Little Men (1998)

Movie Details:

Cast & Characters:

• Mariel Hemingway as Josephine “Jo” Bhaer
• Michael Caloz as Nat Blake
• Ben Cook as Dan
• Chris Sarandon as Fritz Bhaer
• Michael Yarmush as Emil
• Ricky Mabe as Tommy Bangs
• Gabrielle Boni as Nan Harding
• Julia Garland as Daisy Brooke
• B.J. McLellan as Jack Ford
• Tyler Hynes as Demi Brooke
• Kathleen Fee as the Narrator and Molly
• Mickey Toft as Teddy Bhaer

Storyline:

1871 New England. Two-week orphaned preteen Nat Blake, in his new circumstance, has been living on the streets of Boston with his more streetwise friend, fourteen year old Dan, who looks after Nat and who survives by his cunning and by stealing. Due to an event of living on the streets, Nat gets a benefactor in the form of John Brooke who pays for his schooling at Plumfield, a boys’ boarding school in the country owned and operated by John’s sister-in-law and her husband, Jo and Fritz Bhaer. Although each being different in the way they exact their discipline, both the Bhaers believe that treating the boys with compassion and treating them as boys will result in them being better people than if they were strict disciplinarians. Nat goes through some adjustment of needing to lie to survive on the street to life at Plumfield, but ultimately finds that that different life is one to which he truly wants and that the changes he has to make do make him a better person. Nat’s stay at Plumfield is further affected by two subsequent arrivals, one being Dan who has no benefactor to pay his way at the school (which is facing financial problems), but it where he says he wants to be despite he treating his stay there the exact same as he is when he is on the street: by his own rules, and not the Bhaers or anyone else’s.

About Little Men Movie:

Little Men is a family drama film from Canada, released in 1998, featuring performances by Mariel Hemingway and Chris Sarandon. The film draws inspiration from the 1871 novel of the same name by Louisa May Alcott, who is also known for her classic work, Little Women. This adaptation serves as a loose sequel to the earlier film adaptation of Little Women from 1994.

Set in 1871, the story follows John Brooke as he encounters Nat Blake, a homeless boy in Boston. John sends Nat to his sister-in-law, Jo Bhaer, who operates Plumfield School for Boys with her husband, Fritz. As the narrative unfolds, Nat’s friend Dan arrives at Plumfield, where he quickly becomes a source of trouble for Jo and Fritz.

Despite its wholesome themes and positive messages about compassion and education, the film received mixed reviews. Critics noted its simplistic narrative and lack of depth, suggesting it may appeal more to younger audiences than to adults seeking a richer storyline. Roger Ebert rated it one and a half stars, describing it as overly sentimental and lacking in complexity. Conversely, Leonard Maltin gave it two and a half stars, acknowledging its charm despite its shortcomings.

Budget & Box Office Collection: