Little Women (1994)

Director:

Gillian Armstrong

Writers (WGA):

Louisa May Alcott (novel)
Robin Swicord (screenplay)

Release Date:

21 December 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Family | Romance

Tagline:

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

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Low Life Writer | Imigrate Professor | Young Girl | Based On Children's Book | First Love

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 9 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sat. Aug. 30

12:30 PM

TCM

Cast

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. Abigail "Marmee" March
Florence Patterson	...	Hannah
Robin Collins	...	Carriage Boy
Corrie Clark	...	Belle Gardiner
Rebecca Toolan	...	Mrs. Gardiner

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR | SDDS

Certification:

South Korea:12 | Iceland:L | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Austria:6 | Chile:TE | Finland:S | Germany:6 | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | USA:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

At the holiday party where the camera pans down through several floors, the space of the staircase where the camera flows down through is only a matter of inches, roughly 8" - 12" by 24", and is filmed in a castle in the suburbs of Victoria, B.C. in Canada

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The opera which Jo and Frederick watch is Bizet's "Pearl Fishers", which was first performed in Paris in 1863. However, the opera was not performed in the U.S. until 1892, long after the action of the film.

Quotes:

Friedrich Bhaer: I am going to the west. They need teachers and they are not so concerned about the accent.
Jo March: I don't mind it either.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "HBO First Look: The Making of 'Girl, Interrupted' (#7.1)" (2000)

Soundtrack:

Leïla ! Leïla ! Dieu puissant

"Little Women" in it's own right

Though some may argue that the older classic versions of Little Women with Katherine Hepburn and June Allison may be better because it sticks to the book, this is the only version that captures the spirit of the book.

Though the filmmakers took license to cut away certain specifics, the end result is an absolutely gorgeous film that stands on it's own completely. One would be able to watch this film without ever having read or known the book and seen it as it's own film.

The film thrives on small scenes and nuances, moments of person to person contact, production design and cinematography, the all important score (which adds a great deal to the film). This delicate and complicated symbiosis between all aspects tactfully and poignantly creates the story, something missing from many movies these days which creates a tangible and effervescent emotional layer. Then the acting of one of the best ensembles to hit the screen in a long time. Keep an eye out for Susan Sarandon and Claire Daines in roles that ought to have been nominated along with Ryder. These actors create people that endear themselves to us, and make the film even more than it could have been.

It's a small scale masterpiece that will leave you in tears. The film is honest and true in it's portrayal of human emotion. It went from being an adaptation of the book to it's own story and portrayal of people and their lives. It's beautiful aesthetically and dramatically, and a real gem of a film.