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Post by moviemouth on Nov 6, 2021 18:59:46 GMT
This version of Little Women is my least favorite of the 3 most prominent versions.
It fails to give any memorable focus to any of the other characters besides Jo March. In the 1994 version and the 2019 version the other daughters are given more to do and I think the lack of this hurts the 1933 version.
Funny though that different sisters are more memorable in the 1994 version and the 2019 version. In the 1994 version Beth March (Claire Danes) is the sister I remember most after Jo and the 2019 version it is Amy March (Florence Pugh) that I remember most.
In the 1933 version they are all an afterthought besides Jo.
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Post by kolchak92 on Nov 6, 2021 19:03:13 GMT
Haven't seen it, but I think the 1994 version is excellent. I didn't care for the recent one as much.
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Post by moviemouth on Nov 6, 2021 19:05:25 GMT
Haven't seen it, but I think the 1994 version is excellent. I didn't care for the recent one as much. I prefer the 2019 version, but don't consider either version excellent. Both are just good imo, but these aren't the kind of movies I am going to love anyway.
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Post by moviemouth on Nov 6, 2021 19:13:07 GMT
Haven't seen it, but I think the 1994 version is excellent. I didn't care for the recent one as much. Apparently there is a 1949 version that is somewhat well-known too. That version has more votes on IMDB than the 1933 version surprisingly. Elizabeth Taylor is in it as Amy March.
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Post by claudius on Nov 6, 2021 19:42:00 GMT
Actually, the 1949 version is a remake of the 1933 version. Same script, costume designer, same actor as Amy’s teacher, and although a different composer, it’s the same Max Steiner score.
There are differences, not to its benefit. 33’ begins with separate intros- Marmee at the bazaar aiding people, Meg leaving her charges, Jo with Aunt March, and Beth with the faulty piano. 49’ has the girls all together, with Meg’s job omitted, and the faulty piano just exposition. Amy’s school scene is moved to later.
The ‘33 version showed Amy in grief with Laurie comforting her. The ‘49 version puts that offscreen. Between the scenes of her Amy visiting Jo in New York and her return home as a married woman, Liz is missing.
I like both versions (I watch the XMAS beginning every November 30), but don’t think the ‘49 version is a better show on the other sisters.
There is also the 1978 TV miniseries that gives individual portrayals if the sisters. Susan Dey, Meredith Baxter, Eve Plumb, Greer Garson, William Shatner.
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Post by moviemouth on Nov 6, 2021 19:46:40 GMT
Actually, the 1949 version is a remake of the 1933 version. Same script, costume designer, same actor as Amy’s teacher, and although a different composer, it’s the same Max Steiner score. There are differences, not to its benefit. 33’ begins with separate intros- Marmee at the bazaar aiding people, Meg leaving her charges, Jo with Aunt March, and Beth with the faulty piano. 49’ has the girls all together, with Meg’s job omitted, and the faulty piano just exposition. Amy’s school scene is moved to later. The ‘33 version showed Amy in grief with Laurie comforting her. The ‘49 version puts that offscreen. Between the scenes of her Amy visiting Jo in New York and her return home as a married woman, Liz is missing. I like both versions (I watch the XMAS beginning every November 30), but don’t think the ‘49 version is a better show on the other sisters. There is also the 1978 TV miniseries that gives individual portrayals if the sisters. Susan Dey, Meredith Baxter, Eve Plumb, Greer Garson, William Shatner. Interesting. I just feel the 1933 version is the Katharine Hepburn show. She is very good in it so I am not complaining, but I just wish the movie did more with the sisters. The parts where Beth gets sick and is thought to be dying barely registers, for example. I can barely remember another scene with Meg after the school scene and I just watched the movie.
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Post by Feologild Oakes on Nov 6, 2021 19:49:31 GMT
The 1994 version is really good
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Post by moviemouth on Nov 6, 2021 19:52:59 GMT
The 1994 version is really good One of the few Winona Ryder performances to truly impress me and Thomas Newman's score is very good as well.
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Post by claudius on Nov 6, 2021 19:53:44 GMT
The 49 version does have several new scenes. The girls go to a shop and buy gifts for themselves with their Christmas money. After a letter from their father, they decide to refund their gifts for new gifts for Marmee. The Laurence party gets a dramatic finish where Beth is upset overhearing a rich mother and daughter put down their family. Later Jo asks Marmee if she has any ambitions for them. Marmee only wants them to have purposeful, fulfilling lives, regardless of status or wealth.
Although the ‘33 version shows more while the ‘49 expositions them, the latter does show Jo writing her novel about Beth.
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Post by claudius on Nov 6, 2021 20:05:06 GMT
“The parts where Beth gets sick and is thought to be dying barely registersu, for example.” I thought it registered well. The ‘49 follows the same pattern although with a more dramatic beginning. The girls see Beth leaning against the door looking disheveled and haunted. She dramatically explains the baby’s death from scarlet fever, and tells Amy not to come closer before collapsing. ’49 Beth’s death is very offscreen. The film was probably trying to repeat the success of MEET ME IN ST LOUIS with the same parents (Mary Astor and Leon Ames) plus Margaret O’Brien and Harry Davenport (as the doctor). |
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Post by moviemouth on Nov 6, 2021 20:45:11 GMT
“The parts where Beth gets sick and is thought to be dying barely registersu, for example.” I thought it registered well. The ‘49 follows the same pattern although with a more dramatic beginning. The girls see Beth leaning against the door looking disheveled and haunted. She dramatically explains the baby’s death from scarlet fever, and tells Amy not to come closer before collapsing. ’49 Beth’s death is very offscreen. The film was probably trying to repeat the success of MEET ME IN ST LOUIS with the same parents (Mary Astor and Leon Ames) plus Margaret O’Brien and Harry Davenport (as the doctor). Okay, I am a fool. I wrote this stuff before finishing the movie. I just don't think sometimes. I don't know why I do this. Now it has the stuff with going back to Beth in bed again. I have no problem admitting when I have jumped the gun and admitting having been a fool for doing so. I am frustrated with myself, because I do this a lot.
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Post by moviemouth on Nov 6, 2021 21:10:25 GMT
“The parts where Beth gets sick and is thought to be dying barely registersu, for example.” I thought it registered well. The ‘49 follows the same pattern although with a more dramatic beginning. The girls see Beth leaning against the door looking disheveled and haunted. She dramatically explains the baby’s death from scarlet fever, and tells Amy not to come closer before collapsing. ’49 Beth’s death is very offscreen. The film was probably trying to repeat the success of MEET ME IN ST LOUIS with the same parents (Mary Astor and Leon Ames) plus Margaret O’Brien and Harry Davenport (as the doctor). I finished the movie. It is good, but the sisters still make more of an impression on me in the 1994 and 2019 versions. It might just be that I prefer the acting and casting of the sisters better in the newer versions, rather than the writing. I think they have more dynamic with each other.
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