Eleanor Porter's novel about a young orphaned girl who brightens the lives of a whole town with her sunny disposition makes for charming film entertainment. The film could easily have become sappy and saccharine, but is saved by the sincerity of the performances by an impressive cast- Jane Wyman, Richard Egan, Karl Malden ("DEATH COMES UNEXPECTEDLY!"), Agnes Moorehead, Donald Crisp, Adolphe Menjou, Nancy Olson, to name a few. And then, of course, is Hayley Mills in the title role. Mills is natural and unaffected in the role, and makes Pollyanna feel like a real girl. The film is a bit on the long side, but the running time is used well, allowing Pollyanna's relationships with the townsfolk to fully develop, and to allow the audience to see just how much her presence contributes to the town. The film also displays some immense and richly designed period sets and costumes. With a whimsical musical score by Paul Smith, this easily becomes one of the best Disney films ever produced and makes for some high-quality family entertainment. The film is sweet, but not overbearingly so. We could use a little more sweetness in films today. A feel-good film, if ever there was one.
