Little Women (1978 miniseries) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Little Women |
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| Genre | Drama Family Historical Romance |
| Based on | Little Women by Louisa May Alcott |
| Written by | Suzanne Clauser |
| Directed by | David Lowell Rich |
| Starring | Meredith Baxter Birney Susan Dey Ann Dusenberry Eve Plumb Dorothy McGuire Greer Garson Robert Young |
| Music by | Elmer Bernstein |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of episodes | 2 |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | David Victor |
| Production location(s) | Colonial Street, Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California |
| Cinematography | Joseph Biroc |
| Editor(s) | Jim Benson Donald Douglas |
| Running time | 200 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Groverton Productions Universal Television |
| Release | |
| Original network | NBC |
| Original release | October 2 – October 3, 1978 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | Little Women (1994 film) |
Little Women is an American TV miniseries from 1978. A miniseries is like a short TV show that tells a complete story in just a few episodes. This one was directed by David Lowell Rich and written by Suzanne Clauser. It's based on the very famous two-part book Little Women written by Louisa May Alcott way back in 1868 and 1869.
The show stars actors like Susan Dey, Meredith Baxter Birney, Ann Dusenberry, and Eve Plumb as the March sisters. Other actors in the show include Dorothy McGuire, William Schallert, Greer Garson, Robert Young, Richard Gilliland, William Shatner, and John de Lancie.
This miniseries was about three hours long and was made by Universal Television. It first showed on the NBC channel in two parts, on October 2nd and 3rd, 1978. After the miniseries, there was a short regular TV series in 1979, from February 8 to March 8. Eve Plumb, who played Beth March, came back for this series. Even though her character Beth had passed away in the miniseries (just like in the book), Eve Plumb played a new character, a cousin named Lissa.
Contents
Story of the March Sisters
This TV show tells the story of four sisters: Jo (played by Susan Dey), Meg (played by Meredith Baxter Birney), Amy (played by Ann Dusenberry), and Beth (played by Eve Plumb). We see them grow up, fall in love, and face challenges in Concord, Massachusetts. The story happens during the American Civil War, a difficult time in American history. Their father is away fighting in the war, so the sisters and their mother, Marmee, have to support each other through good times and bad.
Part One: Growing Up Together
The story begins at Christmas in 1861, with Jo telling us the story. She lives with her three sisters, their mother (Marmee), and their housekeeper.
- Meg is 16 and works as a governess (a private teacher for children).
- Jo is 15, wants to be a writer, and has a bit of a temper.
- Beth is 13, very shy and sweet, and loves to play the piano.
- Amy is 12, the youngest, and enjoys art.
Because their father is at war, the March family doesn't have as much money as they used to.
One day, while taking a reluctant Amy to school, Jo starts a snowball fight. A stray snowball hits the window of their neighbors, the Lawrences, catching Laurie's attention and embarrassing Meg. The show explores the tense relationship between Mr. Lawrence and his grandson, Laurie. Mr. Lawrence dislikes Laurie playing the piano as it reminds him of sad memories. He wishes Laurie, who is quite solitary, would socialize more.
Mr. Lawrence, reminded of his late daughter by Beth's love for piano, offers her to play his nicer piano. When she does, he mistakes her for Laurie and scolds her, frightening timid Beth. Feeling remorseful, he gifts her a piano as an apology.
At a party, Meg feels plain in her old dress until rich friends give her a makeover. Jo, hiding a burnt dress, meets fellow shy person Laurie. They bond and dance secretly. Later, Meg twists her ankle after feeling unwell from too much punch, and Laurie takes the sisters home.
After a harsh teacher incident, Marmee homeschools Amy. Amy wants to share art time with Jo, but Jo is dismissive. Feeling excluded when Jo, Meg, and Laurie go out, Amy angrily burns Jo's writings. Jo is furious and refuses to forgive her. Days later, Amy tries to reconcile with Jo during an ice-skating trip with Laurie. Not hearing a warning about thin ice, Amy falls in. After her rescue, a remorseful Jo vows to control her temper.
Jo witnesses an argument between Laurie and his grandfather, who found Laurie at a pool hall. Mr. Lawrence confides in Jo that his strictness stems from past loss.
A telegram reports Mr. March is ill. Marmee must go to Washington, accompanied by Mr. Brooke (who admires Meg). For ticket money, after Aunt March is unhelpful, Jo impulsively sells her hair.
With Marmee away, Beth falls ill with scarlet fever after nursing a neighbor's baby who died from the illness. Amy, who never had scarlet fever, is sent to Aunt March's, with Laurie promising visits. As Beth worsens, Laurie contacts Marmee. Marmee returns with Mr. March (who is recovering), and Beth also recovers.
Mr. Brooke confesses his love for Meg. Though unsure at first, Meg defies Aunt March's disapproval of marrying a poor man. Meg chooses love and happiness over wealth.
