Little Women (1933)

Director:

George Cukor

Writers:

Louisa May Alcott (by)
Sarah Y. Mason (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

24 November 1933 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Family | Romance

Plot:

Little Women is a "coming of age" drama tracing the lives of four sisters: Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy. During the American Civil War...

Plot Keywords:

American Civil War | Scarlet Fever | Proposal | Coming Of Age | Love

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Katharine Hepburn	...	Jo
Joan Bennett	...	Amy
Paul Lukas	...	Prof. Bhaer
Edna May Oliver	...	Aunt March
Jean Parker	...	Beth
Frances Dee	...	Meg
Henry Stephenson	...	Mr. Laurence
Douglass Montgomery	...	Laurie
John Lodge	...	Brooke (as John Davis Lodge)
Spring Byington	...	Marmee
Samuel S. Hinds	...	Mr. March (as Samuel Hinds)
Mabel Colcord	...	Hannah
Marion Ballou	...	Mrs. Kirke
Nydia Westman	...	Mamie
Harry Beresford	...	Doctor Bangs
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Madam Borget	...	Housekeeper (uncredited)
Francesca Braggiotti	...	Dance Teacher (uncredited)
Luke Cosgrave	...	Old Man (uncredited)
Florence Enright	...	Seamstress (uncredited)
Harold Entwistle	...	Laurence's Butler (uncredited)
June Filmer	...	Tina (uncredited)
Bonita Granville	...	Amy's Classmate (uncredited)
Dorothy Gray	...	Girl at Boarding House (uncredited)
Robert 'Buzz' Henry	...	Boy (uncredited)
Virginia Howell	...	War Worker (uncredited)
Olin Howland	...	Mr. Davis (uncredited)
Tony Kales	...	Boy (uncredited)
Marilyn Knowlden	...	Amy's Classmate (uncredited)
Marina Koshetz	...	Flo King (uncredited)
Lily Lodge	...	Lily (uncredited)
Charles F. Miller	...	Minister (uncredited)
Mary Wallace	...	Boarding House Girl (uncredited)
Howard Wilson	...	Young Man (uncredited)
Shorty Woods	...	Sleigh Driver (uncredited)

Directed by
George Cukor

Writing credits
Louisa May Alcott		(by) (as Louisa M. Alcott)
Sarah Y. Mason		(screenplay) &
Victor Heerman		(screenplay)
Del Andrews		contributing writer (uncredited)
Alfred Block		contributing writer (uncredited)
Charles Brackett		contributing writer (uncredited)
Salisbury Field		contributing writer (uncredited)
David Hempstead		contributing writer (uncredited)
Jane Murfin		contributing writer (uncredited)
G.B. Stern		contributing writer (uncredited)
Wanda Tuchock		contributing writer (uncredited)
John Twist		contributing writer (uncredited)

Produced by
Merian C. Cooper	....	executive producer
Kenneth Macgowan	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Max Steiner

Cinematography by
Henry W. Gerrard		(photographed by) (as Henry Gerrard)

Film Editing by
Jack Kitchin

Art Direction by
Van Nest Polglase

Set Decoration by
Hobe Erwin		(settings)
Ray Moyer		(uncredited)

Costume Design by
Walter Plunkett

Makeup Department
Elmer Armstrong	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Mel Berns	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
William Ely	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Jean Woodhall	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Wallace Fox	....	unit manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Edward Killy	....	assistant director (uncredited)
John Lodge	....	associate director (uncredited)
Mortimer Offner	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
George Peckham	....	assistant propman (uncredited)
Charles Sayers	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Frank H. Harris	....	sound recordist
Victor B. Appel	....	recording assistant (uncredited)
George D. Ellis	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
Ellis Fesler	....	recording assistant (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Harry Redmond Jr.	....	special effects (uncredited)
Harry Redmond Sr.	....	special effects (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
S.H. Barton	....	chief electrician (uncredited)
Tom Clement	....	chief grip (uncredited)
Robert De Grasse	....	second camera (uncredited)
George E. Diskant	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Mike Fitzgerald	....	grip (uncredited)
Guy Gilman	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Mike Graves	....	assistant grip (uncredited)
J. Merry	....	best boy (uncredited)
John Miehle	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Emily Perkins	....	wardrobe (uncredited)

Music Department
Bernhard Kaun	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Del Andrews	....	production associate
Eddie Arden	....	double (uncredited)
Francesca Braggiotti	....	instructor: ballroom dancing (uncredited)
Dorothy Dawson	....	production secretary (uncredited)
Gale Evans	....	script clerk (uncredited)
S. Barret McCormick	....	advertising coordinator (uncredited)
Elizabeth McGaffey	....	research (uncredited)
Robert Sisk	....	director of advertising and publicity (uncredited)

Production Companies

• RKO Radio Pictures

Distributors

• RKO Radio Pictures (1933) (USA) (theatrical)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1992) (USA) (laserdisc)
• Selznick Releasing Organization (TV release)
• Warner Bros. Television (????) (USA) (TV)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Certification:

UK:U | USA:Approved (PCA #1341-R: 29 August 1935 for re-release) | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | New Zealand:G | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Chile:TE | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Filming Locations:

Lancaster's Lake, Sunland, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

Louise Closser Hale first performed the role of Aunt March, but after her death on July 26, 1933, in the middle of filming, Edna May Oliver took over the role.

Goofs:

Continuity: Position of Jo's legs after falling while fencing changes.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Marmee March: So you're going to Washington?
Elderly man: Yes, ma'am; my son is sick in the hospital there.
Marmee March: Oh, this will be an anxious Christmas for you.
Marmee March: [finding him a coat] I think this one will do; let's try this. Is it your only son?
Elderly man: No, ma'am. I had four; two were killed, one is a prisoner.
Marmee March: [deeply moved] You've done a great deal for your country, sir.
Elderly man: Oh, not a mite more than I ought, ma'am. I'd go myself if I was any use. Thank you for the overcoat.
Marmee March: Wait a minute...
Marmee March: [giving him some money] I hope you find him better.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Margot Kidder/The Chieftains (#4.15)" (1979)

Soundtrack:

Abide with Me

Litttle Big Women

The film might be more accurately titled "Little Woman", with Katherine Hepburn seizing the lead role, and never letting go. Otherwise, it's the story of four "Little Women" growing up, and finding love's direction. Hepburn (she's Jo) is sister to Joan Bennett (she's Amy), Jean Parker (she's Beth), and Frances Dee (she's Meg). Of their suitors, Douglass Montgomery (he's Laurie) gets the most action.

Ms. Bennett steals the actual acting honors with a performance that is natural and consistent; her voice and mannerisms are appropriately girlish, young womanish… and, selfish. Ms. Hepburn plays girlish like she's had too many cups of coffee; additionally, she never looks even remotely "tomboyish"; looking, instead, like a ravishingly made-up MGM movie star. Ms. Parker rises out of her sick bed like a zombie, but is okay in other scenes.

Watching Hepburn being romanced by Mr. Montgomery and Paul Lukas is unnerving. The story does have some reasons to watch, however. The production is obviously top-of-the-line. Hepburn may not be in her best role, but it's not awful; she slows down and gets better after her character grows older. The script has well-written characters - Jo, Amy, and Laurie - who illustrate a sweet story of family, love, and friendship.

******* Little Women (11/16/33) George Cukor ~ Katharine Hepburn, Joan Bennett, Douglass Montgomery, Paul Lukas