Little Women (1933)

Little Women is a "coming of age" drama tracing the lives of four sisters: Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy. During the American Civil War, the girls father is away serving as a minister to the troops... See full summary »

Director:

George Cukor

Writers:

Louisa May Alcott (by), Sarah Y. Mason (screenplay),

Stars:

Katharine Hepburn, Joan Bennett, Paul Lukas

Won 1 Oscar. Another 3 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Katharine Hepburn	...	Jo
Joan Bennett	...	Amy
Paul Lukas	...	Prof. Bhaer
Edna May Oliver	...	Aunt March
Jean Parker	...	Beth
Frances Dee	...	Meg
Henry Stephenson	...	Mr. Laurence
Douglass Montgomery	...	Laurie
John Lodge	...	Brooke (as John Davis Lodge)
Spring Byington	...	Marmee
Samuel S. Hinds	...	Mr. March (as Samuel Hinds)
Mabel Colcord	...	Hannah
Marion Ballou	...	Mrs. Kirke
Nydia Westman	...	Mamie
Harry Beresford	...	Doctor Bangs

Storyline

Little Women is a "coming of age" drama tracing the lives of four sisters: Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy. During the American Civil War, the girls father is away serving as a minister to the troops. The family, headed by thier beloved Marmee, must struggle to make ends meet, with the help of their kind and wealthy neighbor, Mr. Laurence, and his high spirited grandson Laurie.

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Plot Keywords:

american civil war | coming of age | love | neighbor | proposal | 

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Genres:

Drama | Family | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English German

Release Date:

24 November 1933 (USA)

Also Known As:

As Quatro Irmãs

Filming Locations:

Lancaster's Lake, Sunland, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$424,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Uncredited producer David O. Selznick had a difficult time convincing RKO executives to produce this film, as there was a belief in Hollywood at the time that films based on historic novels were not popular, particularly one that centered on women during the Civil War. Selznick persisted and the film was a commercial success. Because of this, later in the decade Selznick produced Gone with the Wind through his own production company, Selznick International Pictures, from the novel by Margaret Mitchell.

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Goofs

Jo takes off her hood twice when entering for tea.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Marmee March: So you're going to Washington?
Elderly man: Yes, ma'am; my son is sick in the hospital there.
Marmee March: Oh, this will be an anxious Christmas for you.
Marmee March: [finding him a coat] I think this one will do; let's try this. Is it your only son?
Elderly man: No, ma'am. I had four; two were killed, one is a prisoner.
Marmee March: [deeply moved] You've done a great deal for your country, sir.
Elderly man: Oh, not a mite more than I ought, ma'am. I'd go myself if I was any use. Thank you for the overcoat.
Marmee March: Wait a minute...
Marmee March: [giving him some money] I hope you ...
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Complicated Women (2003)

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Soundtracks

"Tramp! Tramp! Tramp! (The Boys Are Marching)"
(1864) (uncredited)
Music and Lyrics by George Frederick Root
In the score for the opening scene

User Reviews

great fun with the Marches

Having grown up with the Technicolor version of the 40s with a young Liz Taylor and a perky June Allyson, I was pleased to find this was just as good a version, better in many ways. Katharine Hepburn, as you might expect, is wonderful as the tomboy Jo March, who finds responsibility after a lifetime of woe for the family. Other cast stand-outs include Edna May Oliver as Aunt March. Laurie is a bit of a wet fish though. Both early versions are much, much better than the Winona Ryder one of the 90s, which was a sentimental Hollywood nostalgia trip which just didn't work. I'm still split between the two early ones but this is a definite favourite and I'd highly recommend it.