Little Women (1933)
Everyone has their favorite film adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s timeless treasure Little Women. Mine is George Cukor’s 1933 version, so this review will be unapologetically biased in its favor.
The story tracks four sisters—Frances Dee, Katharine Hepburn, Joan Bennett, and Jean Parker—as they grow up during the Civil War. Their father is away on the battlefield, and their mother Spring Byington does the best she can on their meager budget. Along the way, the girls mature, fall in love, sacrifice, give, and pursue their dreams. It’s a very touching story, one that you can get more out of each time you watch or read it. While there are iconic moments present in every version—when the neighbor buys Beth a piano, Jo's infamous haircut, the romantic final line, and the play performed by all four girls—in this nostalgic and heartwarming version, the scenes etch themselves so deep in your heart you’ll be unable to see a remake with the same fondness.
Katharine Hepburn embodies her character Jo more thoroughly than any other actress could or has since. Most actresses play Jo as a tough tomboy as Louisa May Alcott wrote, but Katharine Hepburn sees the true nature of the heroine. She’s actually extremely feminine, but compared to her sisters who are rewarded for their femininity, she isn’t treated the same. She’s learned to be tough because she’s adaptable and wants to survive in her uncertain world, but all her girlish emotions are still there beneath the surface. Only in this version is Jo’s entire character visible to the audience. Only in this version does the actress understand her character than the original author!
While the 1949 version does have its endearing moments--mainly involving Margaret O'Brien as Beth--this version is empirically the best. It’s the only one that casts a proper Professor Bhaer, with Paul Lukas as the well-intentioned bachelor. Joan Bennett is adorable, and unlike Amy's character in the book, isn't so snotty that you're forced to dislike her. You can tell she still has a good heart, even though she's obviously been spoiled more than her sisters. What I love about this version is every actress conveys a deep understanding of her character's backstory, even when it wasn't originally written by the screenwriter or novelist. You can sense Edna May Oliver’s desire for family, mixed with classic Aunt March stubbornness. Spring Byington, in her first movie, is warm and loving as Marmee, and not at all ditzy like her subsequent film roles.
This is a delightful, heartwarming film, one to watch with your mother or sisters at Christmastime. It’s one of my favorite Katharine Hepburn performances, since it’s so rare and wonderful a treasure to see an actor or actress portray a literary character more vividly than on the written page. I’m sure if Louisa May Alcott saw this movie, she’d be pleased.
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "Classic Movies Kristine Rose" for posting!
More Joan Bennett movies here!
More Katharine Hepburn movies here!
More Edna May Oliver movies here!
More Christmas movies here!
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of 1949's Little Women here!
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of 1994's Little Women here!
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of the Little Women novel here!
The story tracks four sisters—Frances Dee, Katharine Hepburn, Joan Bennett, and Jean Parker—as they grow up during the Civil War. Their father is away on the battlefield, and their mother Spring Byington does the best she can on their meager budget. Along the way, the girls mature, fall in love, sacrifice, give, and pursue their dreams. It’s a very touching story, one that you can get more out of each time you watch or read it. While there are iconic moments present in every version—when the neighbor buys Beth a piano, Jo's infamous haircut, the romantic final line, and the play performed by all four girls—in this nostalgic and heartwarming version, the scenes etch themselves so deep in your heart you’ll be unable to see a remake with the same fondness.
Katharine Hepburn embodies her character Jo more thoroughly than any other actress could or has since. Most actresses play Jo as a tough tomboy as Louisa May Alcott wrote, but Katharine Hepburn sees the true nature of the heroine. She’s actually extremely feminine, but compared to her sisters who are rewarded for their femininity, she isn’t treated the same. She’s learned to be tough because she’s adaptable and wants to survive in her uncertain world, but all her girlish emotions are still there beneath the surface. Only in this version is Jo’s entire character visible to the audience. Only in this version does the actress understand her character than the original author!
While the 1949 version does have its endearing moments--mainly involving Margaret O'Brien as Beth--this version is empirically the best. It’s the only one that casts a proper Professor Bhaer, with Paul Lukas as the well-intentioned bachelor. Joan Bennett is adorable, and unlike Amy's character in the book, isn't so snotty that you're forced to dislike her. You can tell she still has a good heart, even though she's obviously been spoiled more than her sisters. What I love about this version is every actress conveys a deep understanding of her character's backstory, even when it wasn't originally written by the screenwriter or novelist. You can sense Edna May Oliver’s desire for family, mixed with classic Aunt March stubbornness. Spring Byington, in her first movie, is warm and loving as Marmee, and not at all ditzy like her subsequent film roles.
This is a delightful, heartwarming film, one to watch with your mother or sisters at Christmastime. It’s one of my favorite Katharine Hepburn performances, since it’s so rare and wonderful a treasure to see an actor or actress portray a literary character more vividly than on the written page. I’m sure if Louisa May Alcott saw this movie, she’d be pleased.
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "Classic Movies Kristine Rose" for posting!
More Joan Bennett movies here!
More Katharine Hepburn movies here!
More Edna May Oliver movies here!
More Christmas movies here!
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of 1949's Little Women here!
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of 1994's Little Women here!
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of the Little Women novel here!
Hot Toasty Rag Awards:
Best Picture of 1933
Best Actress: Katharine Hepburn
Best Adapted Screenplay
Hot Toasty Rag Nominations:
Best Director: George Cukor
Best Picture of 1933
Best Actress: Katharine Hepburn
Best Adapted Screenplay
Hot Toasty Rag Nominations:
Best Director: George Cukor