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Candleshoe (G, 1977)

common sense media says

Old-school Disney treasure hunt is fun but dated.

parents & educators say
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that the main character is a sassy foster kid who vandalizes, shoplifts, and runs wild. She even participates in a con, lying to and manipulating the kind Lady St. Edmund. But ultimately, she turns around, and kids will get the happy ending they are hoping for.

Positive messages: When Casey is bad, she's awful, but when she's good, it makes an impression. Casey has had a tough life, which causes her to act out and to mistrust people. But once she finds her true home, she puts her hustler's talents to good use.
Positive role models: The true role models in this movie are Lady St. Edmund and Priory, who take in abandoned kids and who create a rag-tag family. Lady St. Edmund knows how to relate to Casey in a very real way, which helps heal Casey's wounds. And though he does it through trickery, Priory keeps the estate running when times get tough.
Violence & scariness: There's a girl fight with punching and toe stomping and slapping. The "bad guys" try to catch the kids and all sorts of ruckus -- including a Pink Panther-style sword fight -- follows.
Language: Though she's a tough girl, Casey doesn't push the curse word envelope. But British curse words like "bloody" are uttered.
Consumerism: Casey sniffs out the con that Mr. Bundage is running and demands 10% of the take, plus a Ferrari. She looks at Ferrari brochures in her spare time.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: The foster dad drinks a beer, and adults drink wine with dinner, but no one is inebriated. Mr. Bundage smokes a cigar.
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More on Candleshoe

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about why Casey refuses to touch or hold Lady St. Edmund's hand. What is she afraid of? What does trust mean in your family? When is it okay to trust people you hardly know? When should you be cautious?
  • Jodie Foster was a child star and a celebrity at a young age. How does celebrity change a kid? Conversely, how are kids affected by celebrities? Should celebrities be role models?
  • Casey is a kid who acts out in unproductive ways. Why does she do that? Have you ever been tempted to be destructive? What makes you want to break or vandalize things? How did you feel after you did something destructive? What could have been done differently?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Casey Brown (Jodie Foster) comes from skid row, a place where her foster parents care more about an envelope of money than about her welfare. When she is traded off to a couple of thugs, her life changes for good. Soon she meets a slippery con man named Harry Bundage (Leo McKern) who cuts a deal with her that goes like this: she poses as the long-lost granddaughter of a countess (played by Helen Hayes), all the while looking for a treasure that the countess's forefather buried on the estate called Candleshoe. Casey agrees -- for a price -- and is swept off to England to take her role in the deal. While at Candleshoe, she is greeted by the versatile butler/gardener/driver, Priory (David Niven) who is doing what he can to keep the estate afloat. But Casey finds she is not alone -- Lady St. Edmund has taken in a handful of local orphans. And after finding clues to the treasure, Casey begins to see the value of being part of a real family.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

The acting alone makes this movie worth a look. Jodie Foster shows her prowess as a teenage girl fresh from the streets of L.A.. She does not waver when pressed by more seasoned con artists than herself, and she sure knows how to take care of herself when she's challenged by other kids. But the actor who steals the show is David Niven, as the chameleon-like butler who saves Candleshoe from ruin. Helen Hayes plays the gentle, yet relatable grand dame, creating a nice foil to Jodie Foster's tough American kid.

 The plot is catchy and active, and the emotions are real. Plus, finding a treasure is always fun. The whole family should enjoy this fun film, even if it seems a bit dated.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Director: Norman Tokar
Cast: David Niven, Helen Hayes, Jodie Foster
Genre: Action/Adventure
Run time: 101 minutes
Theatrical release: June 1, 1977
DVD release: June 1, 2004
MPAA Rating: G
MPAA explanation: General Audiences
This review was written by Joly Herman
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

Lindsayphoto
teen, 18 years old
4
 
Candleshoe
I LOVE this movie! I LOVE Jodie Foster, she is one of the best! I got this movie from the library when I heard that Jodie Foster was in it, (I am the kind of person that likes watching old movies but as for all of my sisters and brothers, they don't.) My sisters and brothers were ok with this, not their favorite but they did enjoy some of it.(my brothers favorite part were the last part in the movie when they have to stop the bad guy.) If you enjoy watching older Disney, you are going to really enjoy this! (and it has Jodie Foster in it too.) :D:D
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gilly_boy
teen, 14 years old
10
 
It shows that deep down in a hard shell is a soft heart and what it means to be a family.
A girl from LA pretending to be another girl that went missing so she could get the treasure. Before she finds it, she starts to understand the love of a family, it's good. She never had that chance to have a family, she kept moving from foster to foster and the only reason they keep her is for the money. But after spending time in castleshoe, that family love starts to affect her and when that family starts to seperate because of bills, she helps them get out. Plus the fight scene was really interesting. Watch it!
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