HEIDI: TV Musical, Jeannie Carson, Natalie Wood (DVD)

Order now! Ships September 30, 2014

Released for the first time on DVD, Max Liebman’s rarely seen 1955 musical version of Heidi offers an exciting opportunity to see Natalie Wood’s early television work, and is an important addition to the catalogue of Heidi adaptations. Jeannie Carson, the charming British-born actress of stage and screen, stars in the title role, and 17-year-old Natalie Wood, on the verge of film stardom in Rebel Without a Cause (released just weeks after this live telecast), is her friend Klara. The cast also includes beloved TV personalities Wally Cox and Robert Clary, the legendary character actress Elsa Lanchester, and the Academy Award-winning Jo Van Fleet (1955’s Best Supporting Actress for East of Eden). Heidi’s Grandfather is played by Richard Eastham, whose stage credits included South Pacific (original Broadway cast and standby for Ezio Pinza) and Call Me Madam with Ethel Merman. Black & white, 80 minutes, 4:3, NTSC (Playable all regions)

HEIDI
Music by Clay Warnick, based on themes of Robert Schumann
Lyrics by Carolyn Leigh
Script by William Friedberg and Neil Simon, based on the book by Johanna Spyri
Produced and Directed by Max Liebman
Live telecast of October 1, 1955

Jeannie Carson (Heidi) • Natalie Wood (Klara) • Wally Cox (Peter) Elsa Lanchester (Fräulein Rottenmeier) • Richard Eastham (Grandfather) Jo Van Fleet (Aunt Dete) • Robert Clary (Eric) • Bil & Cora Baird and their Marionettes Trio Schmeed (Yodelers) • Bill Gibberson (Herr Sesseman) Lee Goodman (Sebastian) • Phil Faversham (Pastor) • Eleanor Williams (Tonette) Claire Chatwin (Second Maid) • with Charles Sanford and his Orchestra