Heart of a Child

Heart of a Child is a 1958 British drama film adapted from the 1940 novel of the same title by Phyllis Bottome, directed by Clive Donner.[1] It stars Jean Anderson and Donald Pleasence.[2]

Heart of a Child
British theatrical poster
Directed byClive Donner
Written byLeigh Vance
Based onHeart of a Child by Phyllis Bottome
Produced byAlfred Shaughnessy
StarringJean Anderson
Donald Pleasence
CinematographyPeter Hennessy
Edited byJohn Trumper
Music byBruce Montgomery
Production
company
Beaconsfield Productions
Distributed byJ. Arthur Rank Film Distributors (UK)
Release date
April 1958
Running time
73 min.
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Plot

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

Production

It was the second feature film directed by Clive Donner, who had turned down two films after his debut The Secret Place. He says 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.[3]

Reception

Donner said "I don't think it did as great business as it could have done because sentimentality of that sort is something I wasn't right for and I think I was fighting it. If I'd really gone for broke I think I would've done big, big business."[3]

References
  1. "Heart of a Child (1958)". BFI. Archived from the original on 29 June 2016.
  2. Tana Hobart. "Heart of a Child (1958) - Clive Donner - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related - AllMovie". AllMovie.
  3. Fowler, Roy (8 March 2000). "Interview with Clive Donner - Side Ten". British Entertainment History Project. Retrieved 17 March 2023.


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