Añade un argumento en tu idiomaJo March and her husband Professor Bhaer operate the Plumfield School for poor boys. When Dan, a tough street kid, comes to the school, he wins Jo's heart despite his hard edge, and she defe... Leer todoJo March and her husband Professor Bhaer operate the Plumfield School for poor boys. When Dan, a tough street kid, comes to the school, he wins Jo's heart despite his hard edge, and she defends him when he is falsely accused of theft. Dan's foster father, Major Burdle, is a swind... Leer todoJo March and her husband Professor Bhaer operate the Plumfield School for poor boys. When Dan, a tough street kid, comes to the school, he wins Jo's heart despite his hard edge, and she defends him when he is falsely accused of theft. Dan's foster father, Major Burdle, is a swindler in cahoots with another crook called Willie the Fox. When the Plumfield School becomes... Leer todo
- Dirección
- Guión
- Reparto principal
- Premios
- 3 premios en total
- Prof. Bhaer
- (as Charles Esmond)
- Jack
- (as Jimmy Zaner)
- Adolphus
- (as Bobbie Cooper)
Reseñas destacadas
Set in Connecticut some years after the Civil War, the prologue begins with Major I. I. Burdle (George Bancroft) a confidence man, whose friend, Willie, the Fox (Jack Oakie) arrives with the news that their friend and fellow crook, Teddy, has died, leaving Burdle his orphan son, Danny, to raise. Burdle, who is not fond of children, decides to leave the year old infant on the doorsteps of a state orphanage. Unable to follow through his plan, Burdle has a change of heart and raises the boy as his own. Twelve years later, Burdle has raised Danny (Jimmy Lydon) to become a chiseler like himself, selling medicine bottles that cures alcoholism to suckers who buy them. Advised by a truant officer to give Danny a normal childhood by going to school, Burdle takes her advise against his own judgment. Reunited with Willie, who had escaped prison and left for dead, Burdle and he both take Danny to Plumfield Boarding School run by Jo (Kay Francis) and her Swiss husband, Professor Bhaer (Charles Esmond). Because the school is in desperate need of $5,000 before their lease expires, Bhaer, believing Burdle to be an investment broker, entrusts him his life savings of $2500 for he to invest and double the funds. While living a natural environment with the other boys and girls, Danny hates the place and longs to be with his father. Now on their own, Burdle and Willie continue selling medicine bottles. Burdle loses Bhaer's money to the Omaha Bank that has failed. To save Danny from disgrace, Burdle must come up with a miracle to honestly regain the money and save the school from closing.
The supporting cast consists of Ann Gillis (Nan); Richard Nichols (Teddy Bhaer); Casey Johnson (Robby); Johnny Burke (Silas); Lillian Randolph (Asia, the Maid); Schuyler Standish (Nat, the violinist); William Demarest (The Constable); Sterling Holloway (The Reporter); Lloyd Ingraham (The Judge), Isabel Jewell (Stella), and a cow named Elsie, introduced in the credits as "The moo girl of the New York World's Fair," playing Buttercup.
An average production that mixes sentimentality and family values in the similar fashion to BOYS TOWN (MGM, 1938) starring Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney. It is Jo who takes in every wayward child into her wing, including her own and sister's children as well. Those who remember Jimmy Lydon as the comical teenager in the "Henry Aldrich" movie series for Paramount (1941-1944), will get a glimpse of him in a serious role. That of a troublesome teen who becomes a problem to others. Of the major characters here, Jack Oakie comes off best as the bank bandit with amusing one-liners and amusing situations definitely not existent in the Alcott book. Ten minutes longer than the 1934 edition, LITTLE MEN, at 84 minutes, is satisfactory entertainment.
A public domain title, over the years, this 1940 edition of LITTLE MEN has become available on both video and DVD formats, with frequent showings on public television in the 1980s. There were limited broadcasts on cable television, such as CBN in 1987, and Turner Classic Movies (TCM premiere: April 16, 2007) as well. The premise of LITTLE MEN was retold again in 1998, first as motion picture and then a short-lived television series. Whether it be LITTLE WOMEN or LITTLE MEN, Louisa May Alcott's stories of family values are quite relevant today. (**1/2)
Jo's a woman now and married to that visiting professor guy played by Carl Esmond here and they're running a school now, the Plumfield School where they try to make young gentlemen out of spirited boys. Back in the day girls were not considered to need an education, but they're kind of snuck in anyway.
George Bancroft and sidekick Jack Oakie stop by one day and deposit Bancroft's son with the school, Jimmy Lydon. Esmond who's not a worldly sort is so taken with Bancroft that he gives him their savings to invest. For all his pretensions Bancroft and Oakie are a pair of amiable grifters.
Oakie gives the best performance in the film, he steals whatever scene he's in. In fact he's the guy who comes up with a unique solution to everybody's problems in the end.
