Little Women (1994)

Movie Details:

Cast & Characters:

• Winona Ryder as Josephine “Jo” March, an ambitious young woman, who longs to become a successful author.
• Gabriel Byrne as Friedrich Bhaer, an older professor who falls in love with Jo while he works as a tutor in New York and eventually marries her.
• Trini Alvarado as Margaret “Meg” March, the oldest March sister. She marries Laurie’s tutor, John Brooke, and gives birth to fraternal twins: a boy, John (nicknamed “Demijohn” by Jo, which is shortened to “Demi”); and a girl, Margaret, called “Daisy” at home “so as to not have two Megs”.
• Samantha Mathis and Kirsten Dunst as Amy March, the youngest March child and quick-witted daughter. Instead of the brown hair and brown or green eyes of her three older sisters, she has golden curls and blue eyes. She later marries Laurie and becomes a successful painter. Amy was the only character played by two different actresses – Dunst portrayed her at twelve years old in the first half of the movie, Mathis as a seventeen-year-old in the second half of the movie.
• Claire Danes as Elizabeth “Beth” March, the third March daughter and the pianist of the family. She is shy, good, sweet, kindly, and loyal. At the young age of fourteen, she contracted scarlet fever, which weakened her heart and resulted in her death four years later at the age of eighteen.
• Christian Bale as Theodore “Laurie” Laurence, the young neighbor who becomes Jo’s best friend in their youth. Later, he tries, but fails, to convince her to marry him. He eventually falls in love with and marries Amy.
• Eric Stoltz as John Brooke, Laurie’s tutor and Meg’s eventual husband.
• John Neville as Mr. James Laurence, Laurie’s grandfather and a kind neighbor of the Marches.
• Mary Wickes as Aunt Josephine March, the only March family member who still has a lot of money. Upon her death, her estate is left to adult Jo, who transforms it into a school for boys.
• Susan Sarandon as Abigail “Marmee” March, the mother of the March daughters and the loving wife of Mr. March.
• Matthew Walker as Robert March, the father of the four March daughters, Marmee’s loving husband, and long-time devoted spouse.
• Florence Paterson as Hannah Mullet, the loyal housekeeper of the March family since Meg was born. The girls think of her more as a good friend than a servant.
• Janne Mortil as Sally Moffat, Meg’s one and only good friend, who is quite rich and prosperous.
• Donal Logue as Jacob Mayer

Storyline:

In this 1994 adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic, the March sisters confront growing pains, financial shortages, family tragedies and romantic rivalries in mid-19th-century Massachusetts. Jo (Winona Ryder) struggles for independence and sometimes clashes with her beloved mother and her sisters Meg, Amy and Beth. She also contends with their cranky Aunt March, their impulsive neighbor Laurie (Christian Bale) and kindly linguistics professor Friedrich Bhaer (Gabriel Byrne).

About Little Women Movie:

Little Women is an American coming-of-age historical drama film directed by Gillian Armstrong. The screenplay, written by Robin Swicord, is based on Louisa May Alcott’s classic 1868–69 novel of the same name. This adaptation is notable for being the fifth feature film version of the beloved story.

Production Details

Produced by Denise Di Novi and distributed by Columbia Pictures, Little Women had a budget of approximately $15–18 million. It was released in theaters on December 25, 1994, followed by a nationwide release four days later.

Reception

The film received critical acclaim upon its release, grossing over $95 million worldwide. It was nominated for three Academy Awards: Best Actress for Winona Ryder (Jo), Best Costume Design, and Best Original Score. Critics praised its performances, particularly those of Ryder and Susan Sarandon (Marmee), as well as its faithful yet fresh take on Alcott’s novel.

Legacy

Little Women has been recognized as one of the greatest adaptations of Alcott’s work. It has appeared in various lists celebrating significant films in American cinema. In 1994, it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” The film also inspired a loose sequel titled Little Men.

Overall, Little Women remains a cherished film that resonates with audiences for its themes of family, love, and personal growth.

Budget & Box Office Collection: