Heart of a Child is a 1958 British drama film directed by Clive Donner and starring Jean Anderson and Donald Pleasence.

[3] During wartime rationing, Karl, a young Austrian boy, is beaten by his father, Spiel, who threatens to sell the boy's St. Bernard dog to the butcher to pay for food for the family.

However, much to the father's fury, Karl sells the dog himself to a kindly veterinarian.

The dog, with the help of Maria, a spinster, then rescues Karl after he is trapped in a snowstorm.

Donner said the film "was not a happy experience" even though there was location work in Austria.