Candleshoe (1977)
Halfway through watching Candleshoe, my mom turned to me and exclaimed, “Best David Niven movie ever!” I’m sure she was forgetting about The Impossible Years, Paper Tiger, and our Christmas tradition The Bishop’s Wife, but I had to agree that Candleshoe was an absolute tour-de-force for the debonair actor.
Little Jodie Foster, in her masculine child phase, is a no-good scamp. She’s poor and has no family, but she soon gets involved in a get-rich-quick scheme with Leo McKern. Those of you who have seen the cartoon Anastasia will marvel at the similarities mirrored in the beginning section of Candleshoe: An old woman is extremely wealthy and is looking for her long-lost granddaughter who was taken at a young age and never seen again. She’s offering a reward, and Leo, a known scoundrel, trains Jodie Foster to pretend she’s the teenager in line to inherit! With the help of his girlfriend, he teaches Jodie what foods to like and dislike, details about her fake family, and how to behave like the upper class. Then, in the midst of the inevitable test, Jodie remembers a detail that wasn’t taught to her—about a secret passageway! Somebody ripped someone’s idea off. . .
Still, if you liked Anastasia, you’ll probably really love Candleshoe. Helen Hayes plays the grandmother, and David Niven is her butler, and they add an enormous amount of class to the movie. It’s very cute that Helen Hayes plays the grandmother, since she played the grandmother in 1956’s Anastasia! I’ve already described in detail the beginning scenes, so I’ll stop giving away the plot. In case you were wondering why I’ve pronounced David Niven’s role as a tour-de-force part when he’s only the butler, I will reiterate my praise. I won’t tell you why, but I will tell you he’s given an enormous amount of variety in the film, and he handles it perfectly. If you’re a fan of his and are considering blowing Candleshoe off as a silly Disney movie, think again. Go out and rent it with a pal, so you too can have someone to turn to and shout, “Best David Niven movie ever!”
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "john S" for posting!
More David Niven movies here!
Little Jodie Foster, in her masculine child phase, is a no-good scamp. She’s poor and has no family, but she soon gets involved in a get-rich-quick scheme with Leo McKern. Those of you who have seen the cartoon Anastasia will marvel at the similarities mirrored in the beginning section of Candleshoe: An old woman is extremely wealthy and is looking for her long-lost granddaughter who was taken at a young age and never seen again. She’s offering a reward, and Leo, a known scoundrel, trains Jodie Foster to pretend she’s the teenager in line to inherit! With the help of his girlfriend, he teaches Jodie what foods to like and dislike, details about her fake family, and how to behave like the upper class. Then, in the midst of the inevitable test, Jodie remembers a detail that wasn’t taught to her—about a secret passageway! Somebody ripped someone’s idea off. . .
Still, if you liked Anastasia, you’ll probably really love Candleshoe. Helen Hayes plays the grandmother, and David Niven is her butler, and they add an enormous amount of class to the movie. It’s very cute that Helen Hayes plays the grandmother, since she played the grandmother in 1956’s Anastasia! I’ve already described in detail the beginning scenes, so I’ll stop giving away the plot. In case you were wondering why I’ve pronounced David Niven’s role as a tour-de-force part when he’s only the butler, I will reiterate my praise. I won’t tell you why, but I will tell you he’s given an enormous amount of variety in the film, and he handles it perfectly. If you’re a fan of his and are considering blowing Candleshoe off as a silly Disney movie, think again. Go out and rent it with a pal, so you too can have someone to turn to and shout, “Best David Niven movie ever!”
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "john S" for posting!
More David Niven movies here!