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:

Susan Sarandon, Winona Ryder, Kirsten Dunst

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 7 wins & 17 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

Louisa May Alcott's autobiographical account of her life with her three sisters in Concord, Massachusetts in the 1860s. With their father fighting in the American Civil War, sisters Jo, Meg, Amy and Beth are at home with their mother, a very outspoken women for her time. The story tells of how the sisters grow up, find love and find their place in the world.

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Plot Keywords:

american civil war | f rated | female protagonist | reference to william shakespeare | husband wife relationship | 

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Taglines:

Save a place in your heart for the unforgettable story of these... LITTLE WOMEN

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Genres:

Drama | Family | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for two uses of mild language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Winona Ryder, Samantha Mathis, and Claire Danes reunited a year later in How to Make an American Quilt (1995).

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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

Jo March: I find it poor logic to say that because women are good, women should vote. Men do not vote because they are good; they vote because they are male, and women should vote, not because we are angels and men are animals, but because we are human beings and citizens of this country.
Mr. Mayer: You should have been a lawyer, Miss March.
Jo March: I should have been a great many things, Mr. Mayer.

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Crazy Credits

19th-century-style portraits of the sisters are seen under the early part of the credits.

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Connections

Version of Little Women (1917)

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Soundtracks

Port Royal Gallop
Composed by Claudio Grafulla

User Reviews

a terrific novel effectively brought to life

Superlative, mostly faithful adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's acclaimed novel of four impoverished teenage sisters who come of age in Civil War-era New England. The film chronicles ambitious scribe Jo, decorative, impressionable Meg, timid, musically inclined Beth, and artistic, precocious Amy, with emphasis placed on their relationship with their beloved "Marmee" and their growing bond with the playful, cultured boy next door as they attempt to make their way while their father is off fighting in the war. While devoted readers may have wished for an ending that was more in line with the novel, this is perfectly cast and brilliantly acted, with wonderful characters, a pinpoint sense of the time period, and genuine emotions that flow throughout the proceedings; a worthy adaptation indeed. ***

Details

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English German French

Release Date:

25 December 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Little Women

Filming Locations:

Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$18,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,411,247, 25 December 1994

Gross USA:

$50,083,616

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$50,083,616

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, DiNovi Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1