Our Holiday Favorites: Little Women

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Little Women 1994

I love to watch Little Women in December. Perhaps because the story begins at Christmas, when the genteel-y poor March girls decide to give their Christmas feast to a family even poorer than they are, and use their Christmas money to buy presents for their dear Marmee. That does sound uncharacteristically sentimental of me, doesn't it? I confess I always cry at That Tragic Scene in the movie, too. (I won't spoil it for the few Joey Tribbianis out there who haven't read the book or seen any of the films.) Really, I like Little Women because Jo is so very wonderful.

But which movie version of Little Women to watch? My favorite Jo is Katharine Hepburn in the 1933 adaptation of the Louisa May Alcott book, directed by George Cukor. Hepburn is convincingly boyish and delightful, I could watch her in this role for twice as long. But in recent years, I've turned to the 1994 Little Women, starring Winona Ryder as Jo. Ryder is fine -- not the best Jo, but part of an excellent ensemble cast, including Susan Sarandon as Marmee, Kirsten Dunst as the young Amy, and Claire Danes as Poor Beth. Gillian Armstrong directed this adaptation from a script by Robin Swicord.

The greatest thing about the 1994 movie, however, is that for once in the long and varied history of Little Women adaptations (there's even an anime version), the men don't suck. Laurie is always foppish or effeminate, but in the 1994 movie, he's played by a fairly robust Christian Bale. Eric Stolz turns up as John Brooke, a character who often doesn't get much screen time or personality. John Neville, who passed away last month, is charmingly crusty as Mr. Laurence. And oh, wonder of wonders, we (and Jo) finally get a desirable Professor Bhaer, played by Gabriel Byrne. Some might argue that Bhaer was never meant to be attractive, that he should be old and unappealing, but I think Jo deserves Gabriel Byrne for once.

At some point this month, I'll find my DVD of the 1994 Little Women and take it out for its annual viewing, perhaps while trimming the tree. Did I mention Mary Wickes, in one of her last movie roles, plays Aunt March? For those of you wondering why I haven't mentioned the 1949 Little Women, I think I did see it growing up, but the cast seems so very lukewarm to me. June Allyson is way too girly for me to enjoy as Jo.

Finally, I've been curious for years about what I believe is the first adaptation of Little Women I ever saw, on TV when I was a girl, which I can't remember except "one of the Partridge Family girls plays Jo." Further research indicates this is the 1978 made-for-TV Little Women miniseries, starring Susan Dey, Eve Plumb and Meredith Baxter, with Greer Garson as Aunt March. And then ... and then ... I would not have known this as a girl, but a mind-blowing casting choice for Professor Bhaer. I'm not sure I'm ready for that yet, not this holiday. Bring me Gabriel Byrne, please.

Want to watch? You can find the 1933 Little Women on DVD at Vulcan and I Luv Video and on VHS at Encore; the 1949 film at Vulcan; the 1978 TV miniseries at I Luv Video and the 1994 adaptation at Vulcan and Encore (Encore also has VHS of this version). In addition, Turner Classic Movies will show the 1949 movie on Dec. 24 at 7 am, and the 1933 classic on Dec. 18 at 5 am.

(You can watch 10-minute excerpts of the 1978 adaptation on YouTube, and after about two minutes of a certain scene in the rain near the end, oh, dear God. I don't think I could make it through the whole scene, much less the miniseries.)