Candleshoe (1977)

I love this movie so much

Sorry, this movie sucks

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

Directed by Norman Tokar with an hysterical screenplay from David Swift and Rosemary Anne Sisson.Candleshoe is a fun and surprisingly touching tale of childhood adventure and one of the best non animated films to come from Disney.The story is all about young orphan Casey Brown(Jodie Foster)who lives with foster parents in America.One day she is taken to a posh hotel by a private detective and there she meets con man Harry W.Bundage(Leo McKern).He tells her all about a scam he has going on with his cousin Grimsworthy(Vivien Pickles),to find the mysterious treasure hidden in the sprawling English mansion Candleshoe.Casey must pretend to be the long lost granddaughter of the owner Lady St Edmund(Helen Hayes).Once she wins the old ladies trust she can start to follow clues on a piece of paper to the treasure.When Casey gets to the mansion the old lady believes her story and she actually finds herself loved for the first time in her life.The highlight of the film though is David Niven as Lady St Edmunds butler,gardener,chauffeur,cook and best friend Priory.He goes through various disguises to prevent his mistress knowing her money is very nearly gone and all the other staff have left her.He's helped in this by some local orphans adopted by Lady St Edmund loyal and feisty Cluny(Veronica Quilligan),sweet floor slider Bobby(David Samuals),shy Anna(Sarah Tamakuni)and natural leader Peter(Ian Sharrock).Jodie Foster gives a fine early performance as the lonely teenager and David Niven and Helen Hayes are perfect.There is also more than a touch of the Ingrid Bergman film Anastasia here.In which Helen Hayes plays the Dowager Empress Marie the grandmother of the murdered Romanov children who believes the young woman is her youngest granddaughter.Yes it's cheesy and some bits look dated but this is a good film about friendship,family,adventure and fun this is one to watch whether your young or old.

Lately I have been watching some old Jodie Foster movies, and that brought me to this one, a Disney film make at Pinewood Studios in England. Here Jodie Foster is boyish street urchin Casey Brown.The premise, a con man Harry Bundage finds street-wise delinquent who looks like she could be the 14 year old version of a granddaughter that disappeared at age 4 from the British mansion Candleshoe. Her father and mother died, and her old grandmother, Helen Hayes as Lady St. Edmund, would love to find her again.Harry's angle is this, he found something which makes him believe a treasure of old Spanish gold doubloons is hidden somewhere on the Candleshoe property, and he rescues Casey from the cops, and makes a deal with her, he will give her 10% if she finds the treasure.So, much of the movie is Casey doing everything she can to keep her distance from Lady S Edmund, and the several orphans there, while trying to figure out where the treasure is. Then she eventually finds out that the property will be lost if they can't come up with money for taxes, and eventually Casey begins to understand what "family" means.David Niven is good in several roles, as Colonel Dennis, Mr. Gipping the gardener, and Mr. Priory the butler. Of course we know each is him, but he does that to make the old lady think she still has a staff.A nice, clean, funny movie which showcases Jodie Foster's considerable acting talents as a 14 year old.SPOILERS. In a madcap ending, while the crooks are trying to find the treasure in the old mansion, and the good guys fight them off, the gold is accidentally found inside a fake treasure chest upon which a statue rests his foot. The cops show up just in time to make sure that the treasure gets to the rightful owner. Casey tries to leave town quietly, but the old lady finds her and makes her realize that she really belongs at Candleshoe, even though she probably isn't really the granddaughter. But she might be!

Possibly one of the best family films ever made by Disney. Jodie Foster is brilliant as the wayward teen who's going nowhere. Even at that early age you can see why she has gone on to become one of Hollywoods most successful actresses - she's definitely underrated.Candleshoe is packed full of memorable one liners that just stick with you for months, even years, following watching this film.I grew up watching it and have never stopped! Also, 'Grandmother's' accent is perfect, considering the actress herself is American.Watch this film, you won't be disappointed!Unfortunately I had to surf the Net and order it from America to get hold of my copy, but if you DO find it to buy, don't hesitate.

The long lost heir(heiress) gambit has been used in theater and film it seems like forever. In this film conman Leo McKern has heard of and searched out a 15 year old girl who could be the heiress to a minor title of nobility in Britain. He flies her over from Los Angeles to rural Britain and has her meet her purported "grandmother" Helen Hayes.Of course this is old stuff for Hayes. Ingrid Bergman was also to be her granddaughter in Anastasia. Here it's Jodie Foster. I don't think even Jodie Foster now would compare herself to Ingrid Bergman, but Candleshoe is a great deal lighter than Anastasia. Still Helen Hayes is a less formidable grandmother than the Dowager Empress of Anastasia, but as it turns out not quite as dotty as everyone believes she is.So now we've got elements of Kidnapped, Anastasia and now to add to that mix, a sprinkle of Kind Hearts and Coronets. David Niven as her devoted butler Priory also gets to play a chauffeur, a gardener, and a neighbor. And come to think of it, the neighbor character is a bit of a spoof on what Niven won his Oscar for in Separate Tables. It's a joy to watch David Niven do these nice little turns as other characters.So Disney taking the best of at least four films I count now and other viewers might spot some more. Candleshoe is a nice little stew of an entertaining film. And incidentally the title is the name of Helen Hayes's estate.