Little Women

Rating:
Summary: A CLASSIC COMES TO LIFE - WONDERFUL TRANSFER
Review: "Little Women" (1949) is the delightful coming of age story that follows the exploits of the March sisters, Jo (June Allyson), Beth (Margaret O'Brien), Amy (Elizabeth Taylor) and Meg (Janet Leigh) as they mature from the angst of childhood into their unsuspecting futures as young women of merit and substance. Jo is a tomboy, defying all convention and propriety in her quest to live a life of enchantment and excitement. That excitement leads Jo first into the arms of the very wealthy, Theodore (Peter Lawford), who she rejects, then the penniless, but infinitely better suited, Professor Bhaer (Rossano Brazzi), who eventually wins her heart. This was the second time Louisa May Alcott's novel had been filmed - the first, in Technicolor. As Jo, June Allyson's performance holds up quite well against Katherine Hepburn's indelible original. Allyson is properly pert, plucky and disdainful all at once. She makes the part her own. Mary Astor is tender as Mrs. March. Also in the cast is C. Aubrey Smith, making his final screen appearance as the stoic but loveable Mr. James Lawrence and veteran curmudgeon, Lucille Watson as Aunt March. This is a wonderful tale no matter the age and the acting in this version is perhaps the finest ever realized.
Warner Video gives us an absolutely gorgeous looking transfer. Colors are rich, bold and vibrant. Flesh tones have been nicely balanced. Black and contrast levels are dead on. Only in a few scenes does the transfer tend to lose fine detail. The audio is mono but nicely mixed and fresh sounding. There are no extras.

Rating:
Summary: A CLASSIC COMES TO LIFE - WONDERFUL TRANSFER
Review: "Little Women" - a coming of age story that follows the lives of the March sisters as they mature from the angst of childhood into young women. This is the second time Louisa May Alcott's novel has been filmed - the first, in Technicolor. In the lead role of Joesphine "Joe" March, June Allyson takes over from Kathryn Hepburn's original, indelible on screen performance. Allyson is properly pert, plucky and disdainful all at once and really makes the part her own. The rest of the women are rounded out by a solid cast that includes Janet Leigh, Elizabeth Taylor(the one miscast member in the troupe), Margaret O'Brien (a tad long in the tooth) and Mary Astor as their mother. Also in the cast are C. Aubrey Smith and Peter Lawford as Laurie. This is a wonderful tale no matter your age and the acting in this version really holds up.
TRANSFER: Warner gives us a beautiful looking transfer. Colors are rich, bold and vibrant. Flesh tones have been nicely balanced. Black and contrast levels are dead on. Only in a few night time scenes does the transfer tend to lose fine detail. Over all, a great looking DVD. The audio is mono but nicely mixed and fresh sounding.
EXTRAS: None to speak of.
BOTTOM LINE: What a wonderful movie and an admirable looking transfer besides. My respect for the good people at Warner Brothers continues to grow. A definite "Yes" for your collection!

Rating:
Summary: No doubt! Definately watch it!
Review: "As filhas de Dr. March" (The daughters of Dr. March - translated in Portuguese) was the very first book I got a hold of. I fell in love with it and tried the video version starring June Allyson (in English of course)...loved it too! Yes, everything, from Jo to Laurie and even the set and the music. This version is much (a thousand times) better than the recent version of "Little Women" starring Winona Ryder (because Winona Ryder was too "soft" for a character like Jo...not to mention that it is annoying to hear Winona speak.) Yes, I think the real Josephine March (Louisa May Alcott) would have been much happier and satisfied with this one...No doubt about it!