Jo March was one of Katharine Hepburn's earliest film successes back in 1933. If Kate had still been with RKO it might have been interesting to see her naturally age into the part again. As it is Kay Francis does well by Jo.
Little Men also reminds so much of a 19th century Boys Town so much so you keep waiting for Mickey Rooney to pop up. He also would have been a natural for Jimmy Lydon's part.
This version of a timeless literary classic still holds up well and is great family viewing.
The story begins with a baby being dropped in the lap of a film-flam man (George Bancroft). Not surprisingly, the child, Dan, grows up to be a smaller version of his dad--full of the devil and way too old for his age. However, after years of traveling the country selling patent medicine and lying up a blue streak, it becomes inevitable that Dan should go to school. So, he's placed in the boarding school run by Jo (the main character from "Little Women") and the boy fits in about as well as a stripper at a Baptist Bible college!! In addition, Jo's husband unwisely believes Dan's father is a decent man and industrialist and entrusts them with the home's assets. What happens next? See the film.
The emphasis in this "Little Men" is clearly on Dan as well as on laughs. Now the film was quite enjoyable--the acting was nice (especially Kay Francis as Jo) and the script nice. It just wasn't "Little Men"!
The answer of course is that she didn't. Apparently the studio felt that the title and a few characters were all it needed from the book. While I haven't read the book, I can say having seen the movie that the studio should probably have stuck to the book. The story they came up with is lackluster and has none of the strong character development of LM. I am a Kay Francis fan, but she has too few opportunities in the script to make anything of her Jo. On its own merits, the film is mildly entertaining, but ultimately forgettable.
While this 1940 adaptation of 'Little Men' didn't do much for me, it does have virtues that prevent it from being a complete disaster. Visually it is quite handsomely mounted, with sumptuous black and white photography, elegant costumes and evocative sets and scenery. Roy Webb's score complements beautifully, and it is a lusciously orchestrated and rhythmically characterful score in its own right, never feeling too twee or overly-jaunty. A couple of performances are good, with very funny Jack Oakie and lively George Bancroft coming out on top. Jimmy Lydon does well, and his reform does provide the one moment in the film where a tear really is brought to the eye. Elsie the Cow is also very cute.
Sadly, the rest of the cast are not particularly memorable and struggle to bring life to characters that are just not interesting. Even though Jo is much older than the spirited yet hot-tempered youthful Jo seen in 'Little Women', Kay Francis is far too subdued, disadvantaged by how blandly as a result of being mostly stripped of that liveliness and spirit Jo is written. Charles Esmond is also much too stiff as Mr Bhaer, and rather too buffoonish and naive too. The other children don't generate much spark, only Dan shows any signs of development.
It's not their fault though, because they don't have much of worth to work with, which would have been far less problematic if the film had stuck more to the book. Speaking briefly about how 'Little Men' fares as an adaptation, out of all the film adaptations of Alcott's books it is by far and large the weakest and most uninspired. Although none of the other film adaptations of Alcott's work are completely faithful to their source material and there are significant alterations and omissions in some, this is the only one to change the original story beyond recognition to the extent that if the title and characters' names hadn't been left intact it would have been something else entirely.
Judging films and adaptations as standalones this reviewer has always found a fairer way to judge, but apart from a few good things 'Little Men' is pretty mediocre on its own terms. The script is rather messy, the subtle social commentary and gentle tone is predominantly replaced by overused and increasingly idiotic slapstick, maudlin sentiment, mostly teeth-gritting humorous moments (Oakie does have some very amusing moments though admittedly, just that the more repetitive ones suffer eventually from being overly-absurd) and dialogue that takes one completely out of the time period and setting.
Didn't find myself particularly engaged by the story in 'Little Men' either, with the first half-hour being particularly slow-going with a lot of dialogue but not much going on in the story-telling. Due to so many changes and omissions, which hurt the energy and flow, it's also rather limply paced, dramatically dreary, can feel choppy and just everything that made the original story such a lovely read is not present here.
Overall, a few merits here but mediocre and disappointing as an overall film, while faring terribly as an adaptation. 4/10 Bethany Cox
¿Sabías que...?
- CuriosidadesThis film uses several of the Lo que el viento se llevó (1939) exterior sets, including Tara, the train shed, and several of the Atlanta street buildings. One of the best close-up views of Tara's front porch and door.
- PifiasAt about five minutes, the baby turns completely around in its box between shots.
- Citas
Major Burdle: [to Willie] I won't lose his love and respect, not even if i have to steal the money to prove than I'm honest.
- ConexionesVersion of Little Men (1934)
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Detalles
- Fecha de lanzamiento
- País de origen
- Idioma
- Títulos en diferentes países
- Pequeños hombres
- Localizaciones del rodaje
- Empresa productora
- Ver más compañías en los créditos en IMDbPro
- Duración1 hora 24 minutos
- Color
- Relación de aspecto
- 1.37 : 1