Wonderful character development!

What a beautiful movie!

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

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

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?

As children, my brother and I watched this film on television and we both enjoyed it. The story really tugged at our hearts because it was funny and sad at the same time. We both talked about this film for days after watching it.I liked "Dondi" because I liked the handsome lead actor, David Janssen, who was then at the height of his popularity for starring in the television show "The Fugitive". The lead actress was Patti Page, who happened to look like my mother, so I liked watching her.The film also included character actor, Robert Strauss. I had never liked him because he always played tough characters. However, in "Dondi" he played a tough guy with a soft heart and won me over. He played well against goofy Arnold Stang's character. Strauss and Stang were fun to watch together.If I were to see this film again today, I'm sure my opinion of it would change. It's not one of the better films I saw as a child but it is one of the films I remember with affection.

Saw this picture ages ago. Leonard Maltin hit the nail on the head when he said "Watch this film and you'll know why Janssen became a fugitive"! The comic strip was never very good and this film is ten times worse. If it had even a shred of Sci-Fi in it MST3K could swoop down on it for some laughs but it doesn't. David Janssen did fine work in his career but this is certainly the worst he was ever in.