In Europe, warm-hearted Cold War soldiers adopt cute five-year-old Italian orphan David Kory (as Dondi) and take him home to America as a stowaway. The little tyke gets lost in New York City, where he continues to perform Shirley Temple impressions. In between "Richard Diamond" and "The Fugitive", TV serviceman David Janssen (as Dealey) looks after the lad along with singing sweetheart Patti Page (as Liz Porter).The title song "Dondi" is sung by Ms. Page. Duplicating the success of the movie, it was released on the "B-side" of a non-hit single. Page, who has an excellent singing voice, also performs "Meadow in the Sky" and "Jingle Bells" (over the opening credits). This tediously ill-conceived and poorly executed film was based on the successful comic strip by Irwin Hasen, who has a cameo as the artist sketching "Dondi" for the police.** Dondi (3/26/61) Albert Zugsmith ~ David Kory, David Janssen, Patti Page, Arnold Stang

I was 5 years old when I saw this movie. Even then I knew it was bad. My sisters and I (both older) STILL say the line "are you in there, lady buddy?" or is it 'lady-body'? Still unsure of that. It was a waste of $.50 then, and would be a waste of $3.99 now to rent it! Rent 'The Courtship of Eddie's Father' instead. Ronnie Howard - who I had a little crush on then - is adorable, Shirley Jones lovely and Dina Merrill positively icy-cold. Watch for ingénue Stella Stevens - wow. Or rent buy the TV series (started in 1969) of the same name. Bill Bixby (another crush - hey, I know my men!) is handsome, yummy and acted like a really good dad. Brandon Cruz lived in my neighborhood - Westchester, CA.

My brother & I saw this when we were kids. We enjoyed it and watched it every year at Christmas time. It is a heartwarming story and I think it would be great for today's family viewing. The acting, I admit, was probably not compelling enough for current savvy, yet possibly jaded, audiences, but it is a great escape from the blood and guts movies that seem to capture the attention of the masses. Besides, I liked David Janssen in this movie, as well as in The Fugitive. And the kid that played the role of Dondi did, I think, a pretty good job for a kid. I'll always remember what he says at the beginning of the movie when he encounters the soldiers, Someone asks him where his mother and father are and Dondi says, "Dondi not having no mama, no papa". Priceless - a great line. I would love to get a copy of this movie, or at least see it again. Does anyone know if it is available anywhere, in any format?

Like some of the other post-WW2 baby boomers who commented, I remember Dondi in our morning paper in the 1950s and 60s. The strip had some kind of visual appeal--even though I wasn't old enough to follow a story strip, I kept giving it a look. The movie came out when I was 9 or 10, and because I actually recognized its subject matter, I went to the Paramount or State theater in downtown Burlington NC and tried to watch it. But even at that tender age I was aware I was watching a dreadful turkey of a movie. My only pleasant association with the subject thereafter was when Mad Magazine ran a calendar that featured a "Kick Dondi in the Teeth Day."