-length animated musical motion picture. The famed story has been supplemented with three new, unforgettable sequences: a musical revue, "The Nightmare Ballet", in which Heidi meets the mountain creatures of the Wunderhorn; a dream fantasy in which Klara, Heidi's wheelchair-confined friend, meets her Prince Charming at a fantastic ball, and "Ode to a Rat", in which a band of evil but clownish rats, led by King Rat, are roused into attacking Heidi in a dark cellar.

Sixteen original songs were written by lyricist Sammy Cahn and composer Burton Lane.

Summary[]

An orphaned girl named Heidi is sent to live with her paternal grandfather by her maternal Aunt Dete, who has been looking after Heidi since she was a baby. Heidi's grandfather initially dislikes having Heidi around because she interferes in his routine. But when her grandfather hurts his leg, Heidi helps nurse him back to health, and during this time the two bond together. Heidi meets the local goatherd, a boy named Peter, and often goes with him and the village's goats on their daily grazing trips higher up the Swiss mountain.

On day, however, Heidi's Aunt Dete arrives to take Heidi away again, saying that a wealthy family in Frankfurt, Germany, wants Heidi to come live with them. Heidi's grandfather reluctantly lets her go.

Heidi arrives at the huge house in Frankfurt, where she learns she's supposed to become the companion of a wealthy but invalid girl named Klara. Klara's Governess and guardian Fräulein Rottenmeier disapproves of Heidi's simple country ways, but Klara likes Heidi and insists that she stays. Heidi brings joy into Klara's life, especially when she gives Klara a basket of kittens as a present. When Rottenmeier discovers the kittens, Heidi is locked in the rat-infested basement.

Peter and the country animals come to Heidi's rescue. Together with Klara, the three travel to the Wunderhorn without telling Rottenmeier. At this time, Klara's father returns to Frankfurt after being away on business, and is angered that his daughter has disappeared. He immediately leaves for the Wunderhorn, and this time Rottenmeier and the butler Sebastian take the opportunity to flee.

The three children travel up the mountain, but Klara stops halfway so that Heidi can run on ahead without pushing her wheelchair. Heidi runs ahead and is joyfully reunited with her grandfather. Back halfway down the mountain, Klara's kitten Snowball is attacked by a hawk. Klara crawls out of her wheelchair and uses a stick to fight off the hawk. Klara then discovers that she is able to stand. Klara's father arrives and together they celebrate Klara's mobility and Heidi's return.

Trivia[]

Heidi was barefoot in most of the movie, despite wearing her dress. The day after this movie was first released, Darla Hood was briefly seen barefoot despite wearing her dress in the first broadcast of the "Cap'n Spanky's Showboat" episode in The Little Rascals animated series.
- In the beginning, Heidi kicks or throws off her boots. Later, she wears tights and some kind of shoes in the scene where she is locked in a basement full of rats.
Peter goes barefoot throughout the whole movie.

Availability[]

Heidi's Song was released on VHS by Hanna-Barbera Storybook Classics in the mid-1980s, and on DVD by Warner Home Video 31 July 2012.

Voice Cast[]

Michael Bell as Willie
Peter Cullen as Gruffle
Sammy Davis Jr. as Head Rat
Roger DeWitt as Peter
Richard Erdman as Herr Sassman
Fritz Feld as Sebastian
Pamelyn Ferdin as Klara
Joan Gerber as Fräulein Rottenmeier
Margery Gray as Heidi
Lorne Greene as Heidi's grandfather
Virginia Gregg as Aunt Dete
Janet Waldo as Tinette
Frank Welker as Schnoodle and Hootle
Michael Winslow as Mountain
Mel Blanc as Snowball and Kittens

Chorus[]

Sue Allen
Betty Jane Baker
John Richard Bolks
Evangeline Carmichael
William R. Cole
Paul DeKorte
Sandie Hall
Walter S. Harrah
Ronald Harris
Darlene Lawrence
Douglas Lawrence
Shara Lee Lucas
Ida Sue McCue
Gene J. Merlino
Loulie Jean Norman
Marilyn Powell
Paul Sandberg
Robert Tebow

Credits[]

