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letterboxd · 5 years

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Ranking Little Women.

“This is a film not about a single woman’s quest for identity or independence, but about the infinite power of a woman’s community.”

Letterboxd is humming with Little Women Cinematic Universe energy, particularly since the trailer for Greta Gerwig’s new version, with its cast pulled straight from the Letterboxd Year in Review, dropped.

“I have a guttural five star type of feeling after the trailer,” writes Leia. “Bi culture is thirst-watching this for Timothée Chalamet and Florence Pugh,” Raph enthuses.

Yeah, we see you watching and re-watching all the previous film adaptations of Louisa May Alcott’s landmark 1868 novel that you can fix your eyeballs on. We’re not ones to doze by the fire; we like adventures. So let us take you on a romp through past Little Women screen adaptations, in which we rank the productions based on our community’s stantastic response to each.

From left: Milton, Daisy & Ruby.

Little Women (1917) Directed by Alexander Butler

Though the March family lived in the town of Concord, Massachusetts, it was the British who got to the beloved American book first, with this silent film adaptation.

Starring Ruby Miller as Jo March and musical-comedy star Daisy Burrell as Amy March, the film is considered lost, so nobody on Letterboxd will ever be able to confirm how the prolific English actor Milton Rosmer stacked up as rich-boy-next-door Theodore ‘Laurie’ Laurence.

Letterboxd ranking: #7.

Conrad Nagel & Dorothy Bernard.

Little Women (1918) Directed by Harley Knoles, screenplay by Anne Maxwell

Also considered lost is the first American adaptation, by the brilliantly named Harley Knoles, a British director who spent the 1910s working in the US. Matinee idol Conrad Nagel played Laurie.

Letterboxd ranking: #4. Jo March was played by silent film queen Dorothy Bernard, whose father hailed from New Zealand (as does Letterboxd), therefore this version ranks highly even though there are no Letterboxd ratings or reviews to confirm this fact. Instead, check out D.W. Griffiths’ dark, march-across-the-desert film The Female of the Species, in which “only Dorothy Bernard gives a believable performance” according to Michael.

(An aside: Here’s a list of unseen silent films that actually do exist, but that nobody on Letterboxd has yet seen, apparently.)

From left: George Cukor directs Katharine Hepburn, Joan Bennett, Frances Dee and Jean Parker in ‘Little Women’ (1933). / Photo courtesy MGM

Little Women (1933) Directed by George Cukor, screenplay by Sarah Y. Mason and Victor Heerman

Now we’re getting to the meat & potatoes of Little Women standom. Not that it’s a competition, but Katherine Hepburn is the one Saoirse Ronan needs to beat. Hepburn set the screen standard for gutsy portrayals of Jo March, and appropriately so in this first version with sound because let’s be honest, when the world got to hear Jo March speak those lines aloud for the first time, Hepburn’s voice was the perfect choice.

The prolific Cukor was nominated for the best directing Oscar (he eventually won one in 1964 for My Fair Lady), but it was the screenwriters, married couple Mason and Heerman, who won the Academy Award for their script. (Hepburn also won that year, but not for playing Jo March.)

Letterboxd ranking: #3. “A true gem of depression-era cinema,” writes Taj. “Every single scene in the first half of this film is a pure delight.”

“I’d like to personally thank Katharine Hepburn for being absolutely perfect,” writes Skylar. Morgan concurs: “Hepburn plays Jo with a rough physicality, bold confidence, and a gentle sensibility, standing out in a rather unremarkable movie.”

June Allyson and Rossano Brazzi.

Little Women (1949) Directed by Mervyn LeRoy, screenplay by Sally Benson, Victor Heerman, Sarah Y. Mason, and Andrew Solt

Why re-write a script that’s already perfect? Mervyn LeRoy’s 1949 Technicolor update lifted most of the screenplay and music from Cukor’s version, throwing in an on-trend acting line-up of June Allyson (Jo), Janet Leigh (Meg), Elizabeth Taylor (Amy) and Margaret O’Brien (Beth).

