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The Little Princess (1939)

| Comedy, Drama, Family | 17 March 1939 (USA)
The Little Princess Poster
A little girl is left by her father in an exclusive seminary for girls, due to her father having to go to Africa with the army.

Directors:

, (uncredited)

Writers:

(screen play), (screen play) | 1 more credit »

Stars:

, , | See full cast & crew »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Arthur Treacher ...
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Lord Wickham
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Deidre Gale ...
Ira Stevens ...
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Storyline

When her father, Captain Crewe, goes off to fight in the Boer War, young Sara Crewe is placed into the care of Amanda Minchin, the head of an exclusive private school for girls. Sara lives a wonderful life of a privileged child and is quite happy in her surroundings. When her father is listed as missing in action however, her life goes from one of plenty to that of a poor house maid. Mrs. Minchin agrees to keep her on at the school, but in the absence of her tuition payments, she has to work for her keep. She is soon cleaning out the fireplace and scrubbing floors and is dubbed the little princess by her former schoolmates. She also refuses to accept that her father is dead and prowls the hospitals in the hope of locating him. Luck - and Royal intervention - assist her in her quest. Written by garykmcd

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

girl | servant | boer war | school | england | See All (63) »

Taglines:

A great classic comes to life in glorious Technicolor!

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Family | Musical

Certificate:

See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

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Details

Country:

Language:

|

Release Date:

17 March 1939 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

A Princesinha  »

Filming Locations:

Company Credits

Production Co:

 »
Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

(TCM print)

Sound Mix:

(Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The original source of the movie was a novel called "Sara Crewe; or, What Happened at Miss Minchin's" by Frances Hodgson Burnett, and it was published in 1888. She later adapted her book for the stage calling it "A Little Princess" (in London, 1902) and "The Little Princess" (in New York, 1903). It was successful enough that her publisher, C. Scribner's Sons, requested that she expand her original novel to include scenes from the play. The result was the final novel, "A Little Princess; being the whole story of Sara Crewe," which was published in 1905, and is the secondary source for the movie. See more »

Goofs

During Sara's party, Ms. Minchin is called away. The scene cuts to her in her office then back to the party where Sara is blowing out her candles. While she is making her wish, we can see Ms. Minchin walking away in the back. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Sara Crewe: Why are they sending so many soldiers, daddy, if it's only going to be a little war?
Captain Reginald Crewe: To make those stubborn Boers take us seriously this time, my darling. When they realize Her Majesty intends to put a stop to their nonsense, they'll quiet down.
Sara Crewe: They'd better. Anyhow, when you get there, you'll stop them. Won't you, daddy?
Captain Reginald Crewe: I'll do my best, dear.
See more »

Connections

Version of The Little Princess (1917) See more »

Soundtracks

Auld Lang Syne
(1788) (uncredited)
Traditional Scottish 17th century music
Lyrics by Robert Burns
Sung by a celebrating mob when Mafeking is relieved
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does the poster in the opening montage say?
Q: Is this available on DVD?
Q: Can I legally watch online or download this film?
See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
Delightful and lively rendition about a vintage story with a miraculous Shirley Temple
10 March 2009 | by – See all my reviews

This agreeable movie is based on the Francis Burnett children's classic novel. 1899, London, irrepressible Sara(Shirley Temple) is a little girl in Victorian epoch sent to boarding school ruled by a harsh,hateful headmistress named Mischin(Mary Nash) while her widowed father(Ian Hunter) is posted in South African -Transvaal- during the Anglo-Boer war. Her daddy is declared missing but is reported killed in action and the penniless schoolgirl must work as a servant to pay her existence. Kindhearted Sara befriends a young enamored couple(Anita Louise, Richard Greene)who help her. Then Sara in search for her dad, haunting hospitals where she encounters Queen Victoria.

Impactful adaptation has Temple as likable child playing, dancing, and singing. Lively screenplay, vivid performances, dazzling scenarios originate classic in film-making. Colorful cinematography in Technicolor by William Skall and Arthur Miller. The picture is brilliant and skilfully directed by Walter Lang, a musical cinema and comedy genre expert. This is Shirley Temple's biggest success(it cost a big budget, over 1,5 million dollars) and also her fist colour, another Shirley's hits are:¨Poor little girl,The little rebel,The little colonel and Little Miss Marker¨among others. It's remade by a TV version(1987) by Carol Wiseman with Amelia Shankley and Nigel Havers and a superior version by Alfonso Cuaron with Sara incarnation from Liesel Mattews(Shirley Temple lookalike role),Eleanor Brown(eagle-eyed Mary Nash role)and Lian Cunningham(Ian Hunter lookalike). This is a masterpiece of kids' classic cinema and you will soon be caught up in its sympathetic and enjoyable world.
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Why are the film adaptions so different from the book? hellotrouble
Wasn't this movie originally in black and white? Shawmin9
Temple's best film? classicmoviecomedy
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British version eaward27
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