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Little Women (1949)

 -  Drama | Family | Romance  -  April 1949 (USA)
7.1
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Ratings: 7.1/10 from 3,288 users  
Reviews: 49 user | 6 critic

Louisa May Alcott's autobiographical account of her life with her three sisters in Concord Mass in the 1860s. With their father fighting in the civil war, the sisters: Jo, Meg, Amy and Beth... See full summary »

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(screen play), (screen play), 3 more credits »
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Title: Little Women (1949)

Little Women (1949) on IMDb 7.1/10

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Won 1 Oscar. Another 1 nomination. See more awards »

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Cast

Complete credited cast:
...
Jo
...
...
...
Amy
...
Meg
...
...
Lucile Watson ...
...
Mr. Laurence (as Sir C. Aubrey Smith)
Elizabeth Patterson ...
Hannah
Leon Ames ...
...
Richard Wyler ...
John Brooke (as Richard Stapley)
Connie Gilchrist ...
...
Sophie
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Storyline

Louisa May Alcott's autobiographical account of her life with her three sisters in Concord Mass in the 1860s. With their father fighting in the civil war, the sisters: Jo, Meg, Amy and Beth are at home with their mother - a very outspoken women for her time. The story is of how the sisters grow up, find love and find their place in the world. Written by Rob Hartill

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

THRILLS OF YOUNG LOVE! (original print ad - all caps)

Genres:

Drama | Family | Romance

Certificate:

Approved | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

April 1949 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Mujercitas  »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

| (Turner library print)

Sound Mix:

(Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

"The Screen Guild Theater" broadcast a 30 minute radio adaptation of the movie on December 22, 1949 with June Allyson and Peter Lawford reprising their film roles. See more »

Goofs

As Marmee is watching the girls leave to shop for Christmas presents a modern zipper is visible up the back of her dress. See more »

Quotes

Mr. Laurence: So I *bark*, do I, hmmmmmm?
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Get Smart: The Return of the Ancient Mariner (1968) See more »

Soundtracks

"None But the Lonely Heart (Nur Wer die Sehnsucht Kennt)"
(1869) (uncredited)
Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky ("Romance for Voice and Piano, Op. 6. No. 6) (1869)
Poem by Johann Wolfgang Goethe (1795-96)
Played on piano and Sung by Rossano Brazzi in German and English
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

Women on the homefront
7 August 2005 | by (Buffalo, New York) – See all my reviews

Since RKO had done such a classic version of this story back in 1933 one does wonder why MGM bothered to do the story again.

In watching Little Women I believe I found the answer. In 1949 the nation was still healing from World War II. The sacrifices made on the homefront supporting the troops overseas were fresh in everyone's mind. One thing that this version reminds us of more than the 1933 film is that it does take place during the Civil War. So this quaint 19th century novel all of sudden took on a relevance for the audience of 1949.

Of course this version did not have Katharine Hepburn. And of course June Allyson is no Kate, but CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS, who is? Allyson does make a winning Jo March and MGM got a great opportunity to get four of its loveliest contract players a showcase vehicle. Elizabeth Taylor, June Allyson, and Janet Leigh all surely had substantial careers with better roles, but it's a treat to see them all together here. And Margaret O'Brien capped her career as child star at MGM with her performance here as Beth.

Hard to believe that the hardboiled Brigid O'Shawnessy and the beloved Marmee March could be played by the same actress. But Mary Astor was just that talented. Her role is very similar to that of Claudette Colbert in Since You Went Away. Her best scenes are concerning her care for the less fortunate Hummel family, both in telling her kids how important it is to care for the less fortunate and in actually leading the March brood over to the Hummel household.

MGM definitely made a version that will stand on its own merits even without the great Kate. CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS who'd have thought it possible?


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