Never mind who played Laurie in this version (okay, okay, it was hunky Rat-Packing socialite Peter Lawford); the real tea here is the American film debut of Bologna-born Italian great Rossano (The Italian Job) Brazzi, as Professor Bhaer.

Letterboxd ranking: #2. “This is the best Little Women, fight me,” DylanDog declares. “I’m so impressed by the fact that they rewrote/restructured/padded out the 1933 screenplay, assembled a nearly pitch-perfect cast, and made such a fantastic Technicolor remake,” Dino reasons. “We actually see way more of the novel’s subversive gender politics play out here, and Jo’s motivations are much more palpable.”

“Although I also really like the 1933 version, the Hepburn film lacks the warmth I do find in the 1949 adaptation,” Annewithe writes. “I feel that this version conveys the true spirit of the book and is as cozy and warm and loving, and it’s in colour!”

Susan Dey and William Shatner.

Little Women (1978) Directed by David Lowell Rich, screenplay by Suzanne Clauser

Between 1949 and 1994, all we got was this seventies miniseries adaptation, which flies far under the radar of Letterboxd’s Little Women obsession with only two member reviews.

Susan Dey was a smart choice to play Jo March, given her Partridge Family profile at the time, while Meredith Baxter Birney, who played Meg, went onto huge sitcom fame as Michael J. Fox’s mom in Family Ties. The real curiosity factor here, writes LouReviews, is “the casting of one William Shatner as the Professor, and he’s rather good!”.

Letterboxd ranking: #6. “This story keeps moving me,” is all Sandra had to say, while LouReviews writes “not essential by any means, but if you like the novel, you'll want to see this”.

Winona Ryder and Christian Bale.

Little Women (1994) Directed by Gillian Armstrong, screenplay by Robin Swicord

It only took 126 years from publication for a woman to get behind the camera of a Little Women film, despite Alcott’s masterpiece long being a prime example of (white privileged) female complexity in storytelling. (Although, it’s fair to note that women have been involved in the scriptwriting for every Little Women film adaptation that we know of.)

Released—as Gerwig’s 2019 update will be—at Christmas, Gillian Armstrong’s version was as star-studded as they come, with 90s it-girl Winona Ryder—fresh off Reality Bites—as Jo March, and Christian Bale as Laurie. Also: Kirsten Dunst, Samantha Mathis and Eric Stoltz, with Susan Sarandon as Marmee.

Letterboxd ranking: #1. Sydney writes: “It’s really tough dealing with the fact that this movie is probably never going to get the respect it deserves.” Well Sydney, we’re happy to make your day. This Little Women is currently the highest-rated on Letterboxd (except for Bale’s facial hair, which is not highly rated by anyone). Thomas Newman’s score is much beloved, and the film is, in Julia’s opinion, “the definitive adaptation!”.

On a recent re-watch, Lauren “was transported back in time to my childhood and for those two hours everything felt simple and safe.” Meanwhile Sally Jane Black, in a thoughtful piece, gets right to the heart of Little Women-love: “This is a film not about a single woman’s quest for identity or independence, but about the infinite power of a woman’s community.”

Little Women (2017) Directed by Vanessa Caswill, screenplay by Heidi Thomas

Not strictly a film, but well worth a mention, this recent three-part BBC adaptation stars Thurman-Hawke offspring (and Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood flower child) Maya Hawke as Jo March. Emily Watson plays the March matriarch, and—Gerwig connection alert!—Kathryn Newton (Lady Bird’s Darlene) is Amy March.

Letterboxd ranking: #5. Alicia is a fan: “Winona will always be my Jo, but Emily Watson absolutely kills it as Marmee! Just love her FACE!!!! Her pain is your pain; her joy is your joy. Oyyy!”

