I am not very good at goodbyes

CANDLESHOE (1977)

Reviewed by Jerry Saravia

Anytime I revisit live-action Disney flicks from the 1970's, I marvel at the warmth and good feelings that emanate from them. "Candleshoe" is easily one of the best of its ilk, an entertaining comedy-mystery for kids that can also tickle the kid in us adults too. It is that good and highly recommended.

The tomboyish Jodie Foster (no stranger to these types of movies) is Casey Brown, a plucky L.A.  orphan and consistent shoplifter who does nothing but create mischief, which includes tipping over barrels of grease oil so she can watch people slip and slide everywhere. The plot kicks in when an English con man, Harry Bundage (Leo McKern), pays off Casey's uncaring foster parents so he can use her to deceive the countess known as Lady St. Edmund (Helen Hayes), the owner of Candleshoe manor. Apparently, somewhere in the manor is a pirate's hidden fortune. If Harry and Casey can convince Edmund that Casey is her long-lost granddaughter, then the acquiring of this fortune will be a cinch as long as Casey can figure out where it is hidden. The manor itself is barely hanging on due to financial constraints, kept from the countess by Mr. Priory (David Niven, in one of his liveliest roles), the butler who affects one disguise after another to give the appearance of a full staff. Most of the legwork at the manor is done by Priory and the few orphans Edmund has taken in from a local shelter.

The low-key exuberance of "Candleshoe" is what makes it sing. The performances never scream for attention, especially Jodie Foster whom I still wish had the chance to play Nancy Drew back then. Foster was already showing that she could stand her ground with the likes of Robert De Niro in "Taxi Driver" and, here, she is simply smashing when dealing with pros like Hayes (their final scene together is sublime). Speaking of smashing...there is David Niven who makes me smile just with his very presence and he can be hysterically funny when he pretends to be a white mustachioed Colonel who has trouble mounting a horse. Helen Hayes does what she does best, appear dignified and divine with enough nuance in her diction to remind us what a class act she is. McKern ("Help!") is his blustery best in the only performance that can vaguely be called chaotic.

The finale at the manor may leave a lot to be desired yet "Candleshoe" is pure, charming, unadulterated fun. The cast, especially the kids that play the orphans, are upbeat and likable. This is the kind of harmless Disney flick that is impossible to dislike and will keep kids, and adults, glued to the screen.