Customer Reviews

Little Princess [VHS]

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
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If this is the BBC version of the little princess done by wonder works starring Amelia Shankley as Sarah, then I must say it is an excellent video. It is done very true to the book with outstanding performances by all the cast, especially Amelia Shankley who plays Sarah. It is a true british production with less outstanding cinematography as the one from 1995 (which was made for American audiences), however the story and the acting keeps you focused on the real point of the story and is great regardless.

This was definitely a mainstay of growing up... Shirley Temple movies, that is.

What can I say? I'm a sap for the old movies and for her cute face. The innocence and the lack of arrogance, the pride...

A terrific and wholesome story well worth watching again and again. One that you can let the kids watch anytime... and they'll want to watch it repeatedly.

A tale of a little girl sent off to boarding school as her caring father heads off to war. The truth about her boarding school isn't known until after he's left.

When it seems that her father has been killed in the war, she doesn't give up and searches on her own, with a little help from people who care about this innocent beauty.

A love story. You'll laugh, and cry from sadness, and cry from joy many times during this movie.

The singing, the dancing, the heart-felt love Shirley has for life and those around her is uplifting at any age.

Get it. Enjoy it! Again and again!

Touches ya, right there (the heart, that is)!

I have seen the Amelia Shankely version of "A Little Princess" and it is excellent, however, there is too little information in this listing to know if this indeed is the version. This version is available and positively identifiable at some of Amazon's zShops. Here is my review:
This version of Frances Hodgson Burnett's story "A Little Princess" is from WonderWorks and is an excellent, heart-wrenching performance. It is also more true to the original story. This version stars Amelia Shankley as Sara Crew and is mostly set in London (and India) This version has not been "Americanized" as the version which stars Eleanor Bron. To be true, the version starring Eleanor Bron is also excellent, but the Amelia Shankley version will also take your heart to new highs and lows in subtle, different ways. The Amelia Shankley/British version does not have the same idyllic ending as the Eleanor Bron/American version. Leave the Shirley Temple version behind, but if you love the Eleanor Bron version you will want to own this one too!

Foreword: I looked up "A Little Princess" hoping to be able to review the version starring Amelia Shankley. There were many results for my search, but none came up as definitely being that version. However, this doesn't appear to be one of the 1,000,000 results starring Shirley Temple, so I'm going to guess this is the one I'm after.

Now for the review: This is such a great movie. Amelia Shankley does such a good job in the role of Sara that it's almost impossible to believe she was only 14 years old at the time. Maureen Lipman makes a terrific Miss Minchin and Miriam Margolyes does a great job as her weak-willed sister, Miss Amelia. Nigel Havers is wonderful as Carrisford. Natalie Abbott is perfectly cast as Becky and gives a performance that makes you root for her. Of special note is Katrina Heath, who does a fantastic job as nasty Lavinia. One can tell she was having a fun time with her role (and who wouldn't?).

If this product turns out to be some other version of A Little Princess, this review doesn't apply.

Shirley once again excels in her talents. Her persistance in knowing that her father is srill alive even though every clue points to him being dead ahows an unconditional bond between father and daughter. I think she out did her self and she truly is a little princess.

I think this is the version I saw in the 1980's on PBS and still have on tape somewhere. I adored it as a preteen, and still love it. The acting was superb. I cannot imagine anyone else playing the rolls of Sara, Miss Minchin(she was absolutely terrifying!), Becky, and adorable Lottie. Since this movie is very long and very dramatic, I don't recommend watching it all in one sitting, unless you don't mind the emotional rollercoaster. I don't think this film would be good for kids under 11; they might get too sad. I recommend younger kids read the book, preferably the smaller version "Sara Crewe" that I loved when I was little.
The Shirley Temple version is a lot less sad, but it is too short and doesn't stay true to the book.