LITTLE WOMEN (DVD/1933) DVD

Little Women
George Cukor directed this classic adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's sentimental novel with a shimmering lavishness that is a prime example of the classic Hollywood style at its best. The story concerns the lives of four New England sisters -- Jo (Katharine Hepburn), Amy (Joan Bennett), Meg (Frances Dee), and Beth (Jean Parker) -- during the time of the Civil War. Jo desires to leave home to become a writer, but decides to stay to help the family. But Meg announces her plans to get married, so Jo leaves for New York City. As she settles down to a writing career, she meets Professor Fritz Bhaer (Paul Lukas), who helps her with her work. While Jo is away, Amy falls in love and marries Jo's old flame Laurie Laurence (Douglass Montgomery). But Jo is forced to return to New England when she discovers Beth is dying. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

Cast Katharine Hepburn as Jo March Joan Bennett as Amy March Paul Lukas as Fritz Bhaer Frances Dee as Meg March Jean Parker as Beth March Edna May Oliver as Aunt March Douglass Montgomery as Laurie Laurence Henry Stephenson as Mr. Laurence Spring Byington as Marmee March Samuel S. Hinds as Mr. March Mabel Colcord as Hannah John Lodge as Brooke Nydia Westman as Mamie

Crew Van Nest Polglase - Art Director Kenneth MacGowan - Associate Producer Walter Plunkett - Costume Designer George Cukor - Director Jack Kitchin - Editor Merian C. Cooper - Executive Producer Max Steiner - Composer (Music Score) Mel Burns - Makeup Henry W. Gerrard - Cinematographer Hobe Erwin - Set Designer Harry Redmond - Special Effects Sarah Y. Mason - Screenwriter Victor Heerman - Screenwriter Louisa May Alcott - Book Author

Little Women
One of Hollywood's original "chick flicks," this faithful adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's Civil War-era novel focuses almost exclusively on the ambitions, desires, and emotions of the titular four sisters. The expensive and attractive production literally embodies that most manipulative of cinematic clichés, "I laughed, I cried." Little Women's first half, focused on the sisters' effervescent and fun-loving youth, gradually gives way to a melancholy, downbeat second half, in which we witness confusion, disappointment, and death. The film's willingness to concentrate almost exclusively on these four sisters, who vary from confident to reticent, was an important step forward in the cinematic treatment of women. How the "little women" hold up as they undergo their trials and tribulations is also essential, as they survive and thrive without (and occasionally despite) men, who appear only in supporting roles, a tidy inversion of Hollywood tradition. Little Women's star-making performance was that of Katherine Hepburn, whose tomboyish spunk is wonderfully endearing in the role of Jo, the embryonic writer. However, the supporting work of Joan Bennett, Jean Parker, and Frances Dee is also key to the film's enduring appeal. Nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for George Cukor, Little Women won best adapted screenplay for Victor Heerman and Sarah Y. Mason. ~ Dan Jardine, All Movie Guide
 

George Cukor: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Director (nominated) Katharine Hepburn: Venice International Film Festival, Best Actress (winner) Sarah Y. Mason: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Adapted Screenplay (winner) Victor Heerman: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Adapted Screenplay (winner)

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Picture (nominated) National Board of Review, Best Picture (nominated)

General Specifications: Language Options: English Subtitle Options: English, French, Spanish, Por, KO Sound Processing: 5.1: 5 full-range channels. Includes 3 for the front speakers, 2 surround channels for rear speakers, & 1 low-frequency effects (LFE) channel to carry deep bass effects 1: PCM mono Additional Features: Scoring session music cues Interactive menus Notes on the Katherine Hepburn/George Cukor collaboration and awards Theatrical trailer Scene access Subtitles: English, Français, Español, Portuguès, Chinese and Korean DVD Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1: Pre-1954 Standard MPAA Rating: NR DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 115 min   DVD Chapters: Side #1 -- 0. Scenes Selections 1. Credits. [1:14] 2. Mrs. March. [2:28] 3. Jo and Aunt March. [3:20] 4. Sketch Artist Amy. [2:18] 5. Fainting Rehearsal. [6:29] 6. Father's Letter. [2:37] 7. At the Spinet. [2:02] 8. Christmas Morning. [3:04] 9. Movable Feast. [1:23] 10. "The Witch's Curse." [4:56] 11. Visiting the Laurences. [6:53] 12. Fastidious Party Guests. [4:19] 13. Their Admirers. [3:24] 14. Celebrated Authoress. [4:11] 15. Gift of Music. [3:47] 16. The Telegram. [5:00] 17. Beth Stricken. [3:17] 18. Bedside Vigil. [6:31] 19. Homecoming. [1:31] 20. Pledged to Each Other. [4:41] 21. Wedding Day Blues. [5:13] 22. Jo's Decision. [2:37] 23. Mrs. Kirke's Boarding House. [2:51] 24. Kindred Spirits. [4:38] 25. Europe-Bound. [3:39] 26. Writing From the Heart. [5:02] 27. Her Beth. [7:14] 28. Mutual Comfort. [1:19] 29. Learning About Love. [2:06] 30. Brother and Sister. [2:26] 31. All Together. [2:20] 32. Not Empty Now. [1:53] 33. Cast List. [:30]