I saw this film about fifteen years ago and was overwhelmed by the enchanting fairytale story of a young child abandoned to the nuns and is raised by them in South Africa. He befriends a native child and they become inseparable. Add a fluffy puppy called Snowball and just allow yourself to watch. The film doesn't watch like a Disney film, the children are never precocious, when the adventures get serious, they aren't far-fetched. You see yourself doing those stupid things as a kid.
One accident brings the white child to America, and the native child journeys to visit him. The disastrous results of his arrival are spell-binding to watch unfold, as well as his rescue. Then New York is all theirs.
The film is so subtle, you don't realize it is Jose Ferrer and Karen Valentine in the movie. Even Bernadette Peter's song is gentle. Definitely watch this film if you are in a depressed mood. It will cheer you up. I would love to see it again, but believe it or not, I recorded Peter's song off on an audio cassette and still have it. What a charmer this film was.