Plot
The March sisters live and grow in post-Civil War America.
Release Year: 1994
Rating: 7.1/10 (20,523 voted)
Critic's Score: 87/100
Director:
Gillian Armstrong
Stars: Susan Sarandon, Winona Ryder, Kirsten Dunst
Storyline With their father away fighting in the Civil War, Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy grow up with their mother in somewhat reduced circumstances. They are a close family who inevitably have their squabbles and tragedies. But the bond holds even when, later, men friends start to become a part of the household.
Writers: Louisa May Alcott, Robin Swicord
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. March
Florence Paterson
-
Hannah
Robin Collins
-
Carriage Boy
Corrie Clark
-
Belle Gardiner
Rebecca Toolan
-
Mrs. Gardiner
Taglines:
The story that has Lived in our hearts For generations, Now comes to the screen For the holidays
Release Date: 21 December 1994
Filming Locations: British Columbia, Canada
Box Office Details
Budget: $15,000,000
(estimated)
Gross: $50,083,616
(USA)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
At the end of the credits, the film is dedicated to two persons, one of whom is Polly Klaas, the 12-year-old girl who was kidnapped from her Petaluma, California, home in 1993 and later found murdered. Winona Ryder, much of whose youth was spent in Petaluma, joined in the highly publicized search effort and made a number of emotional appeals for the child's safe return.
Goofs:
Anachronisms:
The lyrics the family sings at Christmas to "Deck the Halls" were not written until 1903, almost 40 years after the timeframe shown.
Quotes: Amy:
Jo, how could you, your one beauty!
User Review
"Little Women" in it's own right
Rating: 10/10
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.
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