Heart of a Child
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| Heart of a Child | |
|---|---|
![](#/media/File:"Heart_of_a_Child"_(1958).jpg) British theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | Clive Donner |
| Written by | Leigh Vance |
| Based on | Heart of a Child by Phyllis Bottome |
| Produced by | Alfred Shaughnessy |
| Starring | Jean Anderson Donald Pleasence |
| Cinematography | Peter Hennessy |
| Edited by | John Trumper |
| Music by | Bruce Montgomery |
Production company | Beaconsfield Productions |
| Distributed by | J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors (UK) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 73 min. |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Heart of a Child is a 1958 British second feature ('B')[1] drama film directed by Clive Donner and starring Jean Anderson and Donald Pleasence.[2][3] It was adapted by Leigh Vance from the 1940 novel of the same title by Phyllis Bottome.[4]
During wartime rationing, Karl, a young Austrian boy, is beaten by his father, Spiel, who threatens to sell the boy's St. Bernard dog to the butcher to pay for food for the family. However, much to the father's fury, Karl sells the dog himself to a kindly veterinarian. The dog, with the help of Maria, a spinster, then rescues Karl after he is trapped in a snowstorm. Maria ends up marrying the vet, and Karl's father ends up letting Karl keep the dog.
Cast
- Jean Anderson as Maria
- Donald Pleasence as Spiel
- Richard Williams as Karl
- Carla Challoner as Elsa
- Maureen Pryor as Frau Spiel
- Norman MacOwan as Heiss
- John Glyn-Jones as Priest
- Willoughby Goddard as Stott
- Andrew Keir as Constable
- John Boxer as Breuer
Production
It was the second feature film directed by Clive Donner, who had turned down two films after his debut The Secret Place.[5]
Filming started September 1957 and took place in Austria and at Beaconsfield Studios. Alfred Shaugnessy who produced said it was made by the "Box organisation".[6] He called it "a very sentimental story in what I would call ‘Lassie’ territory" and claimed he took over directing for ten days when Donner came down with the flu, although says Donner reshot most of this.[7]
According to Donner they reshot the ending twice at the request of Earl St John who was dissatisfied with it; then Sydney Box wrote another ending and that was used. Donner said the film "was not a happy experience" even though there was location work in Austria.[5]