THE LITTLE PRINCESS
US, 1939, 98 minutes, Colour.
Shirley Temple, Ian Hunter, Mary Nash, Cesar Romero, Arthur Treacher, Richard Greene, Anita Louise, Marcia May Jones, Sybil Jason.
Directed by Walter Lang.
The Little Princess is based on a story by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Originally A Memoir of Sarah, it was adapted for the stage and the author was persuaded to add scenes from the theatre piece to a final version of the novel. The author is also famous for Little Lord Fauntleroy and The Secret Garden. All three stories have been filmed many times.
The film was a star vehicle for Shirley Temple, as was The Bluebird at the same time. She was coming to the end of her period as a child star. At one time she was the most popular star from Hollywood. The film has a strong supporting cast of character actors as well as a romance between Richard Greene and Anita Louise.
The film is set in1899, the beginning of the Boer War, the Siege of Mafeking and its relief. Shirley Temple portrays the daughter of a soldier who is wounded in the war. Treated well at a school for young ladies, when she is impoverished, the director (Mary Nash as a kind of Wicked Witch of the West in London) makes her a servant in the house. The little girl searches for her father – and ultimately finds him, with the help of Queen Victoria, who appears at the end of the film.
The film was directed by Walter Lang who also directed The Bluebird as well as many MGM musicals in the 40s and 50s.
The popularity of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s stories? The many film versions? The Shirley Temple film as a classic?
1. Adapting the story for Shirley Temple, her screen presence, star quality, performance, song-and-dance, sentiment?
2. The colonies, London at the end of the 19th century, the period, the military, Miss Minchin’s School, the streets, the hospital? The musical score, song-and-dance routines?
3. The appeal to older audiences, younger audiences?
4. 1899, Sarah and her experience of India, the opening with the Boer War, Mafeking, the siege, the relief? The army, the parades, the volunteers? The hospital, the injuries, shellshock? Queen Victoria’s visit?
5. Crewe and Sarah? The bond between them, love, the father spoiling his daughter, the army requirements, leaving Sarah at the school, disappearing from the room?
6. Going to Miss Minchin’s, the pony and the trouble, Miss Minchin and the overtones of the witch? Bertie more genial? Miss Minchin changing at the prospect of money, moving Lavinia out of the room, treating Sarah as special?
7. The room, the comfort, her father leaving, Becky as the servant cleaning the shoes, the friendship between the two, relationship with the other girls, friendly, the clash with Lavinia?
8. Life at the school, classes, meals, Miss Rose, Jeffrey, Bertie?
9. The appearance of Ramm Dass, pleasant, looking after Sarah?
10. Miss Rose, an orphan at Miss Minchin’s, used by Miss Minchin, meeting Jeffrey? Jeffrey and his grandfather, their clashes, teaching Sarah to ride? The farewell, the bad news for Sarah, the letter and Miss Minchin reading it, her being sacked, going to the hospital? With the wounded Jeffrey?
11. The party for Sarah, her presents, the news about her poverty, the change, the presents given back? The reaction of the girls?
12. Her room, cold and hungry, working in the kitchen, being criticised, with Becky, their sharing, Lavinia and her domination – and Sarah throwing the ashes over her?
13. The visits to the hospital, search for her father? Bertie leaving, pretending to be a major, everybody joining in the pretence for Sarah’s sake? The song and dance for the soldiers?
14. Crewe and his injury, Sarah’s beliefs that she would find him, his shellshock? The care at the hospital?
15. The insertion of the fantasy dream, all the characters present, costumes, comedy, the trial of Miss Minchin, the ballet? Sarah waking up and finding the room transformed? Ram Dass looking on?
16. Miss Minchin, chasing Sarah, the police?
17. Queen Victoria, with the soldiers? Talking with Sarah? Her help?
18. Sarah in the room, hearing her name, finding her father, bringing him back to consciousness?
19. The happy ending – and 1939 only forty years after the events portrayed?
