Little Women

 I was an only child but had a sister figure in the form of my cousin who lived across the street.  She is four years older and my role model.  I don’t know how she feels about that, I will have to ask her one day, but, for the most part, I tried to emulate her.

Our mothers dressed us alike from time to time, we read the same books, we went to the same schools, etc  and I figured if she did something then it was something good to do.  That worked until we grew older and our personal likes and dislikes began to define us — she was a thespian and under no circumstances would I ever get on a stage and actually speak but give me paper and a pen and I would be more than happy to write it for you — that was my desire, to write.

So, as I followed in the footsteps of my cousin one of the first things I wanted to do was read an actual novel that she was reading — Little Women.  And I did although I conveniently left out the chapter in which Beth dies — she suggested it might be a bit much for me.  So, currently, I have never read the chapter in which Beth dies.  I guess I need to add that to a bucket list — if I had one.

We also enjoyed the many versions of the movie of the same name.

I never saw the 1917 and 1918 versions.  They were silent films starring people I had never heard of.

  My first foray into the cinematic version of the book was the 1933 version starring Kathryn Hepburn as Jo and Douglas Montgomery as Laurie.

I thought Hepburn made a “capital” Jo - to me she cinched the “Jo” vibe completely.  I think she was a natural for the part, tomboyish, not especially beautiful in that baby doll sort of way, and outgoing - yes, she made a perfect Jo.

The next version that I have also watched a number of times is the 1949 version with June Allyson as Jo and Peter Lawford as Laurie.  I found June Allyson to not fit the part at all.  In the first place, she was very short and very cute and very blond — not the physical appearance that I ever applied to the book version of Jo.  She was perky and sweet and that is just not how I saw Jo.  So, while she did a great job and it was a successful movie, to me the casting could have been better.

I though Elizabeth Taylor made an acceptable Amy except she wasn’t a blond and to make her a blond just didn’t work for me.  Margaret O’Brien was the perfect Beth and, in my opinion, Janet Leigh was “just there”.  I thought Peter Lawford as Laurie was good casting but then, I liked Peter Lawford!  I was a teenager in the “rat pack” era and there was Peter Lawford, front and center, and I really liked his movies — along with Sinatra.

Then came the 1994 version of Little Women with Winona Rider and Christian Bale.  I have only seen this one a couple of times and it was ok — I especially liked Susan Sarandon and Mary Wickes as Aunt March. I think I need to go back and watch this one a third time and refresh my memory but I have to say, I don’t think it was the most memorable version for me.

And that brings us to the 2019 version that I watched last night.  My daughter and I enjoyed this version in the theater with the Bean. She was 9 and I don’t know that she was that “into” it but I was.  Again, for me the setting is so important.  The book is set in Civil War era Massachusettes.  Being from the south, my thoughts on the civil war go to the stereotypical “southern” take on things so I enjoyed the setting being in Massachusettes.  I checked and it was actually filmed in Boston, Concord and the surrounding areas.  The external scenes of the Alcott house are real and I just loved seeing the landscape and city scenes in Massachusettes.  It just changed the whole thing for me — a whole new perspective.  

Saorise Ronan was the perfect Jo.  She is the one actress that actually portrayed and projected the idea that a woman is more than just a homemaker, an obviously foreign concept for the time.  You could feel her frustration, however, and I think she did a marvelous job.  Emma Watson was so-so to me, Emily Scanlan’s Beth just didn’t have much of an impact but Florence Pugh’s Amy was spot on.  I thought Timothee Chalamet made a perfect Laurie but I have already admitted to having a soft spot for him — oh to be 19 again.

The portrayal of the book was new and modern yet stayed on tap.  It followed the story line but in a more modern way with flashbacks and projections.  It jumped around a bit so you have to watch it — no fiddling with the iPad — you have to watch it but it keeps you on your toes.  And the ending was such a twist and I love the way it led you past Jo reconnecting with her German friend and leads you into the next chapter - the school and the book that would be ‘Jo’s Boys”.  Through graphics it lets you know how the characters are progressing.  A sequel would be spectacular.

So, out of the various versions I would have to say that the 2019 version is my favorite.  Besides the fact that I made a memory by viewing it with my granddaughter and daughter, I was just enthralled by the scenery, the modernized presentation and the overall superior casting.  I really think Saorise Ronan is one of todays outstanding actresses — you know how everybody raves about Kathryn Hepburn? — Well, I believe Ronan has what it takes to be right up there with her.

So, yes, I recommend the movie.  I think I might even buy it for my DVD collection  and yes, I still buy DVD’s.