Masterpiece Little Women

DVD Wholesale Quick Overview:

I’ll admit, I was a little sceptical when I heard the BBC was doing an adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s famous 19th century novel. Not only had I been burned by the latest television version of “Anne of Green Gables” (which is filled with pointless “dark and gritty” original material) but felt that surely there were *enough* adaptations of “Little Women” out there.

Turns out that I was wrong, and there’s room for at least one more take on the well-loved material. As with every other adaptation, this three-part miniseries combines “Little Women” and “Good Wives” into a single narrative, following the lives of the four March sisters – Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy – as they grow into womanhood. Living in 1860s Massachusetts during the American Civil War, they initially struggle with the absence of their father and the family’s financial poverty, only to find strength with each other and in their aspirations for the future.

Ladylike Meg, tomboyish Jo, gentle Beth and spoiled Amy – they are a world unto themselves, but at the start of the story an important new figure enters their lives: Theodore “Laurie” Laurence, the grandson of their wealthy neighbour. Lonely and charming, he takes a deep interest in the girls, especially Jo and her dreams of one day becoming a writer.

Their trials and tribulations follow, and Louisa May Alcott’s rather episodic story is wisely streamlined and edited for time, whilst keeping all the most important milestones: Meg’s makeover, Amy’s trouble at school, Beth’s illness, Jo’s writerly aspirations and growing friendship with Laurie.

So what sets this apart from all the other adaptations of “Little Women?” First of all, the casting is excellent. Although Emily Watson as Marmee and Angela Lansbury as Aunt Josephine are familiar to most audiences, I had a quick look at the actresses playing the four March sisters on IMDB, and all of them are relative unknowns. It does wonders for the freshness and originality of the story, and each actress captures what makes each girl unique: Willa Fitzgerald is suitably lovely as Meg, Annes Elwy radiates goodness as Beth, and Kathryn Newton manages Amy’s self-possession and vanity.

But it’s Maya Hawke who’s the real stand-out as Jo. As much as I’ve loved Katherine Hepburn and Winona Ryder in the role, neither captured my personal interpretation of the character – but Hawke comes as humanly possible as anybody ever will. Her Jo is tomboyish without being too self-conscious of it, with an open heart and mind that always seems alert to the world and its people. Her temper comes from her deep passion for the things she loves, and she even captures the slightly masculine mannerisms and low voice I’ve always imagined Jo as having – but again, does so without going overboard.

It’s also to be commended it on its treatment of Jo and Laurie. The novel is notorious for *not* taking the predictable path when it comes to the burgeoning relationship between these two (much to the sorrow of so many first-time readers). Other adaptations have struggled with this – for example, the 1994 version sets the two up as such perfect soulmates that it feels clumsy and confusing when Jo rejects Laurie’s proposal.

Yet here the writing and acting clearly demonstrates why they wouldn’t have made a good match: this Laurie is too immature for Jo, and Jo herself just Isn’t That Into Him. As such, Laurie’s heartbreak is sad but inevitable, and Jo’s subsequent match with Professor Bhaer feels much more organic (though accepting Laurie/Amy is still an uphill struggle; as much here as it is in the book itself).

Finally, what makes this version of “Little Women” special is that it’s not afraid to occasionally expand on the material – and unlike “Anne with an E”, it does so in a way that’s faithful to the spirit of the original story. For instance, there’s a beautiful moment on Meg’s wedding day in which Marmee goes into the room where all her daughters are preparing, and for a moment she’s struck dumb as they turn and smile at her. She wishes them well, leaves the room, and then stops to let herself have a little cry in the hallway, knowing it’s the last time she’ll have them all under her own roof. It’s just lovely in its poignancy.

So well done, BBC. With high production values, excellent casting, deft directing, and a full understanding of the classic story and its characters, you’ve made a worthy adaptation of “Little Women”.

-R. M. Fisher

DVD Wholesale Main Features:

Actors: Emily Watson, Maya Hawke, Willa Fitzgerald, Kathryn Newton, Annes Elwy
Directors: n, a
Format: Color, NTSC, Widescreen
Language: English
Subtitles: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 1
Rated: PG-Parental Guidance Suggested
Studio: PBS Distribution
DVD Release Date: May 22, 2018
Run Time: 176 minutes
ASIN: B079ZV7961