Little Women (1994)

The March sisters live and grow in post-Civil War America.

Director:

Gillian Armstrong

Writers:

Louisa May Alcott (novel), Robin Swicord (screenplay)

Stars:

Winona Ryder, Kirsten Dunst, Claire Danes

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 12 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Winona Ryder	...	Jo March
Gabriel Byrne	...	Friedrich Bhaer
Trini Alvarado	...	Meg March
Samantha Mathis	...	Older Amy March
Kirsten Dunst	...	Younger Amy March
Claire Danes	...	Beth March
Christian Bale	...	Laurie
Eric Stoltz	...	John Brooke
John Neville	...	Mr. Laurence
Mary Wickes	...	Aunt March
Susan Sarandon	...	Mrs. March
Florence Paterson	...	Hannah
Robin Collins	...	Carriage Boy
Corrie Clark	...	Belle Gardiner
Rebecca Toolan	...	Mrs. Gardiner

Storyline

With their father away fighting in the Civil War, Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy grow up with their mother in somewhat reduced circumstances. They are a close family who inevitably have their squabbles and tragedies. But the bond holds even when, later, men friends start to become a part of the household.

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Plot Keywords:

writing | singing | horse and carriage | neighbor | piano | 

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Taglines:

The story that has Lived in our hearts For generations, Now comes to the screen For the holidays

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for two uses of mild language

Details

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English German French

Release Date:

21 December 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mujercitas

Filming Locations:

Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

£3,129,439 (UK) (19 May 1995)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation, DiNovi Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR SDDS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The set designer patterned the interiors after the layout of Orchard House, Louisa May Alcott's family home in Concord, Massachusetts. This is the house she lived in while writing the book, and she imagined its events taking place there.

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Goofs

The soldiers' uniforms in the various party scenes have both stripes on the sleeves and shoulder boards. In reality, stripes on the sleeves denote an enlisted man, and shoulder boards denote an officer. They are thus mutually exclusive and both would not have been worn by the same individual.

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Quotes

Marmee March: Oh, Jo. Jo, you have so many extraordinary gifts; how can you expect to lead an ordinary life? You're ready to go out and - and find a good use for your talent. Tho' I don't know what I shall do without my Jo. Go, and embrace your liberty. And see what wonderful things come of it.

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Connections

Version of Little Women (1946)

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Soundtracks

"LaFayette's Welcome"
Traditional
Composed by Francis Johnson

User Reviews

Incredible!

When I saw Little women I noticed I had seen my favourite movie, I could not believe a film where my favourite actors played together in one of the most beautiful stories ever written. Gilliam Armstrong`s adaptation is the best I`ve seen,the performances were incredible, specially, Winona Ryder and Christian Bale. But all of them where great, it also has a wonderful score, one of the most beautiful soundtracks I`ve ever heard, Thomas Newman did an excellent job, the script, made by Robin Swicord,is very loyable to the book by Louisa May Alcott.This film is beautiful in all its aspects, it was excellent the friendship and collaboration between all the actors, and for the first time most of them were played by actors of the same age as their fictional characters. The character of Jo has influenced me a lot, and I adore her, Winona Ryder did the best performance of his career, Christian Bale is the best Laurie I`ve ever seen, he did it great, he was so credible, it is difficult to understand why Jo refuses his marriage proposals, he was her perfect husband. Kirsten Dunst was quite OK like the young Amy, not so well done by the older Amy, played by Samantha Mathis, who loses the joy and the energy of the young one. Eric Stoltz was incredible, although his role is a very supporting one. Gabriel Byrne was the perfect professor Baerh, he was great, he does perfectly a German accent. Susan Sarandon was brilliant like Marmee, and I think Claire Danes does an inolvidable performance, a bit ignored after the movie was realised. Trini Alvarado is excellent like Meg. Not only the performances, but all the team that worked in the movie did a great job, the costumes were beautifully designed, the cinematography was brilliant. at least, what I have to say is that this movie has influenced me a lot, all the characters were lovely , the strength of Jo, her dreams of being a writter(I want to be a writer too), her way of think, her beauty,her power. I feel like if I was Laurie lots of times, Laurie is one of the most lovely male characters in the history of literature. And I think this is possible mostly because of Winona Ryder and Christian Bale. I couldn`t imagine a better couple of actors. An incredible and unforgettable movie.