Eleanor Bron, Liam Cunningham, Liesel Matthews

Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic story, adapted in 1939 with Shirley Temple as a young girl using her faith in magic to overcome hardships in a boarding school, gets a fresh retelling in this stunnin...( read more  read more... )gly beautiful version directed by Alfonso Cuaron.

Flixster Users

81% liked it

223,301 ratings

Critics

95% liked it

19 critics

G, 1 hr. 40 min.

Directed by: Alfonso Cuarón

Release Date: August 4, 1995

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DVD Release Date: November 18, 1997

Stats: 7,415 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (7,415)


  • September 10, 2009
    "Every girl everwhere is a princess."

    A young girl is relegated to servitude at a boarding school when her father goes missing and is presumed dead.

    REVIEW

    Almost but not quite in the same lea...( read more)gue as The Secret Garden, another great (and highly recommended) Warner Bros. adaptation of a Frances Hodgson Burnett novel, this film nonetheless is none too shabby. It truly is a jewel, inspiring plenty of emotions without being manipulative or cutesy. Instead, it's just enchanting. Liesel Matthews is very good and very believeable as young Sara, Eleanor Bron a dimensional villain, (just as Maggie Smith's housekeeper was in TSG), and other performers fine, as well. I dare you not to cry when Sara's up in the attic crying for her papa or when (Spoiler!) he regains his memory and calls out to her. Sumptuous filming of the scenes in India and the transformed attic, with all that food and those gifts... Perfect for the whole family, and not just for kids. Rent it along with The Secret Garden, and you have got a great night of family entertainment. The kids will be enthralled, no doubt about that, but you'll be entertained, too.
  • November 1, 2008
    I'm many are not aware this film was directed by Alfonso Cuarón. After seeing the film, this should be obvious. The cinematography is sumptuous and the story line is classic and moving.
  • October 7, 2007
    all the time young....I watched this all the time
  • August 13, 2007
    just not my kinda movie I guess
  • August 5, 2007
    Wonderful. One of my favorite films.
  • November 16, 2009
    watched clips weird and the girls were so annoying the father was handsome and i got scared when she nearly fell off the wall
  • November 4, 2009
    This remake 1939's The Little Princess. It's based on children's novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. When her beloved father named Captain Crewe (Liam Cunningham) enlists to fight for the British in World War I leaves Sara Crewe (Liesel Matthews) childhood home in India s to New Yo...( read more)rk to attend the same boarding school her late mother attended?

    A black servant girl named Becky (Vanessa Lee Chester) loves Sara's stories. The other girls feel sorry for Sara so, they try to find Sara's locket from a headmistress named Miss Minchin's (Eleanor Bron) office as long as they join her in her room to listen Sara's stories. The girls get Sara escape @ their boarding school (Randolph School for the Girls). Sara crosses from the boarding school to Randolph's house by using a board plank as a bridge. Sara recognizes her father is with Sahib with his pet monkey & Mr. Randolph when she's crying whose has an amnesia so, he regains his memory to rescue her from being taken away by the police & his fortune from the government to remember his identity.

    A rich old man named Charles Randolph (Arthur Malet) becomes a headmaster @ Randolph School for the Girls & Miss Minchin becomes a chimney sweeper with bucket is working with chimney sweeper (Jonás Cuarón) is a boy.
  • November 2, 2009
    This film is my favorite film and can always make me cry. I love it so much as it's such a sweet film and shows the hardships of war and how everyone's lives are affected by it. I hate Miss Munchkin as she is horrible to the girls yet appears nice to the outside world. The way sh...( read more)e treats Sara and Becky is appalling. The ending to this film is so sad and the part that always makes me cry the most, when Sara is trying to get her father to remember her screaming "Please Papa Please! Remember me!" and evil Miss Munchkin tells the police that she doesn't recognise him as the girl has no father. But of course the indian guy makes her father remember her with his magical abilities and he finally does with him running out into the rain shouting "Sara!" and Sara runs into her father's arms crying. It's so sad and so happy at the same time. I love the ending after the reunion as well as Sara's father adopts Becky and takes them back to India, with Miss Munchkin's sister now head of the orphange and Miss Munchkin working as a chimmney sweeper for the little boy that she was always so mean too - don't ya just love karma??? Another thing i love about this film is even after Sara believes that her father has died in battle and becomes a slave for Miss Munchkin, she believes in the magic of her own imagination and still sees herself as a little princess. Like all girls should, no matter what. A must see film for the whole family. Liesel Matthews who plays Sara is one my favorite actresses and i have the trailer to the film in my fave vidoes. I own the DVD and watch it (and cry) constantly.
  • November 2, 2009
    A lovely re-telling of this classic children's novel. The story is simple and effective and directed well by Cuaron. The cast of children are good and Matthews does a nice job in the title role. A film for all the family to enjoy. Who would have guessed Cuaron would go on to dire...( read more)ct possibly the best Potter film so far?
  • October 28, 2009
    One of my first movies.

Comments


  • neptune881
    July 8, 2008
    This whas my favorite film when a was little girl.
  • xiloveyouux3
    February 9, 2008
    i LOVE this movie. it is the BEST movie ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • rbud
    August 23, 2007
    The parts that get me ever time are when a) she is in the atic and calling for her papa, and b) when she see's her dad but he doesn't remember her! oh god, i'm crying just thinking about it!
  • samanthaliddington
    February 9, 2007
    OMG i cry every time i see this film it is so sad and happy at the same time
  • WhereIsLove
    February 4, 2007
    HER DAD IS SUPPOSED TO DIE!!! SHE IS SUPPOSED TO GO LIVE WITH HER DAD'S BFF!! RRRGGGHHH! although i will say that it turned out really well despite the differences (like have miss minchin's school in new york? who's bright idea was that??)
  • LaggiexArexThexy
    January 3, 2007
    i am actually in the stage adaption of the play as miss minchin at rocky mountain theater for kids, and in the end of the play, sarah's father is still dead, and she ends up going off with her dad's best friend. i was a little dissapointed when i read through the script and found out that her dad isnt really alive like in the movie.
  • JesusOnlyKnows19
    September 18, 2006
    I do!
  • TheSlowPenguin
    September 17, 2006
    who likes da movie

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