In the fine tradition of Disney family entertainment, the heartwarming film, Candleshoe, hit the big screen in 1977. Featuring a cast of seasoned veterans such as David Niven and Helen Hayes, and a lovable Disney tyke named Jodie Foster, Candleshoe was a story of hidden treasure, conniving con-artists, and, just for that special touch, a herd of orphan children.

Based on the Michael Innis novel, Christmas at Candleshoe, the film centers around a great treasure that is hidden on the Candleshoe Estate in England, home to Lady St. Edmund (Hayes). The poor elderly woman, along with her butler, Priory (Niven, who also plays a couple of other roles in the film) is desperate to save the special place that they, and a number of orphans call home. If only they could somehow find the hidden treasure, they could save their magnificent abode.

Unfortunately, they aren’t the only ones aware of the legendary pirate gold that lurks somewhere on the estate – a con-artist named Harry Bundage and his sidekick, Grimsworthy are working on their own plan to heist the treasure. They recruit a street-wise tyke named Casey Brown (Foster) to infiltrate the mansion as the estranged granddaughter of Lady St. Edmund and locate the loot. The fate of Candleshoe rests upon the kindness of Priory and the Lady and their ability to sway the girl’s loyalty to their side.

Rather than another wacky madcap adventure that is often associated with Disney family films, Candleshoe was a bit more classy, a bit more subdued, a bit more British than the company’s typical offerings. Filmed entirely in England and starring some rather distinguished talent, Candleshoe still offered a good share of humor and hijinx amidst the high-brow setting but managed to retain the sweet, heartwarming mood that has made it a favorite in the hearts of many a Disney fan.