Little Lord Fauntleroy (1936)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

John Cromwell

Writers:

Frances Hodgson Burnett (novel)
Hugh Walpole (writer)

Release Date:

2 April 1936 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Family

Plot:

An American boy turns out to be the long-lost heir of a British fortune. He is sent to live with the cold and unsentimental lord who oversees the trust.

Plot Keywords:

Lord | Heir | Grandfather | England | Disowned

Cast

Freddie Bartholomew	...	Cedric 'Ceddie' Erroll
Dolores Costello	...	'Dearest' Erroll (as Dolores Costello Barrymore)
C. Aubrey Smith	...	Earl of Dorincourt
Guy Kibbee	...	Mr. Silas Hobbs
Henry Stephenson	...	Havisham
Mickey Rooney	...	Dick Tipton
Constance Collier	...	Lady Constanzia Lorridale
E.E. Clive	...	Sir Harry Lorridale
Una O'Connor	...	Mary
Jackie Searl	...	Tom Tipton
Jessie Ralph	...	The Applewoman
Ivan F. Simpson	...	Rev. Mordaunt
Helen Flint	...	Minna Tipton
Eric Alden	...	Ben Tipton
May Beatty	...	Mrs. Mellon the Housekeeper

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono | Mono (RCA Victor High Fidelity System)

Certification:

Finland:S

Company:

Selznick International Pictures

Quotes:

Cedric "Ceddie" Erroll: Are you the Earl? I'm your grandson, you know, that Mr. Havisham brought. I'm Lord Fauntleroy.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Club Dread (2004)

Great British/American partnership---once again.

Two great 1930's child actors, Freddie Bartholomew and Mickey Rooney, play Little Lord Fauntleroy--Cedric Errol, and streetwise American friend Dick Tipton respectively. (Part British Ceddie fights the bullies--and Dick Tipton runs to help...they fight together. A preview of what a lot of Brits & Americans did in WWII a few years after this film!!!)

Also watch for Sir C. Aubrey Smith as the definitive hostile old Lord Dorincourt, who is charmed and warmed by his newly-met half American grandson's unconditional love. Character actor Guy Kibbee also seems made to play staunch anti-aristocrat American Silas Hobbs. If you read the book (free online), the movie fits it well!

Did you know the book LITTLE LORD FAUNTLEROY was an incredible late 19th century "hit"? Some statesmen actually credit this tale of reconciliation between an old Earl and his half American grandson with improving the then-strained 19th century British-American relationship.

Drew Barrymore's grandmother Dolores Costello Barrymore plays Cedric's charming American Mother.

While this film needs a sound and picture cleanup, it is still worth the watch!(TO YOU FILM PEOPLE--LOTS OF PEOPLE LIKE THIS OLD FILM. CAN'T SOMEONE CLEAN UP THE PICTURE & SOUND?)