The Little Princess

Walter Lang, 1939

The Little Princess tells the story of a wealthy girl named Sara Crewe (Shirley Temple) whose life is turned upside down when her farther Captain Crewe (Ian Hunter) is assumed dead during a battle in Mafeking, Africa. Growing up in India most of her life, Sara had very few friends until arriving at a private all-girls school run by Miss Minchin (Mary Nash) in London. While her father is away fighting in the British Army, Miss Minchin allows Sara to spend a large amount of money on fine clothes, horse riding lessons, and a large birthday party due to the wealth of her father. With Sara’s shining personality she quickly makes friends with her school teacher Miss Rose (Anita Louise), her riding coach (Richard Greene), and her Indian neighbor Ram Dass (Cesar Romero). But when word of her father’s death (and resulting loss of his financial support for his daughter) reaches Miss Minchin Miss Minchin is forced to keep Sara as a house servant in hopes to not tarnish the reputation of her school. Sara is forced to give up everything, including her room ,to live with the fellow house servant Becky (Sybil Jason) in the breezy attic. With the job of now serving her former classmates, working in tattered clothing, and lack of food, Sara’s only way of making it through is hoping that her father might still be alive. Refusing to believe her father’s death Sara often sneaks out of the school to search the local hospital beds for him. One morning after dreaming of warmth and a full belly she wakes to find her room has been filled with food, a small fire, and luxurious robes and slippers from an anonymous source that one must assume is Mr. Dass. With news of more soldiers arriving daily to the hospitals now that the war in Mafeking has ended, Sara goes to search the beds once again but this time must sneak into the hospital due to the heightened security around the hospital. She is captured by a guard and released due to Queen Victoria’s own request, and searches the entire hospital to finally discover her father. After a few moments of amnesia on her father’s part her father remembers his daughter and the family is reunited once again.

This Technicolor “A” production film contains every element of classic Hollywood: drama, action, music, and dance. With the darling talent of Shirley Temple it is not hard to see why the nation fell in love with her. If you’re looking for a film with charming relatable characters, few dance numbers, and a plot revolving around a war this is the film for you.

Katey Guile