Bethchestnut was slowly convinced: “A very handsome and loving production, even if there were a lot of things that bothered me about it. Doesn’t help that I watch the 90s version every year. Still made me cry twice.”

Little Women (2018) Directed by Clare Niederpruem, script by Clare Niederpruem and Kristi Shimek

Released to mark the novel’s 150th anniversary of publication, this version wins points for casting Lea Thompson (Howard the Duck, Back to the Future) as Marmee, but loses points for the weird contemporary update, in which the March sisters inexplicably lose the messy complexity of their far more adventurous 19th-century selves.

Letterboxd ranking: #8. “Who decided casting Ryan from High School Musical was a good idea?” asks Sue.

Also worth seeking out: two different Japanese anime adaptations, the 1981 series Little Women’s Four Sisters (若草の四姉妹), and the 1987 series, Tales of Little Women (愛の若草物語), which aired on HBO in 1988 and is notable for writing in a black character. Not worth a mention: this 1970 TV adaptation.

Greta Gerwig’s ‘Little Women’ opens in cinemas this December.

#little women #greta gerwig #timothee chalamet #saoirse ronan #florence pugh #meryl streep #winona ryder #katherine hepburn #letterboxd

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suzukatherandom67-blog · 6 years

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Lucky Luke is owned by Morris Morning had soon arrived in the desert and slowly enveloped the land with its warm light. It slowly crept over the four separate territories waking up its inhabitants. Luke slowly began to stir awake. His head felt groggy and his body felt weak from the effects of the tranquilizer. He struggled to sit up straight but finally managed to do so. "Ugh. What was in that dart?" Luke asked himself as he rubbed the temples of his forehead. He started to remember bits and pieces of what had happened last night. Luke recalled that he was on his way to talk to the eldest Kingery sibling before he ran into the Daltons. The Daltons, that word quickly brought back Luke's memories. He was just about to tie up Averell when the other managed to fire off a blow gun which had been mistaken for a flute. Luke had been hit by the tranquilizer dart that was inside before passing out. Out of instinct Luke quickly jumped to his feet readying himself for a brawl with the Dalton brothers. He soon regretted it as dizziness took over causing Luke to drop to his knees. Luke took a moment to let the dizziness subside before getting back to his feet this time slowly. Luke observed the room around him noticing it was to nice of a place for the Daltons to use as a hideout. "They didn't tie me up either that's strange". Luke said to himself. Luke saw a chair in the corner of the room that had his holster and revolver as well as his hat. Luke found that really odd. If the Daltons had taken him hostage why would they leave him his revolver. Luke scratched his head in confusion before he heard the door behind him click open. Luke quickly rushed over to his revolver before a female voice spoke out. "Don't you dare grab that gun cowboy". The voice demanded. Luke froze as the door opened reveling Renee who had a trey of food in her hands. "Don't worry I mean you no harm, just thought I bring you some breakfast". Renee said. Luke looked at the woman with suspicion. "Who are you and how did I end up here"? Luke asked. "My name is Renee I'm a friend of Mrs. Kingery's. You were brought here last night by the Daltons". Renee replied. Luke gave a look of surprise. "Wait the Daltons brought me here? What would make them do such a thing"? More importantly why haven't you guys locked them up yet"? Luke asked. "We were going to lock them up but the short Dalton managed to strike a deal with Mrs. Robin". Renee said. Luke remembered Jack and William mentioning that they made a deal with Robin in order to get out of trouble. "Joe told me that they were trying to stop the feud by helping Robin find her kid but I don't see how that has anything to do with....me". Luke trailed off. "Wait don't tell me that the Daltons think I'm Robin's kid"? Luke asked. Renee nodded her head as Luke finally pieced it together. "Wow I never realized how desperate the Daltons were to escape to make themselves believe that I am the son of the woman who is promising their freedom". Luke chuckled. Renee however did not find this funny. "Mr. Luke although the Daltons did make the deal out of desperation you are the closest man I have ever seen that resembles Robin's son". Renee said. Luke looked at her