Rating:
Summary: A CLASSIC COMES TO LIFE - WONDERFUL TRANSFER
Review: "Little Women" (1949) is the delightful coming of age story that follows the exploits of the March sisters, Jo (June Allyson), Beth (Margaret O?Brien), Amy (Elizabeth Taylor) and Meg (Janet Leigh) as they mature from the angst of childhood into their unsuspecting futures as young women of merit and substance. Jo is a tomboy, defying all convention and propriety in her quest to live a life of enchantment and excitement. That excitement leads Jo first into the arms of the very wealthy, Theodore (Peter Lawford), who she rejects, then the penniless, but infinitely better suited, Professor Bhaer (Rossano Brazzi), who eventually wins her heart. This was the second time Louisa May Alcott's novel had been filmed - the first, in Technicolor. As Jo, June Allyson?s performance holds up quite well against Katherine Hepburn?s indelible original. Allyson is properly pert, plucky and disdainful all at once. She makes the part her own. Mary Astor is tender as Mrs. March. Also in the cast is C. Aubrey Smith, making his final screen appearance as the stoic but loveable Mr. James Lawrence and veteran curmudgeon, Lucille Watson as Aunt March. This is a wonderful tale no matter the age and the acting in this version is perhaps the finest ever realized.
Warner Video gives us an absolutely gorgeous looking transfer. Colors are rich, bold and vibrant. Flesh tones have been nicely balanced. Black and contrast levels are dead on. Only in a few scenes does the transfer tend to lose fine detail. The audio is mono but nicely mixed and fresh sounding. There are no extras.

Rating:
Summary: A CLASSIC COMES TO LIFE - WONDERFUL TRANSFER
Review: "Little Women" - a coming of age story that follows the lives of the March sisters as they mature from the angst of childhood into young women. This is the second time Louisa May Alcott's novel has been filmed - the first, in Technicolor. In the lead role of Joesphine "Joe" March, June Allyson takes over from Kathryn Hepburn's original, indelible on screen performance. Allyson is properly pert, plucky and disdainful all at once and really makes the part her own. The rest of the women are rounded out by a solid cast that includes Janet Leigh, Elizabeth Taylor(the one miscast member in the troupe), Margaret O'Brien (a tad long in the tooth) and Mary Astor as their mother. Also in the cast are C. Aubrey Smith and Peter Lawford as Laurie. This is a wonderful tale no matter your age and the acting in this version really holds up.
TRANSFER: Warner gives us a beautiful looking transfer. Colors are rich, bold and vibrant. Flesh tones have been nicely balanced. Black and contrast levels are dead on. Only in a few night time scenes does the transfer tend to lose fine detail. Over all, a great looking DVD. The audio is mono but nicely mixed and fresh sounding.
EXTRAS: None to speak of.
BOTTOM LINE: What a wonderful movie and an admirable looking transfer besides. My respect for the good people at Warner Brothers continues to grow. A definite "Yes" for your collection!

Rating:
Summary: Unbelievably Touching!
Review: A sweet, charming, non-stop entertainment film. My only regret is that Rossanno Brazzi is in it, but that's okay. This 1949 ACADEMY-AWARD WINNING version of the beloved classic was incredibly done; with a script and cast to die for.

June Allyson plays the tom-boy writer, Jo March ("Look at me! Dying to go fight by father's side, and here I am--sitting and knitting...like a poky old woman."). Allyson never stopped being the character, and is such fun to watch.

Margaret O'Brien plays little Beth March, the frail and sickly child in the family ("We are a lot better off than a lot of people. Orphans, for instance. We have father, and Marmee, and each other."). I cried like a baby in the end of the film, when our poor Bethy dies from Scarlet fever.

Elizabeth Taylor made me laugh out loud so many times in this movie, portraying Amy March ("When one is in Europe, one feels that the dirt there is so picturesque!"). She can't stop eating, and she feels that her nose is unshapley. Hm.

Janet Leigh played Meg March, the most sensible of the girls, and the oldest ("I haven't changed [Jo]! But it's about time YOU had!!"). She is confused by her love for the nasal-voiced Mr. Brookes, and ends up marrying him, in spite of all Jo's begs for her not to.

Lastly, Mary Astor plays Marmee as gracefully as...well, gracefully ("God bless and keep us all."). Sometimes, I wish that she could be my mother too! (no offense, mom).

This film made me laugh hysterically (such as when the girls rehearse a play; or when Jo gets mad at Amy for eating too much), or sob uncontrallably (when Beth dies, and when Jo finds out her aunt is taking Amy to Europe instead of her). I would definitely reccomend this to ALL movie-goers, fans of the book, or fans of anyone in the cast. It is superb.

