This is a very clever adaptation of James M. Barrie's four-act play. Some of the incidents that are only described on stage (Dow's being subdued on the minister's first day of preaching; the minister trying to put down a riot, and the gypsy girl trying to incite a riot) are brought dramatically and vividly to life, while many of the memorable incidents that we do see on stage are beautifully and movingly captured on film (e.g. Babbie's encounter with Micah Dow and her impersonation of "Mrs. Dishart"). On the other hand, the screenplay makes a great number of changes to the plot and the characters. This will doubtless upset some people, but I thought the changes were an improvement. Andy Clyde makes a delightful study of his provincial policeman. Hepburn gives a most engaging performance and her motives are less mischievously wanton than they are in the stage play. She is also superlatively photographed and attractively costumed. Aside from John Beal, who lacks Hepburn's magnetism and appeal, the support cast is excellent. Mary Gordon, for example, has a role right up her street. On the other hand, Richard Wallace's direction is a bit rough and ready, and the final scenes are paced too slowly, but in other respects, production values are first-class and the movie has a marvelous sense of place and period.
Review of The Little Minister
