Bette Davis, Carl Benton Reid, Charles Dingle

This adaptation of Lillian Hellman's play involves the corrupt machinations of a wealthy Southern family. Vicious queen bee Regina Giddens and her two greedy brothers scheme mercilessly in their attem...( read more  read more... )pt to make a fortune on a new cotton mill. In the process, Regina is more than willing to crush anyone who stands in their way -- including her own husband.

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2,641 ratings

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14 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 55 min.

Directed by: William Wyler

Release Date: August 21, 1941

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DVD Release Date: September 18, 2001

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Flixster Reviews (146)


  • September 26, 2008
    I actually found this movie version a tad more interesting than the play version that I saw. They added a love interest for the young daughter and he was a goof which lightened the mood at times with some comedy.
  • December 26, 2007
    the fable of little foxes craving for the sweet vines then wrecking the town is adequate for the story. bette davis plays another power-thirsty strong female who solicits what she wants at any cost. davis's role is an eager opportunist who is desperate to hold everything right up...( read more)on her palm. davis looks mostly glamourous in the southern belle constume shined with matron glitter if her character is not so gluttonishly greedy, audience might take further heed of. and our dear bette's wardrobe is endorsed again by orry-kelly who also attributes bette's glamour in "marked woman."

    "there're people who do bad things and also people who just stand there and let them do it" demonstrates the spirit of this play. regina and her philistine siblings are the little foxes who ruin the country with their conscienceless exploitations on the common folks. the entire story centers on the mergence of one valuably built business which would realize every ambition and dream regina has had. but her husband is a great hindrance becuz of his reluctance to make a fortune by squeezing out workers' labour. so she holds grudges against him by confiding her long-harbored contempts on him for being a gullible soft fool since the beginning of their marriage that serves a catalyptic shock to deteriorate his heart issue. steal-hearted regina refuses to aid him with his medicine becuz he would spoil her scheme to blackmail her siblings as long as he's alive. so regina obtains everything but her daughter's affinity. eventually regina observes her daughter's departure with a ghastly frown gaze, left alone lost in the room her husband just demises at.

    davis' regina is not really a great evil menace but more of egoist who yearns for things but bound by her gender and limited resources. she awaits long with this angst which turns her incorrigible. one scene regina glimpses the picture of her youth with scowl and sighs hidden tight beneath her solid surface. she has no intention to manipulate her daughter, and actually she practices things with basic decency as long as no one poses as obstacle to block her access, she would be in good humbor to perform duties, even without a bit of genuine compassion or tenderness.

    as regina's daughter, teresa wright is always a good casting choice to play the innocent ingeuine, and wright has a natural virtuous grace upon her without contrivance that is competent for good-girl roles like this, such as another her good performance in hitchcock "shadow of a doubt".

    this flick is great parable of capitalist breaching the world little by little with their sly wits to drill thru the loothole of laws. but pathetically others are just bystanders to connive their sins.
  • June 8, 2008
    Excellent villain interpretation by Bette Davis the rest of the actors are all very good, all giving strong performances.
    Perfectly directed, this film is brilliant from beginning to end. The beautiful black and white, clean editing and the wonderful score, all help to make this...( read more) movie pitch perfect.
    A must see classic!!!
  • November 10, 2009
    A captivating drama! Bette Davis is amazing in this.
  • August 14, 2009
    I love this story and excellent flm!
  • June 28, 2009
    She can be such a greedy woman and again she gets what she deserves. Her brothers are no better but her daughter loves her dad so much. She has no guilt and it shows in the movie when she tries to kill her husband and does. A must see.
  • June 15, 2009
    The consummate actress Bette Davis in my favorite of all her films is so at home in this (once again) domineering female role of Regina Giddens whose ambition spelt the doom of three men.
    Baby Jane Hudson could very well be her great grand daughter!
  • April 8, 2009
    You've never seen a more evil woman
  • December 31, 2008
    Bette convincing in this character.
  • October 13, 2008
    William Wyler/Bette Davis hit

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The Little Foxes Trivia


  • What did the foxes call Duck in The Little Bear Movie?  Answer »
  • Which actress appeared in these 4 films? The Letter. Little Foxes. All this and Heaven Too. Now Voyager  Answer »
  • Who am I? I starred in the movies listed below. I also had a daughter write a book about me that was hurtful. Marked Woman (1937) Jezebel (1938) Dark Victory (1939) The Little Foxes (1941) All About Eve (1950) Dead Ringer (1964)  Answer »

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