Samantha: An American Girl Holiday (2004) (TV)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Nadia Tass

Writer:

Valerie Tripp ("Samantha" stories from the "The American Girl Collection")

Release Date:

23 November 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Drama

Plot:

Set in 1904, "American Girls" revolves around Samantha as she moves in with her grandmother and learns how to become a proper Victorian young lady.

Plot Keywords:

Sister | Girl | Friend | Servant | Loyalty

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Mia Farrow	...	Grandmary Edwards
AnnaSophia Robb	...	Samantha
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Olivia Ballantyne	...	Jenny O'Malley
Jordan Bridges	...	Uncle Gard
Jackie Brown	...	Factory Lady
Hannah Endicott-Douglas	...	Bridget O'Malley
Karen Eyo	...	School Principal
Keir Gilchrist	...	Factory Boy
Ashley Green	...	Background
Shary Guthrie	...	Teacher
Katie Henney	...	Host of 'Behind the Scenes'
Michael Kanev	...	Eddie Ryland
Kelsey Lewis	...	Nellie O'Malley
Rebecca Mader	...	Aunt Cornelia
Shae Norris	...	Agatha
Clare Stone	...	Emma

Also Known As:

American Girls: Samantha (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Red Om Films

Trivia:

Annasophia Robb is a blonde, but she wore a brunette wig in her role as Samantha.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: You can see the camera man on the mirror when Cornelia is getting dressed for the wedding.

Quotes:

[On Samantha's enthusiasm]
Uncle Gard: Cornelia, you've created a crusader.

Movie Connections:

Followed by Molly: An American Girl on the Home Front (2006) (TV)

Sweet, Lovely Film

10 stars

I greatly enjoyed this sweet, gentle film set in 1904, about two young girls who become friends, and the troubles that befall them and how they deal with those problems.

The young actresses playing these roles did very well and made the characters seem real, and made me care about them. All the little girls were adorable.

Samantha is well off financially and lives with her grandmother (played by Mia Farrow - a treat to see her), but Samantha is an orphan and has lost both her parents in a boating accident.

Grandmother's beautiful, old mansion is out in the countryside and Samantha is a little bit lonely, when an Irish lass, Nellie, her father, and Nellie's two younger sisters arrive, to work at the neighbor's home next door.

Nellie's mother is deceased, and her family is poor, so they all have to work, despite being only children. (The film also deals with child labor.) Nellie and Samantha become fast friends, and Samantha is quite resourceful in helping her friends.

I really liked this movie and highly recommend it. Young girls will love it, and it has enough story interest that an adult will not be bored watching it either.