The New Adventures of Heidi

The New Adventures of Heidi (alternate title Heidi's Christmas) is a 1978 American made-for-television musical comedy-drama film updating the Heidi character to the present time and shifting the action from Switzerland to New York City. 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.

The New Adventures of Heidi
GenreMusical
Comedy
Drama
Based onHeidi characters created by Johanna Spyri
Written byJohn McGreevey
Directed byRalph Senensky
StarringBurl Ives
Katy Kurtzman
John Gavin
Marlyn Mason
Music byBuz Kohan
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producerPierre Cossette
ProducerCharles B. Fitzsimons
Production locationsWestin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites - 404 S. Figueroa Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California
Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary - 3431 Waverly Drive, Los Angeles, California
Ahmanson Mansion - 401 South Hudson Place, Hancock Park, Los Angeles, California
Culver Studios - 9336 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California
Snowmass, Colorado
Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California
CinematographyJohn Nickolaus
EditorGene Fowler Jr.
Running time98 minutes
Production companyPierre Cossette Enterprises
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseDecember 13, 1978 (1978-12-13)

Plot

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When Heidi's grandfather finds he is losing his sight he does not 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.

Cast

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Production

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With the low budget of the 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 Los Angeles, California with imitation snow.[1]

Novelization

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A paperback novelization of the film was written by John Pearson and published by Dell Publishing in December 1978 as a promotional tie-in.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ "Part I". 30 June 2012.
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