Little Women (1933)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

George Cukor

Writers:

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

Release Date:

24 November 1933 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Family | Romance

Plot:

Little Women is a "coming of age" drama tracing the lives of four sisters: Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy. During the American Civil War...

Plot Keywords:

American Civil War | Coming Of Age | Love | Proposal | Scarlet Fever

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations

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

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Certification:

UK:U | USA:Approved (PCA #1341-R: 29 August 1935 for re-release) | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | New Zealand:G | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Chile:TE | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

Louise Closser Hale first performed the role of Aunt March, but after her death on July 26, 1933, in the middle of filming, Edna May Oliver took over the role.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: In the Christmas play when the prop tower falls down Jo says everything is all right, her lips aren't moving.

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 find him better.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Wonder Years: The Little Women (#6.19)" (1993)

Soundtrack:

Arkansas Traveler

Nice version of the Alcott story is showing its age...

Movies were still in a primitive stage back in 1933 when "Little Women" was released. Sound was only six years old--and as a result, while the picture is always viewed as a faithful, beloved version of the tale, the truth is it has a soundtrack that is tinny, especially when it comes to reproducing the girlish sounds and squeals of the March sisters--as portrayed by Katharine Hepburn, Frances Dee, Jean Parker and Joan Bennett. The sound distortion is a major flaw.

Their voices are so shrill that it makes listening to the first twenty-five minutes a bit of a strain. Of course, as you sink into the story, and accustom yourself to the poor soundtrack, the film becomes more watchable. But it's definitely one of those films in the early '30s that sounds like a creaky vehicle compared to the more natural sound we have for voices today.

The production is a handsome one and the costumes, sets, props, etc. are all in keeping with the Alcott story. One could have wished for a better Laurie or a more romantic Professor Baer than Paul Lukas. Hepburn gives her all to the role of the tomboy and her early scenes with her sisters show plenty of spunk and warmth. The always welcome Spring Byington makes a good Marmee and Joan Bennett a suitable Amy.

Max Steiner's sprightly theme that sounds like an old-fashioned music box was apparently considered so suitable that MGM used it for their version in 1949.

A quaint film, made even quainter by the primitive early sound. The techncolored candy-box flavor of the 1949 version was quite a contrast, but at least the soundtrack was a more bearable one.