Little Women (1933)

Still the Best Version of this Film

By Lawrance  May 24, 2000

Made the same years as MORNING GLORY, I have always believed Katharine Hepburn's performance in this version of LITTLE WOMEN was a strong part of the reason she won her first Oscar. The most natural of her early roles because it obviously hit so clo...se to home, Hepburn's Jo is the reason this is the best film version of the classic story (although Claire Danes' death bed scene in the latest version is a wonderful moment). I could never quite believe that Jo ends up with the Professor, but at least that's in Alcott's book and not tacked on (like the happy ending in ALICE ADAMS). What would Freud say? One of the best (i.e., truest) adaptations of a classic novel. Remember, this was a time when Hollywood had John Barrymore make Moby Dick and let Ahab kill the whale (I am NOT making this up--it is a romance story). The story might be losing its charm for the young adult women of today, but make them watch it anyway. Let them see the Winona Ryder version and then educate their cinematic palate with this one. Getting hooked on Katharine Hepburn is not a bad thing. Read more Less