The Little Princess (1939 film) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 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 |
| 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 |
| Editing by | Louis Loeffler |
| Distributed by | Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation |
| Release date(s) | March 10, 1939 |
| Running time | 93 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | over $1 million |
The Little Princess is a classic film from 1939. It's a drama film based on the famous 1905 book A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett. This movie was special because it was the first Shirley Temple film made entirely in Technicolor, which means it was filmed in full color! It was also one of her last big successes as a child star.
The movie keeps the story's setting in Victorian London. However, it adds new characters and plot lines. The Second Boer War and the Siege of Mafeking are important events happening in the background. Shirley Temple and Arthur Treacher perform a fun song called "Knocked 'Em in the Old Kent Road". Shirley Temple also has a long ballet dance scene. The film's ending is quite different from the book.
Plot Summary
The story begins with Captain Crewe, a loving father. He has to leave his daughter, Sara (Shirley Temple), at Miss Minchin's School for Girls. Captain Crewe is called away to fight in the Second Boer War. He pays a lot of money to make sure Sara gets a fancy private room.
Sara misses her father, but she enjoys her riding lessons. During these lessons, Sara helps her teacher, Miss Rose, meet Mr. Geoffrey. He is the riding instructor and also the grandson of the grumpy neighbor, Lord Wickham. Sara hears exciting news that Mafeking is free. She believes her father will come home soon.
Miss Minchin throws a big birthday party for Sara. But during the party, Captain Crewe's lawyer arrives with bad news. He says Captain Crewe has died and lost all his money. Miss Minchin quickly ends Sara's party. Without her father's money, Sara becomes a servant at the very school she used to attend.
Sara finds comfort in a new friendship with Ram Dass, Lord Wickham's servant. Miss Minchin's brother, Bertie, also supports Sara. He doesn't agree with how his sister treats her. Miss Rose and Mr. Geoffrey are discovered and fired. Geoffrey then joins the army.
Sara's new life as a servant is hard. She gets very hungry and tired from her many chores. She secretly visits hospitals for soldiers, hoping to find her father. She believes he is still alive. After many adventures, including singing "Knocked 'em in the Old Kent Road", Sara is exhausted.
Things get worse when Sara argues with Miss Minchin. Miss Minchin doesn't believe Sara's father is alive. The next day, another girl, Lavinia, teases Sara. Sara loses her temper and dumps ashes on Lavinia. Miss Minchin finds Sara in the attic. She sees blankets that Ram Dass left for Sara. Miss Minchin thinks Sara stole them. She locks Sara in the attic and calls the police.
Sara escapes and runs to the hospital. Miss Minchin chases after her. Meanwhile, the hospital is getting ready to move a new patient. This patient can only say "Sara, Sara." It is Captain Crewe! Sara bursts in during a visit by Queen Victoria. The Queen gives Sara permission to search for her father. During her search, Sara finds Mr. Geoffrey and Miss Rose, who is wounded. Hiding from Miss Minchin and the police, Sara finally finds her father.
A hospital worker announces that Sara has found her father. Miss Minchin is shocked and exclaims, "Captain Crewe is alive?!" Her brother Bertie replies, "Of course he's alive! How could she find him if he wasn't alive?" The movie ends with Sara helping her father stand as the Queen leaves.
Main Characters
- Shirley Temple as Sara Crewe: A sweet and hopeful girl who faces many challenges.
- Richard Greene as Geoffrey Hamilton: The kind riding instructor who joins the army.
- Anita Louise as Rose: Sara's teacher and Geoffrey's love interest.
- Ian Hunter as Captain Reginald Crewe: Sara's loving father, a soldier.
- Cesar Romero as Ram Dass: Lord Wickham's servant who helps Sara.
- Arthur Treacher as Hubert "Bertie" Minchin: Miss Minchin's brother, who is kind to Sara.
- Mary Nash as Mistress Amanda Minchin: The strict and often mean headmistress.
- Sybil Jason as Becky: A young servant girl who becomes Sara's friend.
- Miles Mander as Lord Wickham: The grumpy neighbor.
- Marcia Mae Jones as Lavinia: A jealous student at the school.
- Deidre Gale as Jessie
- Ira Stevens as Ermengarde
- E. E. Clive as Mr. Barrows
- Beryl Mercer as Queen Victoria: The Queen of England, who appears in the story.
- Eily Malyon as Cook
- Clyde Cook as Attendant
- Keith Kenneth as Bobbie
- Will Stanton as a Groom
- Harry Allen as a Groom
- Holmes Herbert as a Doctor
- Evan Thomas as a Doctor
- Guy Bellis as a Doctor
- Kenneth Hunter as General
- Lionel Braham as Colonel
Fun Facts About the Movie
- This film was a big step for movies because it was the first Shirley Temple film to be shot entirely in Technicolor. This meant audiences could see the movie in vibrant, full color!
- The Little Princess was Shirley Temple's last major hit movie as a child star. She was very famous at the time.
- The movie added new characters and storylines that were not in the original book. This made the film a bit different from the story many people knew.
- The film uses the Second Boer War as a background. This was a real war that happened in South Africa.
- The movie became part of the public domain in the United States in 1968. This means that its copyright was not renewed, so anyone can now use or share the film freely.
See also
In Spanish: La pequeña princesita para niños