Paramount Pictures Presents
A Hanna-Barbera Production
"Heidi's Song"
Songs by: Sammy Cahn and Burton Lane
Original Score and Conducted by: Hoyt S. Curtin
Written by: Joseph Barbera, Jameson Brewer, Robert Taylor
Based on the Novel "Heidi" by: Johanna Spyri
Produced by: Joseph Barbera and William Hanna
Directed by: Robert Taylor
Associate Producer: Iwao Takamoto
Production Supervisor: Jayne Barbera
Original Recording: Richard Olson
Special Scheduling: Art Scott
Supervising Film Editors: Larry C. Cowan, Pat Foley
Film Editor: Gregory V. Watson, Jr.
Supervising Animators: Hal Ambro, Charlie Downs
Character Animators: Bob Bachman, Spencer Peel, Ed Barge, Manny Perez, Jesse Cosio, Mitch Rochon, John Freeman, George Scribner, Ernesto Lopez, Irv Spence, Duncan Marjoribanks, Robert Taylor, Mauro Maressa, John Walker, Sean Newton, Ken Walker, Margaret Nichols
Additional Animators: Ed Aardal, Roger Chiasson, Gail Finkeldei, Al Gaivoto, Terence Harrison, Harry Holt, John Kimball, Marlene Robinson May, Glenn C. Schmitz, Marty Taras, Don Williams, Xenia
Art Director: Paul Julian
Background Supervisor: Al Gmuer
Scene Planner: Evelyn Sherwood
Character Design: Iwao Takamoto
Key Layout: Moe Gollub, Tony Sgroi, Marty Strudler, Dick Ung
Character Color: Billie Kerns
Layout Artists: Sandra Berez, Homer Jonas, Tom Bird, Ron Maidenberg, Marija M. Dail, Lew Ott, Bob Dranko, R.A. Smith, Jack Huber, Pat Wong
Background Artists: Al Gmuer, Lorraine Andrina, Fernando Arce, Dario Campanille, Gil DiCicco, Dennis Durrell, Flamarion Ferreira, Martin Forte, James Hegedus, Eric Heschong, Jim Hickey, Mike Humphries, Paro Hozumi, Phil Lewis, Bob Gentle, Michelle Moen, Bill Proctor, Andy Phillipson, Phil Phillipson, Jeff Richards, Jeff Riche, Dennis Venizelos, Ron Roesch
Animation Checkers: Virginia Lynn Singer, Ann Tucker, Barbara Wiles, Cheryl White
Ink and Paint Supervisor: Alison Victory
Special Effects: Auril Pebley, Colene Riffo
Xerox Supervisor: Star Wirth
Assistant Animation Supervisor: Marilyn Taylor
Assistant Animators: Jayme Adelson, Eunseng Chui, Sue Adnopoz, Chris Chu, Philo Barnhart, Barry Cook, Bronwen Barry, Paulette Downs, Edy Benjamin, Betty Doyle, Dorris Bergstrom, Teresa Eidenbock, Jim Bird, Mike Fallows, Ginny Bogart, David Feiss, Kathy Castillo, Arthur Filloy, Elizabeth Chislett, Ayalen Garcia, Mabel Gesner, Fernando Gonzalez, Judy Levitow, Peter Gullerud, Ellen Lichtwardt, Karenia Haber, Terri Loewy, Ann Hamilton, Rick Maki, Julie Harvey, Bonnie Martsegis, Renee Holt, Rae McSpadden, Charlotte Huffine, Bert Medall, John Kafka, Bill Mims, Merry Kanawyer, Tran Minh, Emilie Kong, Jack Mongovan, Martin Korth, Steve Muller, Barbara Kreuger, Sheri Murray, Rob LaDuca, Michael Oliva, Mike Lessa, David Pacheco, Gilda Palinginis, Peggy Tonkonogy, Pat Parr, Alex Topete, Lester Pegues, Mac Torres, Kevin Petrilak, Bob Treat, Dave Prince, Hank Tucker, Nelson Recinos, Karen Villareal, Art Roman, Stan Wallace, Michael Rowland, Karen Warren, Leticia Ruiz, Lureline Weatherly, Raul Salaiz, Salene Weatherwax, Karen Schultz, Ed Wexler, Martin Schwartz, Viki C. Wintz, Tom Tataranowicz, Kevin Wurzer
Music Editor: Joe Sandusky
Effects Editors: Sam Horta, Terry Moore, Sue Brown, Kerry Williams
Musical Supervision: Paul DeKorte
Music Orchestrations: Jack Stern, Tom Worrall
Recorded at: Group IV Studios
Music Mixer: Paul Aronoff
Dolby Stereo Consultant: Don Digirolamo
Re-Recording: Todd-A.O.
Re-Recording Mixers: James Cook, Richard Olson, Don MacDougall, Christopher Jenkins
Voice Recording Engineer (Swedish Version): Tomas Krantz
Negative Consultant: William E. DeBoer
Post Production Manager: Joed Eaton
Chorus: Sue Allen, Darlene Lawrence, Betty Jane Baker, Douglas Lawrence, John Richard Bolks, Shara Lee Lucas, Evangeline Carmichael, Ida Sue McCue, William R. Cole, Gene J. Merlino, Paul DeKorte, Loulie Jean Norman, Sandie Hall, Marilyn Powell, Walter S. Harrah, Paul Sandberg, Ronald Harris, Robert Tebow
Choreography: Alex Romero
Camera Supervisor: Jerry Mills
Camera Operators: Allen Childs, Candace Edwards, Curt Hall, Raymond Lee, Ralph Migliori, Joe Ponticelle, Neil Viker, Roy Wade, Brandy Whittington, Jerry Whittington
Title Design: Iraj Paran, Tom Wogatzke
Titles: Westhiemer Company
The events, characters and firms depicted in the photoplay are fictitious. Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events or firms, is purely coincidental.
Ownership of this motion picture is protected by copyright and other applicable laws and any unauthorized duplication, distribution or exhibition of this motion picture could result in criminal prosecution as well as civil liability.
This picture has made the jurdisction of I.A.T.S.E., affiliated with AFL-CLO
Approved No. 26419 Motion Picture Association of America
Dolby Stereo® in Selected Theatres