Part Two: Changes and New Beginnings
By spring 1865, Jo feels unsettled by family changes: Meg's upcoming marriage, Amy's trip to Europe, and Beth's frail health. The story references historical events like the Civil War's end and women's suffrage. Jo attends a speech by Susan B. Anthony and writes for the paying Daily Volcano newspaper.
Laurie proposes to Jo, but she declines. She values his friendship but sees their personalities as incompatible for marriage. Mr. Lawrence takes a disheartened Laurie to Europe. Jo, also needing change, moves to New York as a governess. There, she meets Professor Friedrich Bhaer and writes for the Weekly Volcano, often leaving out moral themes.
Meg impulsively buys expensive silk, straining her budget with her husband, John, who needed an overcoat. Feeling guilty, she sells the silk and buys John's coat.
In Italy, a matured Amy is popular. She encounters Mr. Lawrence, then Laurie, who is acting irresponsibly. Amy sternly advises him to improve his behavior. Shaken by her words, Laurie resolves to change and plans to meet her in Nice.
Jo and Professor Bhaer grow close. He offers German lessons in exchange for Jo mending his socks. He expresses interest in her writing but then criticizes the Weekly Volcano, unaware Jo writes for it. When he discovers her work there, he critiques it harshly, leading to a disagreement.
Jo learns Meg is expecting a baby and plans to return to Concord. Before she leaves New York, Professor Bhaer apologizes for his harshness. He had re-read her work and seen its promise. They part on good terms. Meg later has twins.
Amy hears Beth is ill again, but Beth urges her not to cut her trip short. Beth, knowing she is dying, asks Jo for acceptance during a trip to the beach. Beth's death is implied in a later scene. Marmee, dressed in mourning, gently closes Beth's piano as if caring for something precious. Marmee encourages a grieving Jo to write about her feelings. Her story about Beth gets published.
After Beth's death, Amy and Laurie reunite. Laurie, now more mature, realizes he loves Amy. She reciprocates, and they marry. Returning to Concord, Laurie shares the news with Jo, who is happy for them.
Jo becomes a popular writer but feels lonely, missing Professor Bhaer as his letters become less frequent. Meanwhile, Professor Bhaer gets a teaching job in Ohio. He rushes to Massachusetts to propose to Jo, as he can now support her. They meet at the train station. Jo misunderstands his news about being able to marry, thinking he's marrying someone else. But Professor Bhaer proposes to her, and Jo happily accepts. She brings him home to meet her family. The miniseries ends with a joyful Christmas for the March family.
Who Was in the Show? (Cast)
The March Family in the Miniseries
- Susan Dey as Josephine 'Jo' March
- Meredith Baxter Birney as Meg March
- Eve Plumb as Elizabeth 'Beth' March
- Ann Dusenberry as Amy March
- Dorothy McGuire as Marmee March (their mother)
- William Schallert as Jonathan March (their father)
- Greer Garson as Aunt Kathryn March
The March Family in the Regular Series
(This was a short series that came after the miniseries)
- Jessica Harper as Josephine 'Jo' March
- Susan Walden as Meg March
- Ann Dusenberry as Amy March Laurence
- Dorothy McGuire as Marmee March
- William Schallert as Jonathan March
- Mildred Natwick as Aunt Kathryn March
The Laurence Family
- Robert Young as Grandpa James Laurence
- Richard Gilliland as Theodore 'Laurie' Laurence (Mr. Laurence's grandson)
Other Characters in the Miniseries
- William Shatner as Professor Friedrich Bhaer
- Cliff Potts as John Brooke (Meg's husband)
- Virginia Gregg as Hannah (the March family's housekeeper)
- Joyce Bulifant as Mrs. Kirke (runs the boarding school in New York)
- John de Lancie as Frank Vaughn (a friend of Amy's in Europe)
- Carlene Watkins as Sally Gardiner (a wealthy friend of Meg)
Other Characters in the Regular Series
- David Ackroyd as Professor Friedrich Bhaer
- Cliff Potts as John Brooke
- Virginia Gregg as Hannah
- Eve Plumb as Melissa Jane 'Lissa' Driscoll (a cousin of the Marches)
Awards and Recognition
Winner:
- 1979 – Emmy Award for Outstanding Art Direction for a Series (This means the sets and scenery looked amazing!)
Nominations:
- 1979 – Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Series (This means the way the show was filmed was very good.)
- 1979 - Golden Globe Award for Best Television Film
Watching at Home
You can watch Little Women (the 1978 miniseries) on DVD.
- It was first released on a 2-disc DVD in Region 1 (for North America) by a company called Koch Vision on October 9, 2007.
- Later, on August 14, 2012, another company, Entertainment One (eOne), released the miniseries on a single DVD.
