The Little Foxes

19411941
ApprovedApproved
1h 56min

Bette Davis, Richard Carlson, and Teresa Wright in The Little Foxes (1941)

Home Video Trailer from MGM/UA

Play trailer1:24

The ruthless, moneyed Hubbard clan lives in, and poisons, their part of the deep South at the turn of the twentieth century.The ruthless, moneyed Hubbard clan lives in, and poisons, their part of the deep South at the turn of the twentieth century.The ruthless, moneyed Hubbard clan lives in, and poisons, their part of the deep South at the turn of the twentieth century.

Director
- William Wyler
Writers
- Lillian Hellman(by)
- Arthur Kober(additional scenes and dialogue)
- Dorothy Parker(additional scenes and dialogue)
Stars

See production, box office & company info

See more at IMDbPro

Nominated for 9 Oscars
- 3 wins & 9 nominations total

Videos1

The Little Foxes

The Little Foxes

Bette Davis and Herbert Marshall in The Little Foxes (1941)

Bette Davis in The Little Foxes (1941)

Bette Davis, Herbert Marshall, and Teresa Wright in The Little Foxes (1941)

Bette Davis, Herbert Marshall, Charles Dingle, and Carl Benton Reid in The Little Foxes (1941)

Bette Davis in The Little Foxes (1941)

THE LITTLE FOXES, Teresa Wright, Director William Wyler, Bette Davis, Goldwyn

Bette Davis Samuel Goldwyn Productions Little Foxes, The (1941) 0033836

Bette Davis Warner Bros. Little Foxes, The (1941) 0033836

Bette Davis in The Little Foxes (1941)

Herbert Marshall, Richard Carlson, Jessica Grayson, and Teresa Wright in The Little Foxes (1941)

Bette Davis in The Little Foxes (1941)

Teresa Wright in The Little Foxes (1941)

Director
- William Wyler
Writers
- Lillian Hellman(by) (screen play)
- Arthur Kober(additional scenes and dialogue)
- Dorothy Parker(additional scenes and dialogue)
All cast & crew
See more cast details at IMDbPro

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The ruthless, moneyed Hubbard clan lives in, and poisons, their part of the deep South at the turn of the 20th century. Regina Giddens née Hubbard has her daughter under her thumb. Mrs Giddens is estranged from her husband, who is convalescing in Baltimore and suffers from a terminal illness. But she needs him home, and will manipulate her daughter to help bring him back. She has a sneaky business deal that she's cooking up with her two elder brothers, Oscar and Ben. Oscar has a flighty, unhappy wife and a dishonest worm of a son. Will the daughter have to marry this contemptible cousin? Who will she grow up to be - her mother or her aunt? Or can she escape the fate of both? —J. Spurlin

greed based on play f rated jealousy stealing 20 more

Taglines
- Samuel Goldwyn presents his screen version of the most sensational stage success of 1940
Genres
- Drama
- Romance
Certificate
- Approved
Parents guide
- Add content advisory

Trivia
Bette Davis and William Wyler fought a great deal during filming. Disagreements ranged from Davis's interpretation of the character (Wyler thought she should be more sympathetic) to the appearance of the house (Davis thought it was far too opulent for a family struggling financially), to her appearance (Wyler thought her white makeup made her look like a Kabuki performer.) Davis eventually walked out of production, but returned when she heard rumors she was going to be replaced by Katharine Hepburn or Miriam Hopkins.

Goofs
In the final scene, just before Alexandra leaves Regina, in the shot when Regina climbs the stairs, and asks Zan if she would "like to sleep in her room tonight", we see a chair in the background (which earlier in the scene, Regina had sat in). The chair seat is empty. Two shots later, when Alexandra collects her hat and coat to leave, they have suddenly appeared on the chair.

Quotes
Regina Giddens: I hope you die! I hope you die soon! I'll be waiting for you to die!

Crazy credits
Opening credits prologue: "Take us the foxes, The little foxes, that spoil the vines:

For our vines have tender grapes." The Song of Solomon 2:15

Little foxes have lived in all times, in all places. This family happened to live in the deep South in the year 1900.

Connections
Edited into Myra Breckinridge (1970)

Soundtracks
Never Too Weary to Pray
(1941) (uncredited)
Music and Lyrics by Meredith Willson
Sung off-screen by an unidentified group during the opening and closing credits

Top review

One of Bette Davis' Best Performances

Bette Davis stars as Regina Giddens in this film version of Lillian Hellman's smash hit play (which starred Tallulah Bankhead). This tale of the pre-industrial south of 1900 pits Regina against her greedy brothers as they scheme to open a textile mill that will make them rich. Great performances here from Davis, Herbert Marshall, Teresa Wright, Richard Carlson, Charles Dingle, Patricia Collinge, Dan Duryea, Jessie Grayson, and Carl Benton Reid. Sort of a modern King Lear, but Hellman had a wicked ear for acid dialog and her characters each have moments of grandeur as they spit and snarl. Collinge is very good as pitiable Birdie. Wright and Carlson are especially good as the young lovers, and Duryea gives a wonderfully slimy performance. Dingle has his best role as the smart brother, and Marshall--always underrated in Hollywood--is splendid as Horace. Bette Davis gives a controlled and icy performance as the woman who never gets what she wants. Her final scene from the window as she watches her daughter leave in the rain is a classic. Great film about a dysfunctional family before there even WAS such a thing!

helpful•35

5

drednm
May 15, 2005

Release date
- August 29, 1941 (United States)
Country of origin
- United States
Language
- English
Also known as
- Die kleinen Füchse
Filming locations
- Belle Helene Plantation, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
Production company
- The Samuel Goldwyn Company
See more company credits at IMDbPro

Runtime
- 1h 56min
Color
- Black and White
Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1

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Bette Davis, Richard Carlson, and Teresa Wright in The Little Foxes (1941)

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