LITTLE WOMEN
US, 1994, 115 minutes, Colour.
Winona Ryder, Gabriel Byrne, Trini Alvarado, Samantha Mathis, Kirsten Dunst, Claire Danes, Christian Bale, Eric Stoltz, John Neville, Mary Wickes, Susan Sarandon.
Directed by Gillian Armstrong.
This version of Little Women was directed by Gillian Armstrong who had made a strong mother-daughter film in Australia with High Tide. She began her feature career with My Brilliant Career, made several films in the United States including Mrs Soffel.
The film has a strong cast led by Winona Ryder as Jo and Trini Alvarado as Meg. A very young Kirsten Dunst is very assertive as the younger Amy. Claire Danes is sweetness and light as Beth. The male cast is also very good, especially with Christian Bale as a genial Laurie, Eric Stoltz as a rather prim tutor, John Brooke, and Gabriel Byrne as the professor. Susan Sarandon, more in her Dead Man Walking rather than Thelma and Louise vein, is Marmee.
There have been several versions of Little Women from Hollywood including George Cukor’s 1933 version with Katharine Hepburn as Jo. There was a very colourful 1949 version directed by Mervyn Le Roy with a strong cast of young actresses of the period: June Allyson, Janet Leigh, Elizabeth Taylor and Margaret O’ Brien. A television miniseries version was made in 1978 with Meredith Baxter and Susan Dey, with Dorothy Maguire as Marmee and Greer Garson as Aunt March.
The film is based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott, a classic American novel. Set during the Civil War in the remote north of Massachusetts, it focuses on the bonds within the March family, especially the four sisters. Jo, rather a tomboy, wants to be a writer. Meg is satisfied with marrying. Beth is fragile after scarlet fever when she helped a young family, Kirsten Dunst and Samantha Mathis portray Amy, who eventually marries Laurie.
The film is full of sentiment, at the beginning like a postcard presentation of 19th century America, but grows stronger as the challenges arise for the four sisters.
1.An interpretation of Little Women for the 90s? The popularity of the story, the novel, the various film versions?
2.The re-creation of the 19th century, Massachusetts, the city of Concord? Homes and surroundings? The contrast with New York, Paris? Different atmospheres? Score?
3.The title, Jo’s perspective on her family, writing the book? A portrait of sisters as little women?
4.The visual style, 19th century, very feminine, genteel, the sentiment, colour, postcard-style pictures of locations?
5.The change of tone, from the children, their poverty, their life, the gap of four years, to the girls as adults, Jo in New York, Amy and Laurie in Paris and London?
6.The background of transcendentalist philosophy, the emphasis on achievement, self-assertion, gifts, ideals and perfection? Jo’s explanation to the professor?
7.The March family, the introduction to each of the girls, the household and the servant, Marmee, the father away at the war, Marmee’s charity in the neighbourhood, social life, prospects, the bonds between the sisters?
8.19th century women, the portrait, Marmee and her love for her daughters, the demonstrations of affection, the girls, her correcting of their behaviour? Aunt March and her wanting a companion? Her stuffiness? Laurie next door, Mr Brooke as the tutor, the relationship with men, prospects of marriage, Jo and her strong advocating of marriage for the others, but wondering about it for herself? Joe as the feminist in New York, the suffragette attitude? As an author? The cultivation of art and artists?
9.Jo as the centre, strong, the writer, performing the plays, flirting with Laurie yet controlling, calling Laurie Teddie? Her relationship with her sisters, Amy and the burning of the manuscript and her upset, Marmee correcting her? Her hopes, dealing with Beth’s illness? Teddie and his proposal and her rejection? The years passing, going to New York, her life there, meeting the professor, the discussions, the bonds, sharing intellectual interests, publishing, the return home, the reconciliation with the family, with Amy, with the professor? Her voice-over and commentary?
10.Meg, nice, feminine, attracted to Laurie, upset with Jo’s intervention with Laurie? Going to the dance, the wealthy family, the makeup, emulating the rich, the discussions with Laurie and being real? The attraction to John Brooke, marrying him? Happy home life, the birth of the twins?
11.Beth, nice, a comfort to her sisters, talking with them, playing the piano, visiting the German family, holding the baby, her illness, her weakness, Christmas and the playing of the piano, her death?
12.Amy as precocious, at school, the issue of the limes, burning Jo’s manuscript? Response to Beth’s illness? The carriage ride with Laurie and his promise to kiss her before she died? Growing up, her skill at art, companion to Aunt March, going to Europe, her painting in France, her suitors, Laurie and his proposal, her decision?
13.The men: Laurie, the boy next door, wealth, his grandfather, socialising, his friendship with Jo, with Meg? The discussions with Amy? Going to college? Rejected by Jo? Going to Europe, meeting Amy, the proposal, making something of himself? Brooke: his age, the tutor, his way of talking, gallant, helping Marmee, a suitor to Meg, the twins? The professor, his background in Berlin, coming to America, meeting Jo, their talking, sharing, her writing and his criticism, going to the opera, Jo’s being upset about his comments, his going to Concord, meeting Jo, the prospect of the school?
14.Aunt March, cranky old maid, the girls reading to her, taking Amy to France?
15.Mr Laurence, his attitude towards the girls, care for Laurie, bringing his doctor to Beth, the gift of the piano for Christmas?
16.The house, Marmee’s suggestion that it be a school, the challenge to Jo, for the professor?
17.The film’s attention to the details of life, home, society – a piece of 19th century Americana?