with surprise. "You're kidding right? You actually believe I'm Robin's son"? Luke asked. "Appearance wise yes, but other than that I can not say for certain". Renee said. Luke took his hat from the chair and placed it on his head. "Well I'm sorry to disappoint you and Mrs. Robin, but I'm pretty certain I'm not the guy you folks are looking for". Luke said as he put on his boots. Luke was about to leave the room before Renee spoke up. "How can you be so certain"? She asked. Luke turned around at the door to face Renee. "Do you have parents waiting for you at home"? Renee asked. "Um..No I'm an orphan". Luke responded. "Did you even know your parents"? Renee asked. "Well no". Luke replied. "Then how can you be certain that Robin isn't your mother"? Renee questioned the cowboy. "I just ... it just seems impossible". Luke said. "Nothing in this world is impossible Mr. Luke. Just look at yourself you can shoot faster then your own shadow, that would be considered impossible yet here you are". Renee said. Luke fell silent at Renee's words. Renee could see the confusion and uncertainty in Luke's eyes. Her face became one of understanding as Renee sympathized with Luke knowing very well that today his whole world could change. She placed the trey on the table. "Why don't you sit down and have some breakfast? You missed dinner while you were out so I bet you'rr pretty hungry right about now. As for the son thing don't worry about that we'll talk about it later". Renee said. "Thank you". Luke said. Renee left the room leaving Luke alone with his thoughts. Luke was able to keep the thoughts of possibly being Robin's son at bay by thinking on how to handle the current situation with the Daltons and the feud between the four Kingery's. But those thoughts about Robin didn't stay away for long though as Luke knew in the end he would need her to help stop the feud and to try to convince Robin to deny the Daltons sanctuary. Once Luke was done with his meal he finished getting ready for the day before heading downstairs mentally preparing himself for the what lie ahead. Luke soon found himself in front of Robin who had her back to him unaware of the cowboy's presence. He tried to get the words out to say hello but Luke was finding it quite difficult. Luke could feel the words get caught in his throat as a bead of sweat rolled off his brow. Just as Luke finally managed to open his mouth Robin had turned around with a look of surprise taking over her face as she spotted the cowboy. "Oh, Luke I didn't see you there, did you sleep well last night"? Robin asked. "Yes mam I slept like a bab..log I slept like a log". Luke said hastily. "I bet you did, that tranquilizer sure had you out for quite some time". Robin said. The two stood in an awkward silence before Luke managed to speak up. "Where are the Daltons"? Luke asked. "Their in the guest house still sleeping. Why do you ask"? Robin questioned. "I wanted to talk to you about denying them sanctuary". Luke said. Robin looked at Luke her eyes softening and showing regret. "I can't let you take them unfortunately at least not yet". Robin said. "I know Renee told me about the deal". Luke said. "Luke I understand that this must be very confusing and frustrating for you but I'm just trying to find my son". Robin said. "How can you be sure its me though"? Luke asked. " I don't know and that's what's frustrating. My heart keeps telling me your the one but I have to be realistic with the chance that you could not be my son". Robin said. "Well we need to figure out something. I can't just let the Daltons run around freely to do whatever they please". Luke said. A nearby father clock chimed grabbing the attention of Robin and Luke. "I think I might have an idea". Robin said. Moments later Robin and Luke were back upstairs each with a few pieces of paper, quill, and bottle of ink in their position. "Renee told me about you being an orphan. I don't know if you wanted that information out but I thought that we could write down parts of our lives. For me I'll write down the day I lost my baby". Robin said. "And I write the day I was found"? Luke asked. "Correct, with our stories we can determine if they match up or not thus proving whether or not your my son". Robin answered. "And we'll be in separate rooms so nobody cheats". Luke said. "Yes, Renee will read our stories after we're finished". Robin said. And with that the two entered their respected rooms and began writing. Downstairs the Daltons had joined Renee in waiting to see if they had truly found Robin's son. Even Rantanplan and Jolly Jumper