The Little Princess [1939] [DVD]

I was so pleased with this purchase it took me back to my childhood I have passed it on to my greatgrand children and they enjoyed it as much as i did the first time

*****  2009-07-17 Mrs. E. E. Nicholls

Imagine this:
You are an actual princess but your dad gets called away to the army and no one believes you so you end up as a maid in a boarding school and everyone thinks you are a liar - except for an Indian Punjab. The Punjab wants to make you happy so while you are sleepign he decorates your entire room to be a princess room in a scullery maids room and this gives you the strenght to survive until your father comes home and rescues you.

*****  2008-08-27 Dave

I'm not commenting on the film's quality. (I strongly suspect that everybody reading these reviews already holds Temple to be both adorable and a great actor.) What I would like to point out is that DVD capacity is totally wasted in this product. It should not be described as "main language English", but as "ONLY language English". There are no other dialogue tracks, and it lacks all subtitling, even in English. So forget about any other bells and whistles.
Perhaps I was spoiled by previous DVD purchases, which all included them. Perhaps nobody else would imagine that they would be included, at this price. But, since I would have appreciated being forewarned, here goes my warning to others!

*****  2008-07-06 Capucine

This film has been remade for the new generation as many of Shirley's film have like Heidi which was better.
I have no problems with this film but both seem to change the ending to Sara (Shirley) is reunited with her solider father after he is report missing in action if you know the story Sara never sees her father again.

If you want a film that closely follows the book you won't find them here I don't think there is a film of this story which sticks to the book 100% the newest Heidi is the best film for sticking to the story but is you are a fan of Temple films this may be for you.

Both versions pull a the heartstrings by both and you can decide which is your favourite but it's a great film which ever you choose.

*****  2007-04-29 M. G. Hatfield

You could not but love Shirley Temple.
This is a great film of hers and you could not help but be touched at the sadness and injustice worked out in the story. Shirley Temples friendship with the little maid is a great touch too.
I think little girls today would love this story and maybe little boys too if they were not surounded by their peers.
They would have to admit they enjoyed it too. This innocence and optimism is missing from so much of film today.

*****  2005-09-16 D. Finlay