Little Women (1933)

Director:

George Cukor

Writers:

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

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 | Scarlet Fever | Proposal | Coming Of Age | Love

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 3 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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Madam Borget	...	Housekeeper (uncredited)
Francesca Braggiotti	...	Dance Teacher (uncredited)
Luke Cosgrave	...	Old Man (uncredited)
Florence Enright	...	Seamstress (uncredited)
Harold Entwistle	...	Laurence's Butler (uncredited)
June Filmer	...	Tina (uncredited)
Bonita Granville	...	Amy's Classmate (uncredited)
Dorothy Gray	...	Girl at Boarding House (uncredited)
Robert 'Buzz' Henry	...	Boy (uncredited)
Virginia Howell	...	War Worker (uncredited)
Olin Howland	...	Mr. Davis (uncredited)
Tony Kales	...	Boy (uncredited)
Marilyn Knowlden	...	Amy's Classmate (uncredited)
Marina Koshetz	...	Flo King (uncredited)
Lily Lodge	...	Lily (uncredited)
Charles Miller	...	Minister (uncredited)
Mary Wallace	...	Boarding House Girl (uncredited)
Howard Wilson	...	Young Man (uncredited)
Shorty Woods	...	Sleigh Driver (uncredited)

Directed by
George Cukor

Writing credits
Louisa May Alcott		(by) (as Louisa M. Alcott)
Sarah Y. Mason		(screenplay) &
Victor Heerman		(screenplay)
Del Andrews		contributing writer (uncredited)
Alfred Block		contributing writer (uncredited)
Charles Brackett		contributing writer (uncredited)
Salisbury Field		contributing writer (uncredited)
David Hempstead		contributing writer (uncredited)
Jane Murfin		contributing writer (uncredited)
G.B. Stern		contributing writer (uncredited)
Wanda Tuchock		contributing writer (uncredited)
John Twist		contributing writer (uncredited)

Produced by
Merian C. Cooper	....	executive producer
Kenneth Macgowan	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Max Steiner

Cinematography by
Henry W. Gerrard		(photographed by) (as Henry Gerrard)

Film Editing by
Jack Kitchin		(edited by)

Art Direction by
Van Nest Polglase

Set Decoration by
Hobe Erwin		(settings)
Ray Moyer		(uncredited)

Costume Design by
Walter Plunkett		(costumes by)

Makeup Department
Elmer Armstrong	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Mel Berns	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
William Ely	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Jean Woodhall	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Wallace Fox	....	unit manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Edward Killy	....	assistant director (uncredited)
John Lodge	....	associate director (uncredited)
Mortimer Offner	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
George Peckham	....	assistant propman (uncredited)
Charles Sayers	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Frank H. Harris	....	recordist
Victor B. Appel	....	recording assistant (uncredited)
George D. Ellis	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
Ellis Fesler	....	recording assistant (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Harry Redmond Jr.	....	special effects (uncredited)
Harry Redmond Sr.	....	special effects (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ernest Bachrach	....	still photographer (uncredited)
S.H. Barton	....	chief electrician (uncredited)
Tom Clement	....	chief grip (uncredited)
Robert De Grasse	....	second camera (uncredited)
George E. Diskant	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Mike Fitzgerald	....	grip (uncredited)
Guy Gilman	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Mike Graves	....	assistant grip (uncredited)
J. Merry	....	best boy (uncredited)
John Miehle	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Eugene Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)
Emily Perkins	....	wardrobe (uncredited)

Music Department
Bernhard Kaun	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Del Andrews	....	production associate
Eddie Arden	....	double (uncredited)
Francesca Braggiotti	....	instructor: ballroom dancing (uncredited)
Dorothy Dawson	....	production secretary (uncredited)
Gale Evans	....	script clerk (uncredited)
S. Barret McCormick	....	advertising coordinator (uncredited)
Elizabeth McGaffey	....	research (uncredited)
Robert Sisk	....	director of advertising and publicity (uncredited)

Production Companies

• RKO Radio Pictures (presents) (as Radio Pictures)

Distributors

• RKO Radio Pictures (1933) (USA) (theatrical)
• Epoca (????) (Argentina) (VHS)
• MGM/CBS Home Video (1981) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1992) (USA) (laserdisc)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1960) (USA) (all media)
• Selznick Releasing Organization (TV release)
• Warner Bros. Television (????) (USA) (TV)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

115 min | Sweden:101 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 | Sweden:Btl | USA:Not Rated | 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:

Continuity: Position of Jo's legs after falling while fencing changes.

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 Anne of Avonlea (1987) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Chi mi frena in tal momento?

Satisfying Adaptation With a Strong Cast

This satisfying movie adaptation of "Little Women" features a strong cast and a production that was quite solid for 1933. While a glance at the story outline might give the impression that it is simplistic or childlike, that is far from the case. The novel offers well-defined characters and many situations that bring out worthwhile insights into the characters and into life in general. While neither this nor the other movie versions of the story have the same thematic depth, this version effectively presents enough of the material in a thoughtful and entertaining way.

Katherine Hepburn heads the cast, and gives plenty of life to Jo. Naturally she gets the main focus, but the other sisters and the secondary characters also get some good moments, and most of them get a chance to steal a scene or two. Henry Stephenson and Douglas Montgomery get a number of good scenes as the March family's neighbors. Edna May Oliver is well cast, and it's only too bad that she did not get a couple more scenes. Paul Lukas makes Professor Baer come alive. By no means least are Jean Parker, Frances Dee, and Joan Bennett as Beth, Meg, and Amy.

It is often easy to tell when the movie was made, most especially because of the sound. But actually the production is better technically and artistically than are most movies of the early 1930s. Several of the sets are particularly well done, creating just the right atmosphere for their scenes. Director George Cukor puts it all together nicely.

This is the kind of movie that is generally out of style at present, because it lacks the kind of self-indulgent material and the self-absorbed style that so unduly impress many of today's movie fans. But the only genuine weakness is that it has a few technical limitations, most of which are common to many films of its era.

What this adaptation does offer is a sympathetic and sometimes insightful look at the lives of some ordinary but strong persons, who are brought to life by a good cast and a director who seemed himself to care about the characters.