A Little Princess (1986– )

Sara Crewe is the pampered darling of her father, an army captain, and the Victorian London girls' school where he places her. But when her father dies, penniless, Sara becomes a skivvy in ... See full summary »

Stars:

Maureen Lipman, Amelia Shankley, Miriam Margolyes

1 win.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Maureen Lipman	...	Miss Minchin (6 episodes, 1987)
Amelia Shankley	...	Sara Crewe (6 episodes, 1987)
Miriam Margolyes	...	Miss Amelia (6 episodes, 1987)
Annette Badland	...	Cook (6 episodes, 1987)
Natalie Abbott	...	Becky (6 episodes, 1987)
Alison Reynolds	...	Ermengarde (6 episodes, 1987)
Katrina Heath	...	Lavinia (6 episodes, 1987)
Joann Dukes	...	Jessie (6 episodes, 1987)
Johanna Hargreaves	...	Henrietta (5 episodes, 1987)
Jessica Simpson	...	Lottie (5 episodes, 1987)
Nigel Havers	...	Carrisford (4 episodes, 1987)
Meera Syal	...	Anna (3 episodes, 1987)
John Bird	...	Mr. Carmichael (3 episodes, 1987)
Annie Lambert	...	Mrs. Carmichael (3 episodes, 1987)
Tariq Alibai	...	Ram Dass (3 episodes, 1987)
Christopher Haley	...	Donald (3 episodes, 1987)
Zoe Mair	...	Janet (3 episodes, 1987)
Alessia Gwyther	...	Nora (3 episodes, 1987)
Justine Simon	...	Eleanora (3 episodes, 1987)
Samantha Gale	...	Elizabeth (3 episodes, 1987)
David Yelland	...	Captain Crewe (2 episodes, 1987)
John Grillo	...	Barrow (2 episodes, 1987)
Marianne Borgo	...	Mariette (2 episodes, 1987)
Patsy Rowlands	...	Baker's Wife (2 episodes, 1987)
Mia Fothergill	...	Waif (2 episodes, 1987)

Storyline

Sara Crewe is the pampered darling of her father, an army captain, and the Victorian London girls' school where he places her. But when her father dies, penniless, Sara becomes a skivvy in Miss Michin's school, befriended only by the scullery maid, Becky, her friends Ermengarde and Lottie, a little monkey, a lascar, and the mysterious man next door.

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Plot Keywords:

school | monkey | girl | maid | scullery maid | 

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 February 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sara - Die kleine Prinzessin

Company Credits

Production Co:

London Weekend Television (LWT)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

163 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

Miss Minchin: Beg Miss Lavina's pardon.
Sara Crewe: No I won't beg her pardon because it was her fault!
Miss Minchin: Beg her pardon!
[Sara bites her lip]
Miss Minchin: Don't laugh at me you insolent child!
[slaps Sara]
Miss Amelia: Mirah!
Sara Crewe: I wasn't laughing, I was thinking.
Miss Minchin: What?
Sara Crewe: I was thinking it would be a surpise if I turned out to be a princess after all. Wouldn't it?

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Connections

Version of A Little Princess (1973)

User Reviews

True to the novel, even the end

Take heart, fans of this very true-to-the-novel movie version, the new American channel Pax TV shows this movie sometimes, but unfortunately has cut about 50 minutes from it, making it about an hour and 45 minutes long. Still, it is heartening that this detailed version is faithful to the novel's setting of 1880s London, and the premise that Sarah's father has truly died, altho his "dear friend" finally finds the long-lost Sarah in the end. I would have liked more exterior scenes, but good acting by all.

An interesting note - the novel started as a short story called "Sarah Crewe, or What Happened at Miss Minchin's" in the 1880s, serialized for a magazine. Response was so positive, that after the author Frances Burnett had adapted it for the stage at the turn of the century and called it "A Little Princess," she re-wrote the book version, adding length and detail, and calling it "Little Princess" as well. The latter is what most know about and what you will find in the bookstores, but both versions are available on the internet to compare texts.