CANDLESHOE (1977, U.S.)

Candleshoe

(1977, U.K./U.S.) color 101 minutes
Walt Disney Pictures / Buena Vista Pictures
Story: Michael Innes (from his novel “Christmas at Candleshoe”)
Screenplay: Rosemary Anne Sisson, David Swift
Music: Ron Goodwin
Cinematography: Paul Beeson
Produced by Hugh Attwooll, Ron Miller
Directed by Norman Tokar

With: Helen Hayes (Lady St. Edmund), Jodie Foster (Casey Brown), Leo McKern (Harry Bundage), David Niven (Colonel Dennis/Mr. Gipping/Mr. Priory/John), Veronica Quilligan (Cluny), Ian Sharrock (Peter), Sarah Tamakuni (Anna), David Samuels (Bobby), John Alderson (Jenkins), Mildred Shay (Mrs. McCress), Michael Balfour (Mr. McCress), Sydney Bromley (Mr. Thresher), Michael Segal (Train Guard), Vivian Pickles (Grimsworthy)

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In 1978, Jodie Foster appeared in her last Walt Disney, film CANDLESHOE. Based on the book “Christmas At Candleshoe” by Michael Innes, the film opens in modern-day Southern California, were teenage delinquent Casey Brown (Jodie Foster) and her gang are creating havoc all over the city. After stealing items from a department store, Casey returns to her foster home, where she is apprehended by two big men. Fearing that her foster parents have turned her over to the cops, Casey maintains a tough façade; she finds out that she is being taken not to a juvenile detention center but to a big-city hotel.

After getting cleaned up and dressing in a dress, Casey is introduced to small-time con man Harry Bundage (Leo McKern). Bundage wants the teenager to impersonate the lost grand-daughter of Lady St. Edmond, a well-to-do British noblewoman. St. Edmond is trying to find her grandchild, who was taken away by her mother many years ago and reportedly injured in a car crash in the States which took the mother's life.

However, Bundage's reason for hiring the young crook is not to have her be adopted by a proper family; his scheme is to have Casey search the grounds of Candleshoe (the St. Edmond Estate) for a hidden cache of gold dubloons, each worth millions of dollars, a sum that will make the old crook and his sister Clara Grimsworthy (Vivian Pickles) rich beyond their wildest dreams.

Catching the next flight out of the U.S., the pair soon arrive in London, where Casey is givin the full history of Margret St. Edmond's life by Grimsworthy. Casey is also given the first of several clues as to the location of Captain Joshua St. Edmond's treasure: it seems that Captain St. Edmond hid his treasure so well on the estate that the only way to find the chest is to answer clues. On the day that Casey arrives at Candleshoe Castle, she learns from Priory (David Niven) the family butler, that the St. Edmond fortunes are gone and Priory and the other children that live with Lady St. Edmond (Helen Hayes) have to work at many jobs to help maintain the castle without the matriarch knowing that they are all destitute.

Not feeling much sympathy for the kids or the old woman, Casey searches the castle for the treasure. The plight of the kids and their two caregivers finally wins over the tough girl's heart and Casey helps the kids earn enough monies at the town market to maintain the estate for the next few months. But on the way home that night, Casey is accosted by Bundage, who demands that she tells him where the treasure is. When Casey refuses to cooperate with the fat villain, Bundage steals the St. Edmond funds from the girl and beats her, leaving her bruised in an abandoned churchyard.

While Casey recuperates in the hospital, bill collectors take over the St. Edmond estate, and the kids are preparing to be sent to the local orphange. They confront Casey at the hospital and ask her about the money. Fearful that Bundage will find out that she squealed and have them all killed by the mob, Casey says nothing. Angered by her refusal to reveal the secret of the money, the kids leave. Casey finally comes clean and tells of Bundage's plot.

After solving the final clues, the troop heads back to the castle, only to find Bundage, Grimsworthy and their gang vandalizing the estate in a vain attempt to find the treasure. Working with Casey, the kids and Priory rout the villains in a comedic chase worthy of an “Our Gang”, “Laurel & Hardy” or “The Three Stooges” comedy.

The film ends with the kids moving the Iron Maiden, as the entire top floor crashes to the main floor of the castle. Thus, the hiding place of St. Edmond's treasure is found, hidden inside of the treasure chest portion of the old pirate's statue. Bundage and his gang are turned over to the law, and Candleshoe is saved from demolition. Casey becomes a member of Lady St. Edmond's family and remains in England, where she lives happily ever after.

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I first saw CANDLESHOE at The Loew's Astoria in 1978, and found it to be a very funny comedy which harkens back to the wonderful films of Hal Roach's “Our Gang”. Jodie Foster is tough but funny and charming as Casey Brown. David Niven is equally hilarious as the unflappable Manservant. Helen Hayes is witty and charming as the matriarch, and Leo McKern is perfectly cast as the blustering, conniving villain. The pacing is fast and the script is able to mix farce with slapstick and pathos. Niven also plays two extra characters: a snide gardener and a bragging ex-army officer who, despite his tall tales of horsemanship, cannot ride a steed!

- Kevin S. Butler

Video/DVD availability: VHS/DVD (Disney Home Video)