Little Women (1933)
Grade: 71
"Little Women" is a very good adaptation of the Louisa May Alcott classic novel about four daughters of a Northern Civil War soldier. While the film drags towards the end, as sisterly fun is replaced with worries over romance and sickness, it remains an impressive production with a fine cast and script.
Many films from the early 1930s look dated today. This is not the case of "Little Women", which is as sophisticated as many Hollywood productions of today. Perhaps that is partly because the film is an historical drama, but mostly due to the high production values. "Little Women" won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, and was nominated for Best Picture and Director (George Cukor).
The four daughters are brash tomboy and budding author Jo (Katherine Hepburn), petulant baby sister Amy (Joan Bennett), sweetly reticent Beth (Jean Parker), and serious eldest sister Meg (Frances Dee). Since this is a movie, all four sisters are very attractive, close in age, and given diverse and appealing characters. Although this is one of her earliest films, Hepburn is clearly the star, and gives an excellent performance.
"Little Women" is certain to appeal to women more than to men. There is no action, and the emotions of the sisters is always the focus of the scenes. Male characters, all in supporting roles, are judged by the sisters on the basis of their character rather than by looks, wealth or status. The sisters eventually go their separate ways, but the family is again reunited at film's end.
Perhaps the adaption is too faithful to the novel. The story becomes bittersweet, even a tearjerker. The first half is much more fun, and in cinema it isn't necessary for the daughters to grow up.
kollers@mpsi.net http://members.tripod.com/~Brian_Koller/movies.html
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