The Little Princess (1939 film)
| The Little Princess | |
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theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Walter Lang |
| Produced by |
Darryl F. Zanuck Gene Markey |
| Screenplay by |
Ethel Hill Walter Ferris |
| Based on |
A Little Princess 1905 novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett |
| Starring |
Shirley Temple Richard Greene Anita Louise Ian Hunter Arthur Treacher Cesar Romero |
| Music by |
Charles Maxwell Cyril J. Mockridge Herbert W. Spencer Samuel Pokrass |
| Cinematography |
Arthur C. Miller William Skall |
| Edited by | Louis Loeffler |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
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Release date
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Running time
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93 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | over $1 million |
The Little Princess is a 1939 American drama film directed by Walter Lang. The screenplay by Ethel Hill and Walter Ferris is loosely based on the novel A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The film was the first Shirley Temple movie to be filmed completely in Technicolor. It was also her last major success as a child star.
Although it maintained the novel's Victorian London setting, the film introduced several new characters and storylines and used the Second Boer War and the Siege of Mafeking as a backdrop to the action. Temple and Arthur Treacher had a musical number together, performing the song "Knocked 'Em in the Old Kent Road". Temple also appeared in an extended ballet sequence. The film's ending was drastically different from the book.
In 1968, the film entered the public domain (in the USA) due to the claimants' failure to renew its copyright registration in the 28th year after publication.
Captain Crewe (played by Ian Hunter), called to fight in the Second Boer War, has to leave his daughter Sara (Shirley Temple) with her pony at Miss Minchin's School for Girls. With all the money Captain Crewe can offer, Miss Minchin gives Sara a fancy, private room.
Although worried about her father, Sara is distracted by riding lessons. Sara hears news that Mafeking is free and expects her father will soon come home. Miss Minchin throws Sara a lavish birthday party. During the party, Captain Crewe's solicitor (E. E. Clive) arrives with the sad news that Captain Crewe has died and his real estate, the basis for his wealth, has been confiscated. Miss Minchin ends Sara's party abruptly. Without her father's financial support, Sara becomes a servant, now working at the school she used to attend. Sara gains new solace in a friendship with Ram Dass (Cesar Romero) who lives next door. She also receives support from Miss Minchin's brother, Hubert, who does not agree with her treatment.
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