Little Women; film

I really disliked it. There were too many ridiculous changes. So Professor Baher didn’t arrange to have Jo,s book printed but the editor of the local rag who printed those stories of hers. So the best part of the story ruined. The characters were wrong, especially Amy. It lacked charm and warmth.

Ps the best adaptation was the nineteen forties one with June Allyson, Elizabeth Taylor,Margaret O’Brian and Janet Leigh. It kept to the book and was a joy to watch.

Lovetopaint037

Ps the best adaptation was the nineteen forties one with June Allyson, Elizabeth Taylor,Margaret O’Brian and Janet Leigh. It kept to the book and was a joy to watch.

I wondered if the problem was that I love the old adaptations so much. But then again I’ve loved many newer adaptations of old films. I got confused with the film flitting backwards and forwards in time. The music wasn’t memorable. I was very aware of who the actors actually were. Eg Meryl Streep becomes whoever she is portraying in a film. But in this she was, to me, Meryl Street. And it was the same with all of them.

When I was young, (late 50’s) there was a tv version of Little Women.

The theme music was ‘Elizabethan Serenade’, and I’m always reminded of the series when I hear that music.

I must google that series Calendargirl. I seem to remember falling in love with Laurie. Maybe I will re read the book if I can find it in the library. I must also look and reread What Katy Did which I also loved.

Oh, ‘What Katy Did’ was a huge favourite of mine.

Plus ‘What Katy Did At School’.

Oh I love the internet. The 1951 BBC series of Little Women was broadcast live and no recording made. However the 1958 series was recorded. It starred Andree Melly as Jo. I think that was the one I watched as I would have been 9. I remember Andree Melly and will now look her up in wikipedia and see if I can find clips of the 1958 version.

Without the internet none of this would be possible. I would never have remembered her name and nowhere could I read about her and the other actors,

I enjoyed the newest Little Women at the cinema when it came out. It can be difficult to see a work you love and know well, re- interpreted, but I felt that it did justice to the book.

My quibble was about the publication of Jo’s book. It was the one of the most important parts of the whole story of Little Women and Good Wives. ‘’ Under the umbrella “ where Jo runs after Professor Bauer in the pouring rain and he explains how he felt about her book and how his friend published it. It was romantic and important to the understanding of their relationship. However, to replace that with the editor of a cheap newspaper publishing it was ridiculous. I felt that the makers of that film had no love for the books.

HelterSkelter1

Oh I love the internet. The 1951 BBC series of Little Women was broadcast live and no recording made. However the 1958 series was recorded. It starred Andree Melly as Jo. I think that was the one I watched as I would have been 9. I remember Andree Melly and will now look her up in wikipedia and see if I can find clips of the 1958 version.

Without the internet none of this would be possible. I would never have remembered her name and nowhere could I read about her and the other actors,

It must have been the 1958 one I watched, as I wasn’t born in 1951.

I liked the Katy books as well Calendargirl they were never quite as popular as other books of the time.

Lovetopaint037

My quibble was about the publication of Jo’s book. It was the one of the most important parts of the whole story of Little Women and Good Wives. ‘’ Under the umbrella “ where Jo runs after Professor Bauer in the pouring rain and he explains how he felt about her book and how his friend published it. It was romantic and important to the understanding of their relationship. However, to replace that with the editor of a cheap newspaper publishing it was ridiculous. I felt that the makers of that film had no love for the books.

In the special features Gerwig said she begged to be the one to direct the film as she loved the book and modelled herself on Jo. I must admit that, although I was a book’ish child I never read Little Women. I was more into books about animals; Black Beauty; Lad of Sunnybank, White Fang, National Velvet and Joseph E Chipperfields books about dogs and wild mustangs. So I was rather looking to this film to make me fall in love with Jo and her sisters. I wanted to feel moved and a little bit choked up but I found it confusing and a bit sickly. I do need to read the book, though. I think I have my Aunty Kittys book which was a school prize. I was given Heidi’s Children as a school prize but wasn’t overly fond of that. Mind you, I did give it to an acquaintance whose granddaughter was called Heidi. I thought long and hard about giving it to her and regret it now because I never saw her again and I bet her granddaughter just binned it .

no the book was better and my favourite

Started watching it too and gave up. It's a terrible version of the film. I too read it was good.. nope!

From some of the comments here, I'm glad I decided to avoid the film! I adored the book as a child and re-read it so many times that Grandpa told me I was in danger of wearing the print off the pages! On the whole, I dislike the dramatisation of books - it discourages new writing and encourages the publication of too many formulaic new novels which will be easy to re-work into "something which today's viewers will love".(whu....?).

I did not care for it either. Professor Bahr was far too young, In Good Wives he is about 20 years older than Jo, and Jo somehow did not seem enough of a tomboy to me. Even worse neither Meg nor Beth came across as being genuinely good and loving.

I think the problem with all film versions of books we have known and loved is basically that we have formed pictures in our minds of how the characters looked and of course actors are unlikely to meet our individual ideas.

As a child I simply hated Disney's version of Winnie-the-Pooh as none of the animals looked a bit like the drawings in the original book. At least, if you could look past that, Disney's Pooh is all right, which his Jungle Book definitely IMO is not.

I loved all four of Louisa M. Alcott’s books. I was disappointed with the latest film version of Little Woman. I also liked What Katy Did and What Katy Did Next.

Unpopular opinion I guess guys but I adored the film!

I enjoyed the film too. I especially enjoyed Timothee Chalamet as Laurie, perfect casting.

AuntieE

I did not care for it either. Professor Bahr was far too young, In Good Wives he is about 20 years older than Jo, and Jo somehow did not seem enough of a tomboy to me. Even worse neither Meg nor Beth came across as being genuinely good and loving.

I think the problem with all film versions of books we have known and loved is basically that we have formed pictures in our minds of how the characters looked and of course actors are unlikely to meet our individual ideas.

As a child I simply hated Disney's version of Winnie-the-Pooh as none of the animals looked a bit like the drawings in the original book. At least, if you could look past that, Disney's Pooh is all right, which his Jungle Book definitely IMO is not.

I loved the Korda film of The Jungle Book starring Sabu. To this day it’s still one of my favourite films. It was always on tv when I was a child and I was surprised to realise that wasn’t made in black and white. I love everything about it.

poppysmum

no the book was better and my favourite

I nearly gave up but thought it would get better. For me, it didn’t. But I am glad that some people enjoyed it. I love Soarse Ronan (sp) as an actress and have enjoyed most of her other films and spent most of the film marvelling at how perfect her accent was.

MayBee70

I’ve just watched the Greta Gerwig film adaptation of Little Women. Bought the dvd ages ago but have only just got round to seeing it and I didn’t really like it. But when I read up on the reviews it was highly praised. Am I missing something? Did anyone else like or dislike it? I don’t think I particularly liked Ladybird either and that was critically acclaimed too. Maybe it’s just me ?

I also didn't like Ladybird it was very critically acclaimed at the time in spite of liking Saoirse Ronan I thought it was me too. I'm looking forward to seeing her in the new Beatles biopic when it's finally released she's playing Linda McCartney.

Little Women was my mother's favourite book when she was growing up she passed it to me along with What Katy Did, I loved the latter more, I kept reading it over and over.

And what Katy did Next.

I didn’t like the latest version of Little Women but I did like the one with Winona Ryder as Jo and Claire Danes as Beth. When we saw it at the cinema, my daughter and I cried when Beth died and even my husband had tears in his eyes.