Candleshoe
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Movie Reviews of Candleshoe
Movie Review: Memory Lane
Summary: 5 Stars
I love this movie, it is classic Jodi Foster and disney. It brings me back to watching it as a kid.Movie Review: David Niven and Helen Hayes Steal the Show
Summary: 4 Stars
Jodie Foster is Casey Brown and is billed as the star of this movie. However, the stellar performances by David Niven as four different characters and Helen Hayes as Lady St. Edmund are what make this movie enjoyable.
Casey Brown is a juvenile delinquent who lives in America, where Harry Bundage (Leo McKern) discovers her. It seems that Casey resembles the granddaughter of Lady St. Edmund, which would thus give her access to the St. Edmund estate, Candleshoe. We learn that Lady St. Edmund, her staff of one (David Niven), and a host of orphans are living in near poverty themselves, barely making ends meet. However, there may be a long lost treasure somewhere in Candleshoe if it can be discovered.
At first, Casey is more than happy to seek clues to the treasure. However, Bundage consistently mistreats her at the same time that Lady St. Edmund treats her well, and Casey responds to that treatment by helping Lady St. Edmund, Mr. Priory (Niven) and the other children locate the treasure on the eve of everyone being forced to leave the house because they are unable to pay the taxes.
This movie contains a number of very good scenes. There is a chase scene between a car and a train as Lady St. Edmund, Mr. Priory and the children track down a clue. In another scene Mr. Priory, in the role of Colonel Dennis, is challenged to ride a horse when he can barely ride. Some of the minor scenes are also interesting, including a couple of scenes in the library, and a scene in a graveyard.
This movie is a perfect family movie because it combines a number of humorous moments with family friendly tension. There are a couple of fight scenes, but they are relatively mild. I think with adult presence children of any age should be able to watch this movie. The final scene in the movie is an extended fight that ultimately leads to a valuable discovery.
Unfortunately, Disney has chosen again to release this movie in full screen format only. We have this movie because we enjoy watching it, and will watch it again, but Disney should release this movie once more in wide screen format. Until then, we will have to be satisfied with the full screen format. I just hope this is not a Disney marketing ploy.
Movie Review: Beginnings and Endings
Summary: 4 Stars
Candleshoe is a family estate in England. There is a rumor that there is a fortune hidden there. Most think it is just a myth but Harry has found a clue to the fortune. But he needs someone on the inside to figure it out.
As Lady St. Edmund's granddaughter and only living relative disappeared at birth, Harry finds a waif with a past to pass off as the granddaughter. He and his girlfriend, Grimsworthy, instructs her on the family history and then takes her to grandmum.
The estate has fallen on hard times and become a foster home for a group of orphans. They take care of the tours and hold events to raise money to cover the operating costs. When all else fails, they sell an antique. The estate is run a by the family butler, Priory, who poses as the family chauffer, the family gardener and Colonel Dennis.
When here is nothing left to sell, they cannot pay the taxes and the county is about to foreclose. Of course, Casey finds the treasure and saves the day.
In the early 70's studios would not release major films during the summer, so Disney made low budget films specifically aimed at school kids on vacation. This was one of the last of these "summer" films.
Jodie Foster would go on to make great films but she got her feet wet at Disney making four films. This and Freaky Friday showed her potential.
Helen Hayes was a major star in 20's and 30's and had a resurgence after winning her second Oscar in 1970 for Airport. But she wanted to make family oriented films and found a haven at Disney and a new generation found her irresistible. This is probably her best Disney performance.
David Niven was a star in virtually every decade from his debut in the 30's until his death in 1981. The summer before Candleshoe, he played a different type of butler in Disney's No Deposit, No Return. Therefore, he was the first choice to play Priory and gives his usually great performance.
This is a great "for all family" film. It's no Gone with the Wind but it's not meant to be. This is a chance to see an up and coming star plus two classic stars at the end of their long careers.
DVD EXTRAS: None
Movie Review: A Fun 70's Movie for Kids
Summary: 4 Stars
Street wise teen Casey (Jodie Foster) is living by her wits in America. She's an orphan who has found a place to crash. But that changes when con-man Bundage (Leo McKern) shows up. He thinks that Casey is a dead ringer for an English heiress and whisks her off to England.
Of course, there's a bigger reason for Bundage's plan. Seems there's a hidden fortune in gold in the mansion, and he wants Casey to follow the clues and find it for him.
Once Casey gets to Candleshoe, she grows to love Lady St. Edmund (Helen Hayes), her supposed grandmother. Even butler Priory (David Niven) and the orphans who live there grow on her. But they are having money problems of their own. Can Casey find the gold? What will she do with it if she can?
I remembered liking this movie as a kid, but I hadn't seen it in a long time. Turns out, it's still not a bad little film. True, it's definitely oriented toward kids with several slapstick scenes. Frankly, I didn't like Casey at the beginning, but she grew on me as the movie progressed. And there are several moments that scream out the 70's, but it really holds up pretty well today.
The story is fairly predictable, in fact, I wanted to shout one thing to the characters early on. But once it gets going, you come to care for the characters, so watching it isn't a chore.
While their parents might not care for the story, kids will enjoy it. Get it for them. And you might even find yourself enjoying the nostalgia as well.
Movie Review: One of My All-Time Disney Favorites...
Summary: 4 Stars
... and trust me, I am not a Disney groupie.From a 1970's kids'-eye view, this movie has it all:
* Sassy and savvy lead character Casey Brown (Jodie Foster) is the kind of brash, street-smart survivor every kid imagines he would be if left to his own devices.
* The majority of the action takes place on a huge English estate, in a decrepit castle. Secrets abound!
* There is the thrilling hope of finding a pirate treasure.
* Clues to the treasure are revealed and solved one by one, allowing the viewer to actually feel a part of the search.
* David Niven is delightfully funny, playing four different characters, and leaving the viewer wondering just who he will become next.
* Although tame by today's standards, there is tension, and suspense... Can Priory (Niven) change clothes fast enough to continue his charade? Will the con-men be successful? Can Candleshoe survive its financial woes? Is Casey really Lady St. Edmund's (Helen Hayes) long-lost granddaughter? Will there be betrayal?
* The finale features a hilariously satisfying kids-triumph-against-bad-guy-adults melee.
It may not be the '70s anymore, and I am certainly no longer a kid, but I still love this movie. Given the chance, I think kids of today will love it as well.