Last night ABC ran the latest movie version of A Little Princess This is one of my favorite books in the world, and I've never seen a movie version (no, not even the Shirley Temple version), so I left it on.
Gack!
Oh, my goodness. It was terrible. Sarah Crewe was cutsey. The dialog was terribly written, and the acting was even worse. They missed the charm, the pathos and the major moral lesson of the story. As if that weren't enough, they rewrote the ending.
Why? Why, oh why? Did they think the book version wouldn't play well enough as a movie? Did they think it was too sad? Did they just think their version was better? Why do people do this to perfectly good stories?
On the plus side, my boys were hooked and watched the movie. I've always been afraid they wouldn't be interested in the book; after all, it's about girls. I'm going to take advantage of the opportunity and read it to them. I don't know, though, how I'll get through the reading without crying. I still cry, even when I read it to myself.
Posted by Steph at September 25, 2004 02:50 PMI love the Little Princess too. The best movie verison is the british one they did in the 80s that was shown on PBS. You might be able to get from interlibrary loan. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090474/ I think it has 3 or 4 parts and is really close to the book.
Posted by: athenesc on September 25, 2004 04:06 PMMiranda and I have cried our way through more than one book together! It'll be doubly good, they can hear a story about girls AND reinforce the "its ok to cry" theme at the same time. and fwiw, I hated the movie of Ella Enchanted for the same reasons......
Posted by: e on September 26, 2004 09:22 PMI loved the movie but then again, I have never read the book so now I am going to have to go to the library and get a copy just to be irritated that the book is better than the movie. But then again it usually is isnt it?
Posted by: Sherri on September 27, 2004 09:26 AMA Little Princess was one of our family storytime books. I loved it. (Though my initial reaction was to get very grumpy and go check how I had my life insurance set up)
Posted by: Karl Gallagher on September 27, 2004 01:06 PMThe studio movie of A Little Princess in the 90s (starring Liesel Matthews) was a big flop, despite getting excellent reviews, which led studios to say, Okay, kids' movies starring girls are a no-go. Boys only, please.
Same reason we have Harry Potter and not Harriet. "Everyone knows" boys won't have anything to do with girl stories. Sigh.
Posted by: Diane Patterson on September 27, 2004 06:45 PMExcellent story. I read this aloud to my children when they were rather old, but it worked well enough. I expected a little more info on Victorian England, but I really admired Sarah and felt it was a book worth our time to read aloud.
You wrote:
"Why do people do this to perfectly good stories?"
My daughter and I read Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. She watched the movie at a friend's soon afterward and said it wasn't even close.
I'm glad that they stayed close on Pride & Prejudice (Firth version).
Posted by: Tammy, blogger emeritus on September 27, 2004 09:21 PMI still have not seen P&P. I tried to rent the Firth version at our local Blockbuster. I asked them for "Pride and Prejudice". They squinted their eyes and asked "Is that a foreign film?"
I might have to buy it. I know I'll love it.
Karl, what a wonderful reaction ;-) Diane, I have to come at my boys sideways with these "girl" stories. THEY believe that as boys, they don't like girl stories. They do. But they've somehow managed to find that "boy" mentality and cannot admit to liking "girl" stories. I don't know how it happened. Little twerps.
Athene SC, Thank you!! I'll see if I can ILL that movie. After I read the book to the boys.
Posted by: Stephanie on September 28, 2004 09:40 AMYou haven't seen the Firth version?! Run, don't walk! Own it! Own it!
6 hours of delightful Regency England. Sandra loves watching it, and sometimes picks up an adorable accent for a while.
What, are you still reading? You're supposed to be out buying it!
Posted by: Sarah on September 28, 2004 10:29 AMWell, now I'll need something to while away the time while Jeff is gone ;-)
Posted by: Stephanie on September 28, 2004 05:27 PM