Candleshoe (1977)

Candleshoe is typical live-action Disney fare of the '70s, but as family films of the period go, it's rather entertaining and enjoyable. Certainly the presence of such talented actors as Jodie Foster, Helen Hayes, and David Niven gives the film a great deal more interest than it would normally have, and while none of these actors is giving the performance of a lifetime, they are all pleasant company and each one manages to find moments in the film to work a little of their special magic. While the screenplay doesn't give them any remarkable "money scenes," it does provide them with a very workable story and characters that, if not unusual, are fairly well defined. Norman Tokar directs in his usual manner, which is to say in the patented Disney "house style" (i.e., make it clear, and if you're not sure it's clear, repeat until it is clear). There's little originality in his work, but he benefits from the superior cast he has assembled, and he does do a nice job of photographing the Candleshoe estate itself and helping the audience to feel a proprietary interest in it. And overall, there's a friendly peppiness to the film that's appealing. Candleshoe is not a great film, but its primary audience of kids should find a great deal to like, and most parents will find enough to keep them occupied. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide