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Little Princess

Actor(s): Shirley Temple, Richard Greene, Anita Louise, Ian Hunter, Cesar Romero
Director(s): Walter Lang
69

Movie Details

DVD Synopsis

Shirley Temple's first Technicolor feature, The Little Princess was inspired by the oft-filmed novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Set in turn-of-the-century England, the film finds Temple being enrolled in a boarding school by her wealthy widowed father (Ian Hunter), who must head off to fight in the Boer War. At first, Temple is treated like royalty; her behavior couldn't be more down to earth, but this preferential treatment foments resentment. When her father is reported killed in the war, circumstances are severely altered. The spiteful headmistress (Mary Nash) relegates Temple to servant status and forces the girl to sleep in a drafty attic. She keeps her spirits up by hoping against hope that her father will return, and to that end she haunts the corridors of a nearby military hospital. Queen Victoria doesn't have to make a guest appearance in the tearfully joyous closing sequence, but it does serve as icing on the cake to this, one of Temple's most enjoyable feature films. Reliable Shirley Temple flick supporting actors Cesar Romero and Arthur Treacher are back in harness in The Little Princess, while adult leading lady Anita Louise figures prominently in a sugary dream sequence. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Actors

Shirley Temple - Sara Crewe
Richard Greene - Geoffrey Hamilton
Anita Louise - Miss Rose
Ian Hunter - Capt. Crewe
Cesar Romero - Ram Dass

Member Movie Reviews

S A A. (Learned2Heal) wrote on 12/10/2008...

1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

An old-time favorite, Little Princess is fun to watch, because the sets are lavish and interesting, with quite a bit of variety: A high end boarding school lively with little girls and various staff + evil headmistress. A cold, dark, lonely attic room, which can be (and is) transformed into a delightful, warm and inviting receiving parlor. A neighbor who has traveled to far lands, and has the splendidly opulent apartment and strange but cool turbaned servant to prove it. And finally, the clean, somewhat austere, but classic lines of the military hospital. These all contribute to the enticing aura of Little Princess.

Then there is, of course, the adorably talented Shirley Temple who, as a bonus, isn't hollering "Grandfather, Grandfather!!!" at every opportunity. (One thing that made Heidi a little tedious.) She does let out a few "Father, Father"s, but they are less numerous and more refined, so that's OK here.

All in all, a charming little movie that will warm your heart and get you misty-eyed over the simpler, kinder days of yesteryore...