Customer Reviews

A Little Princess - Wonderworks Family Movie [VHS]

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the definitive movie version of Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic novel A Little Princess. Amelia Shankley, along with the rest of the cast, do a fantastic job of portraying the riches to rags story of an orphan girl, who goes from every comfort in the world to living in a cold attic and working as a skivie. The whole story revolves around how people should be treated, in every walk of life, be you rich or poor, a lady should always act like a princess, with grace, courage and a large and charitable heart. Lovely music with a touch of sadness to it, beautiful costumes, and sets that look straight out of Victorian England (mud, noise, carriages and all) makes this a gem, a gem that should not be lost. Please set up a site for those of us who would like it on DVD, now that the video is no longer available. The WB version is so inaccurate, it isn't funny. This is the version to watch and own.

I saw this over Christmas break from school (so many years ago I can't even remember now) and it changed something in me.
My life wasn't so tough, I had it pretty good, but I was still a little pain in the tush to my family, I resented my school work, I didn't have many friends. What I saw in Sara was character, strength of will, kindness and a generous spirit, which was exactly why the Magic never left her.
I tried to improve myself as a little girl, to be a little like Sara and appriciate all of the blessings that I had.
Amelia Shankley's performance was stellar, and the adaptation of the story was exact. I bought the VHS a few years ago to add to my collection of "Verifiable Childhood Memories" and I sincerely hope it comes out on DVD.

This movie has great acting and, in my opinion, is the best interpretation of the famous story of A Little Princess. I just bought it online for 13 though. It's worth searching for!!

This WonderWorks version is indeed the truest one to Burnett's book, with fine acting, costumes, sets, and all. The Shirley Temple and Warner Brothers versions are not at all true to the book, with the Shirley Temple version being the worst offender. But this excellent production is available only on VHS--and they wear out. How does one tell the current owner of the rights to put this out on DVD? Amazon.com, can you set up a place to communicate the desire for a DVD, as suggested by another reviewer? I want my grandchildren to have this movie available. I'd like to watch it on DVD myself. So many older and less worthy movies are being put on DVD--A Little Princess deserves the royal DVD treatment.

Having caught only the last episode of this production on Wonderworks in 1987 and spending the next 12 years searching for the Series on tape, I was very pleased to find it available and bought a copy! Since its loss in moving I am glad to have found it here at [...] and cannot say enough in favour of this production over the Movie version produced in the 1990's. Miss Shankley's portrael of the young orphoned girl, Sarah, is so touching and I admit as an older gentleman that it brought tears to my eyes while watching the program. I would strongly recommend this to any family interested in true family style entertainment without adult words coming from the lips of their children...A Little Princess

I LOVE this movie!!!!!!
The screenplay, directing and acting are superb!
Amelia Shankely gives a brilliant performance as Sara Crewe.
She carries the movie all the way from start to finish.
Nigel Havers and Maureen Lipmann give outstanding performances as supporting cast in their roles as Mr. Carrisford and Miss Minchin. The movie is true to the original text written by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
The only thing I can find fault with this movie is that it is not available on dvd for purchase.
This is a movie every little princess will enjoy watching again and again.

Yes, THIS is the version to watch! Amelia Shankley is marvelous ... portraying all the strength, courage and resolve of the original Sara Crewe.

Frances Hodgson Burnett's novel is and probably always will be the greatest book ever written for older children -- greatest, because of its theme of psychological strength. How DARE mediocrities "adapt" or "remake" this story! They can never improve on it. This is the "Atlas Shrugged" of children's stories.

And the makers of this version understood that.

My only gripe is that for some reason they cut one wonderful line from the original: in the opening, as her father takes her to Miss Minchin's, Sara says:

"I don't like it, father. But then I daresay soldiers ... even brave ones ... don't really like going into battle."

This movie is absolutely amazing - great acting and the best interpretation of the famous story of A Little Princess. It's not worth 70 dollars though, I just bought one for 13 online. Do some searching for it, it's worth it!

I taped this off cable in the 80s, watched it many times, and lost the tape in the early 90s. Bummer. I was overjoyed to find it recently on VHS (WE WANT DVD!!!). This version captures the grittiness of the era and doesn't sugarcoat the problems of the rigid class structure in Victorian England. I'm not sure if it's appropriate for very young children due to the violence and abuse, but this film is a gem for anyone from 10 to 100.

This is my favorite adaptation of "A Little Princess." Its more faithful to the book than many a popular remaking of the story. This version maintains some of the darker sides of the orphan's experiences. I still cling to my VHS version even though I don't own a working VHS player. Perhaps someday I'll find a version I can actually watch.