The Little Match Girl (1987/I) (TV)

Director:

Michael Lindsay-Hogg

Writers:

Hans Christian Andersen (story)
Maryedith Burrell

Release Date:

21 December 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Family

Plot Keywords:

Foreign Language Adaptation

Cast

Maryedith Burrell	...	Rita
William Daniels	...	Haywood Dutton
William B. Davis	...	Dr. Sam Easton (as Bill Davis)
Hallie Foote	...	Mary-Margaret Dutton
Keshia Knight Pulliam	...	Molly
Rue McClanahan	...	Frances Dutton
Jim Metzler	...	Joseph Dutton
Stephen E. Miller	...	Coffee & Doughnut Vendor
John Rhys-Davies	...	Police Chief Murphy
Robyn Stevan	...	Lindsay Dutton
William Youmans	...	Neville Dutton
Chris J. Clayton	...	Patrick, the Chauffeur (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Lindsay-Hogg

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Hans Christian Andersen		story
Maryedith Burrell

Produced by
Robert Hargrove	....	producer
Michael Manheim	....	executive producer

Cinematography by
Kenneth MacMillan

Film Editing by
Steven Kemper

Production Design by
Douglas Higgins

Set Decoration by
Dominique Fauquet-Lemaitre

Costume Design by
Mina Mittelman

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David Markowitz	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Robert M. Anderson	....	property master

Sound Department
Clancy T. Troutman	....	supervising sound editor

Special Effects by
David Gauthier	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Joseph Thomas	....	animation cameraman

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sanford Slepak	....	costume supervisor (as Sandy Slepak)

Transportation Department
Lawrence Albright	....	driver: cast

Other crew
Jane Charles	....	production assistant
David Toguri	....	choreographer

Production Companies

• NBC Productions

Distributors

• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1987) (USA) (TV) (original airing)

Special Effects

• Available Light Productions

Other Companies

• William F. White International  grip and lighting equipment

Also Known As:

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

NBC Productions

Movie Connections:

Version of The Little Match Girl (1928)

The match girl warms the hearts of the mighty Duttons

This movie is a gem. It moves along, slowly but surely (not rushed along the way).

The characters are all fleshed out, so you can understand their motivations. Among the other good (and well-cast) actors is William Youmans; he is the consummate kidder (making fun of their very-rich family, their lack-of-compassion, conservative lifestyle, ...). He first befriends the match girl, and brings her home. His mom likes her, and invites her to stay for the Christmas holiday; finally mom has someone who likes to sit down with her and have fun.

William Daniels is very good at playing the stern businessman, who has lost his heart; this occurred years before when his elder son Joe (the other one) wanted to marry a poor Catholic girl ... and (GASP) refused to go into the family business. At this, his son was banished from the house (and, the rest of the family didn't communicate with him, out of respect for the heart-less dad).

The story opens as all of the residents of Fennel Street are given 24-hours' notice to vacate their apartments by a corrupted chief-of-police (this served on Christmas eve).

Joe, the publisher of a small weekly newspaper, cannot believe that his father would have the nerve to illegally evict his innocent tenants on Christmas. He gathers the story, and begins to ready for a special edition, sticking it to his dad for this evil thing. Of the pictures taken on Fennel Street, was one of the match girl warming herself with a match: this is going to be on the front page.

I enjoyed the chemistry between Keisha and Rue; Rue was the perfect "temp" mom for the match girl; they have several touching moments. The author plays Joe's assistant at the paper, and does it pretty well.