Little Women (1933)

November 24, 1933 (US) • Drama, Family • 115m

Overview

Four sisters come of age in America in the aftermath of the Civil War.

Director

Louisa May Alcott, Sarah Y. Mason, Victor Heerman

Top Billed

Katharine Hepburn

Keywords

friendship based on novel or book holiday shyness professor romance coming of age boarding house envy tomboy governess home front american civil war aspiring writer literary adaptation snobbery historical drama manners life during wartime family life generosity wealth inequality character four sisters charity work scarlet fever

Where to watch

Rent

Buy

Top Billed Cast

Luke Cosgrave

Old Man at Christian Commision (uncredited)

Virginia Howell

Worker at Christian Commission (uncredited)

Crew

Reviews

Parker

⭐ 7/10

December 20, 2024

"ill try to be what he loves to call me. a little woman."

katharine hepburn has easily become my favorite jo march. in reality, this film is probably five stars for the first half, and two for the second.

one thing i really liked about this version compared to the others was the subtle forshadowing of key events. beth's introduction shows her with a cold and a broken piano, and i liked how she begged her sisters to find an imperfection in her, but they couldn't. her desperateness to fit in with them. a subtle hint at her fear of being left behind. then amy's first scene has her getting in trouble for doodling in class, which shows us early on that she is artistically aligned, though perhaps not completely encouraged, which makes her decision to go with aunt march feel all the more justified. and jo is right away mischevious, working for her aunt but intentionally acting lazy and boyish. as someone who believes jo to be transmasc more than a lesbian (though she could be both), i felt that the first half of this was way more in line with how i imagine jo in my head.

the only character who feels a bit underdeveloped to me is meg, but this is likely because her character falls intro tropes typical of female characters in this era. they don't see the need to break the mold with her. it's times like these, though, that i miss the precision and delicacy of gerwig's adaptation.

i will also add that this is my least favorite laurie and marmee. laurie still has a fun dynamic with jo initially, but christian bale will always be my favorite, even if i believe gerwig understood his character more than anyone. and marmee, besides her incredibly kind nature, didn't stand out to me here, though we can't all be susan sarandon.

oh, and i didn't know how to include this in my review, but i also really loved that jo stepped asside at the family gathering to talk to beth in heaven. that she never forgot her and spoke to her about things that'd make her happy, like the family being back together again. it's a really cute detail that adds a lot to their deep love for one another.

show less

Recommended Movies

Moana

Project Hail Mary

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

The Shawshank Redemption

Status

Released

Original Language

Budget

$424,000

Revenue

$4,140,000

Loading…