came along though Jolly could only observe through an opened window. An hour or so passed before Luke came downstairs. He handed his paper to Renee before sitting down on a wooden stool next to the window Jolly Jumper was viewing from. "He's more shaky than a bald cat in winter". Jolly said concerned for his human friend. "Cat where"? Asked Rantanplan. A few moments later Robin came downstairs handing her paper to Renee. Soon the Daltons, Lucky Luke, and Robin found themselves sitting around Renee eager to hear the results. " I hope she's gonna read us a fairy tale I always like those". Averell said. "Shh, she's starting". William said hushing his brother. Renee grabbed Robin's paper first and began reading. Robin and Renee were traveling with a small caravan on its way to California. Two months prior Robin had given birth to her son and her relatives living in San Francisco were eager to see the newest member of the Kingery family. The path they were on was very bumpy from the many rocks that laid about. This in turn woke up Robin's infant son who had previously been sleeping. Robin did her best to calm down her baby eventually managing to do so though the peace didn't last for long as the wagon she was in ran over another bump in the road. "Are you sure there isn't another path we can take? This path seems a tad to bumpy". Robin said. "Sorry Mrs. Kingery but this is the only path that can get us safely past the Indian territories". Said the Wagon driver. "Well are there at least any towns nearby? The baby really needs his nap plus he's probably getting hungry". Robin said. Renee sat next to Robin as she brought out the map. "Strange, there doesn't appear to be any settlements on or around the path we're on. Are you sure this map your brother gave you is legitimate"? Renee asked. "It should be he's taken this path many times to map out the plans for his next project". Robin said. They continued down the path. Along the way one of the two accompanying caravan guards noted the high number of coyotes in the area. "Better pull out your pistols boys these coyotes might be a problem if they start getting to close". The driver said as he readied his weapon. The small group kept their eyes peeled as they continued on ready to scare off any varmint that thought to go after their group. However the wildlife wasn't their only problem as a band of men mounted on horseback started racing towards them from the back. The caravan driver pulled to the side thinking that the group behind them just wanted to get by. Unfortunately that wasn't the case as the group began opening fire on the caravan. "Bandits take cover quick"! Shouted the second guard. The driver quickly handed the reigns to Renee before jumping off. "You need to get you, your friend, and the baby to safety. Just keep following the road and whatever you do don't stop for anything"! The driver commanded. Renee gave a firm nod on agreement before ordering the horse to continue on. The wagon jolted up and down as they made their raced down the path. Robin clung to her baby for dear life while also grabbing the side of the covered wagon in order to prevent themselves from being thrown about the wagon. The bandits were soon catching up again though it appeared that there were fewer of them this time. "Robin try tossing some of the stuff back there maybe we can try slowing those varmints down". Renee said. Robin did just that as she managed to push out a large wooden chest that exploded into pieces as it made contact with the grown. Robin managed to toss out smaller items before the bandits began opening fire. The baby wailed as Robin took cover. One of the bandits pulled out a bow and arrow. They sit the tip of the arrow on fire before launching it. The flaming arrow hit the back of the wagon setting the covered part a blaze. Robin quickly made her way to the front of the wagon as the flames made their way forward. Renee hopped onto the horse pulling the wagon. "Robin over here quickly"! Renee called out. Robin reached the outer front of the wagon. Renee reached her hand out to help her friend and the baby onto the horse. Maintaining her balanced Robin reached out her one free hand towards Renee. Then the wagon ran over a huge rock and Robin was sent flying. Time seemed to slow down as Robin was airborne. She held her son close to her chest and tightened herself into a ball to protect her baby from the impact. Time sped up again as Robin violently slammed into the ground. The force caused Robin to bounce off and be airborne once more but this time for not as long. The