Little Men (1940 film)

Little Men (1940) is an American film based on the novel Little Men (1871) by Louisa May Alcott. Norman Z. McLeod directed the film.

Plot summary

Jo March (Kay Francis), the lead character in Alcott's novel Little Women, now runs a private school for young boys.

Cast

• Kay Francis as Jo March
• Jack Oakie as Willie the Fox
• Jimmy Lydon as Dan
• Ann Gillis as Nan
• Carl Esmond as Professor Bhaer
• Richard Nichols as Teddy
• Francesca Santoro as Bess
• Lillian Randolph as Asia
• Sammy McKim as Tommy
• Edward Rice as Demi
• Anne Howard as Daisy
• Jimmy Zahner as Jack
• Bobby Cooper as Adolphus
• Schuyler Standish as Nat
• Paul Matthews as Stuffy
• Tony Neil as Ned
• Fred Estes as Emmett
• Douglas Rucker as Billy
• Donald Rackerby as Frank
• William Demarest as Constable Tom Thorpe
• Sterling Holloway as Reporter
• Isabel Jewell as Stella
• Elsie the Cow as Buttercup

Charles Arnt, Stanley Blystone, Nora Cecil, Hal K. Dawson, Sarah Edwards, George D. Green, Jack Henderson, Howard C. Hickman, Lloyd Ingraham, George Irving, William Irving, Bud Jamison, Nella Walker, Clarence Wilson and Duke York appear uncredited.

Differences from novel

There are many differences between the novel and the movie. A major one is the introduction of two new characters. Major Burdle and Willie the Fox are not a part of the original story. In the original novel, Dan is an orphaned child from the streets. His arrival to Plumfield results from his previous friendship with Nat.

The Plot- Movie The plot of the movie is also very different from the novel. The whole plot revolves around the fact that Mr. and Mrs. Bhaer need money to prevent the loss of Plumfield to the bank. Danny and his father have been traveling around selling Major Burdles medications, but are forced to send Danny to school. Major Burdles presents himself as an “investor” in order to conceal his real occupation. Mr. Bhaer gets the idea to let him invest their money in order to pay the bills. Through some unfortunate events, the banks close and Major Burdle loses the money he intended to return to the Bhaers. Through many efforts he is finally able to return the money and the Bhaers buy Plumfield, bringing an end to their troubles.

Novel- Plumfield is given to the Bhaers by Jo’s aunt at the end of Little Women. In addition, Teddy, the brother-in-law of the Bhaers, is extremely wealthy and sponsors their school program.

More Differences: In the movie the Character is known as Danny, but in the book he is just Dan. Dan and Nat are friends before Plumfield. There are more Children at Plumfield in the movie than there are in the book. Mr. Bhaer is German in the book, but he is Swiss in the Movie.

There are many more differences that can be easily observed by reading the book and then watching the movie.

Soundtrack

• Lillian Randolph - "Roll Jordan Roll" (Traditional Negro spiritual)
• Schuyler Standish - "Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair" (Written by Stephen Foster)
• Lillian Randolph - "Aura Lea" (Music by George R. Poulton, lyrics by W.W. Fosdick)

Reception

The film recorded a loss of $214,000.^[1]

References

External links

• Internet Movie Database
• ]
• TCM Movie Database
• AllRovi