Rating:
Summary: Spare Yourself the Pain and Watch the 1994 Version...
Review: After seeing the 1994 version, this film seemed simply horrendous. The charaters do not match the descriptions in the book, and on a whole it does not capture the feeling of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women. The newer version, however, was beautifully done and maintains the lively characters and warm feeling of the novel. I wouldn't recommend this version at all.

Rating:
Summary: SEE THE 1933 OR 1994 VERSION, NOT THIS.
Review: AFTER WATCHING THE 1994 VERSION STARRING WINONA RYDER, I HAD A HARD TIME WATCHING THIS ONE. THE ONLY REASON I BOTHERED IS BECAUSE THE 94 VERSION WAS SO GREAT. I THOUGHT THIS ONE MIGHT BE GOOD. SORRY BUT YOU CAN'T EVEN COMPARE'M. SO WHAT AM I DOING? BYE.

Rating:
Summary: A shameful interpretation of a classic
Review: Alcott's Little Women is an all time classic. It may not be everyone's favorite (although chances are if you are female it has been at some point in your life)but just the fact that it is still read and passed down 120 years after it's original publication means something. What it means for this book is that it's story an character's are timeless. Any reader can relate to someone in this book, whether male or female. The characters are so well developed as the reader feels they grow with them over time. There are other reasons the book is the classic it is but these are some of the most important, and some that will affect the viewing of a movie based on the book.

Some may think it irrelevant to spend time discussing the merits of the book, which is indeed an altogether seperate work, but I do so because it is what will inevitably shape the viewers opinion more than any other factor, especially with an adaptation of such a widely read book. What the 1949 version of Little Women boils down to is a soulless technicolor telling of a story that deserves much better. Yes, there are many changes in adaptation movies that are made out of necessity due to the limitations and advantages of the individual mediums, but the story can still be a success with these changes. In this case, however, many small changes effectively rob the story of almost all meaning. Consider the potrayal of Laurie, the girls next door neighbor. In this movie he is changed from a complex character filled with sensativity and some slightly feminine interests, and turned into a strapping soldier with no discernable depth and who looks nowhere near as young as the 16 year old boy he is meant to be. That casting oddity, however, is dwarfed by the choice of a glamorous Elizabeth Taylor to play the youngest of the girls, pre-teen Amy. It would be perfectly understandable for someone unfamiliar with the story to view a scene of this movie and think she was the oldest of the girls. The disguting part of this is that it seems she was cast for the benefit of the grown men seeing this movie, to allow them some eye candy in the disturbing form of a character meant to be no older than 12.

Finally, another reason the book endures is because the questions of character's motivations allow it to be used as the basis for feminist arguments, and is even sometimes argued to be a work of feminism (if you have doubts about this, check your local library for the volumes of criticism published). This movie on the other hand presents ideas (although it's debatable that any thinking went into this production) that are very cut and dry. Go ahead, watch it if you like. Don't expect to find anything of value though. And if you retain any interest in the story afterwords, treat yourself to the 1933 or 1994 versions as both have much more going in their favor.

Rating:
Summary: Simply Perfect!
Review: Although I do not consider this version of Little Women to be the best, I do consider it to be my favorite. Why? I'm not exactly sure. Is it because I am a die hard Elizabeth Taylor fan? Maybe. I really think it is becuase of the Technicolor that this Little Women is filmed in. From the opening shot of a patchwork image of the women, to the wintry Christmas this film evokes an image of a more slow time, both in the movies and during when this film is actually set. Many people, including myself, have noticed that this film is virtually a shot for shot remake of the 1933 Katharine Hepburn version (which you should also check out) right down to the sets. It is also wonderful to see several members of the "Meet Me In St. Louis" cast featured including Margaret O'Brien, Mary Astor and Leon Ames. So, rent, purchase the video, or pre-order the DVD (which is to be released August 26th, 2003) and check out the 1949 version of Little Women. In my opinion, this is sure not to disapoint.