back of Robin's head impacted with the ground and she lost conscious right then and there. "H..Hey I think she's waking up"! Came a voice. Light began to enter robin's vision as she slowly gained conscious. Blurry figures soon became recognizable faces as the images began to clear. The first person Robin could make out was the wagon driver followed by Renee and the two guards who were badly beaten up. Renee rushed to her friend's side. "Robin stay still your hurt bad". Renee said. Robin looked up to the sky, the sun was no longer in its place instead the moon rose over head signaling nighttime. As she became more focused Robin noticed that they were one bundle short. "W... Where is the baby"? Robin asked weakly. Renee and the others looked to each other in hesitation. "Renee where is my baby"? Robin said in a demanding tone that was very unlike her. The driver spoke up first. "I'm sorry Mrs. Kingery but we only managed to find you the others looked around but they couldn't find anything". The drives said regretfully. "No"! Robin shouted as she fought to stand up. "Mrs. Kingery please lay back down"! The driver cried out. Robin got to her feet limping towards the horse. "Robin I know your worried but please stop you're to injured to go off searching"! Renee pleaded as she placed her hand on Robin's shoulder. Robin pushed the hand of her dear friend away as she mounted the horse. "My son could still be out there I can't just leave him to who knows what. I have to find him even at the cost of my own life". Robin said before signaling the horse to take off. Robin could here Renee call out her name but the voice faded as Robin galloped into the night. Robin's side burned as she followed the path of where she last saw the wagon. She pushed the pain down as she focused more on finding her son. When she finally found the wagon it was a wreck, the clothes and other items laid strewn about the path leading up to the half burnt out wagon. Several coyotes circled around the husk. Robin pulled out her firearm and shot into the sky successfully scaring off the wild beast. Robin immediately jumped off the horse and began searching through the wreckage. She turned over every rock and looked into every nook and cranny. Some how Robin even managed to push the wagon in order to see if her son had somehow ended up underneath but nothing. She looked around the surrounding area for any signs of tracks thinking that maybe someone took her boy but any tracks that passed by were completely erased by the wind. Pain quickly gripped Robin as she let out a cry of pain while holding her side. She fell to her hands and knees. Robin listened in to her surroundings hoping, praying to hear the cry of a baby but all she could hear was the chirping of crickets. Robin soon fell onto her back looking up into a beautiful starry sky which seemed to mock her with its beauty and stars clustered into their own little families. Hoof steps could be heard as Renee rode up to the wreckage. She spotted her friend sitting on a crate crying. Renee quickly ran up to her friend embracing the other in a hug. "I'm sorry, Robin I'm so sorry". Renee said now joining Robin in the tears. Robin cried out more and louder then before, but not from her physical injuries. No there was a pain that hurt much more and ran deeper then any physical wound could ever do. Robin had lost her baby. Back in the current time Renee finished reading Robin's story. The Daltons sat by crying as Renee finished Robin's peice. "Th..That's just so sad"! Averell cried. "She just lost her kid just like that"! Joe bawled. Robin wiped a tear from her eye as memories of that day played in her head. Renee looked up to Luke. Luke sat there pale as a ghost. "Mr. Luke are you alright"? Renee asked. Renee approached Luke who did not respond. As Renee got closer she noticed Luke mouthing something. "R-E-A-D I-T". Seemed to be what Luke was saying. Renee returned to the desk grabbing Luke's paper. In his head Luke read what he had written down his thoughts following Renee's lips as she began to read. "I was found by a cowboy named Sam outside the town of Nothing Gulch sometime during the day. He found me not far from a burnt out wagon. Luckily Sam found me at the nick of time as the wagon was being eyed by hungry coyotes". The room became nothing but an echo of gasp as the realization of Luke's story sunk into their heads. The stories matched.

#bad fanfiction #les daltons #daltons #joe dalton #averell dalton #rantanplan #jolly jumper #lucky luke #morris

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