Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1047 in DVD
• Released on: 1999-10-25
• Rating: Universal, suitable for all
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Arabic, Bulgarian, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish
• Dubbed in: Dutch, French, Italian
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 93 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
After the critical success of 1993's The Secret Garden, Warner Bros returned to the novels of Frances Hodgson Burnett to create this 1995 adaptation of A Little Princess, which instantly ranked with The Secret Garden as one of the finest children's films of the 1990s. Neither film was a huge box-office success, but their quality speaks for itself, and A Little Princess has all the ingredients of a timeless classic. A marvel of production design, the film features lavish sets built almost entirely on a studio backlot in Burbank, California. The story opens in New York just before the outbreak of World War I, when young Sara (Liesel Matthews) is enrolled in private boarding school while her father goes off to war. Under the domineering scrutiny of the school's wicked headmistress, Miss Minchen (Eleanor Bron), Sara quickly becomes popular with her schoolmates, but fate intervenes and she soon faces a stern reversal of fortune, resorting to wild flights of fancy to cope with an unexpectedly harsh reality. Rather than label her fanciful tales as escapist fantasy, A Little Princess actively encourages a child's power of imagination--a power that can be used to learn, grow, and adapt to a world that is often cruel and difficult. It's also one of the most visually beautiful films of the 90s and creates a fully detailed world within the boarding school--a place where imagination is vital to survival. A first-class production in every respect, this is one family film that should (if it's not too stuffy to say it) be considered required viewing for parents and kids alike. --Jeff Shannon

Special Features
1.85 Wide Screen
Dutch\French\Italian
English\Italian
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital 5.1 Dutch English French Italian
Dolby Digital 5.1
Interactive Menu
Scene Access
Arabic\Bulgarian\Dutch\English\French\German\Italian\Portuguese\Romanian\Spanish

Synopsis
An engaging version of Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic tale of a girl who's sent to a boarding school in New York when her father must serve in World War I. The young girl learns that, despite the treatment she receives from a strict headmistress, she'll always be a princess.

Customer Reviews

Good family viewing
Shame to see a good movie unreviewed. I've watched this with my daughter (5) twice now, and we both enjoy it. The film has a child's requirements (child's point of view, wicked adult, use of imagination, etc) and from an adult viewpoint, I enjoy some of the side issues; such as, the relationship between the girls life in India and her experiences in school, or how a story of an indian prince that she relates is juxtaposed with her father's experiences in the trenches.

Some scenes border on magical, all is well-photographed. The story is a trifle over-sentimental, but that's Burnett for you. It's also a little over-dramatized - but that's Hollywood for you ...

All in all, a refreshing change from Disney's childhood.

A beautiful childrens' film.
Some of the criticisms that have been made of this film in other reviews are that it is mushy and sentimental. I can hardly disagree with that - only say that I don't think it is TOO sentimental. The other criticism is that the plot is changed, and once again, while I can't deny this, I want to defend it.

On the change of setting: I'm British, and do occasionally get irritated with Americanisation, but in this film the changed setting really didn't annoy me (partly, I suppose, because I knew from experience what a dog's dinner American productions make of English settings). The plot was changed, and it can be seen as a sanitising - the ending is happier in the film than in the book. Ordinarily this would have irritated me, but I found the ending handled so well that I didn't care. It may verge on the sentimental, but the moment when Sarah and her father are reunited is genuinely moving.

Other things have clearly changed since the original in line with changing times. The Indian characters are looked at completely differently; Becky, the serving-girl, is black. These things do not interfere - in fact, I really liked the Indian themes throughout the film.

I also preferred Sarah's relationship with Becky in the film. While in the book the author insists the girls are on the same level, and as good as each other, that doesn't seem half so true as in the film.

The film is well structured and paced, nicely shot and has satisfying dialogue and human characters (Sarah's saintliness and Miss. Minchin's wickedness are toned down a bit) I think the thing that sets this film apart from me is the beautifully handled juxtaposition of the exotic and the dreary - the sumptuous Indian colours of Sarah's former life among the New York streets.

It made me cry, a lovely film, but changed the book too much
This sentimental film succeeded in making me cry, a rare feat! I thought it was lovely, but the actress playing Sara Crewe did get quite annoying after a while. Eleanor Bron was fantastic as the horrible Miss Minchin though! One thing that really irritated me was that they had changed the book's original story, which I adored reading as a child. The school was moved from London to New York! I hate the way Hollywood wants to Americanise everything. Also the bit about her father and her fortune, although the scene where Sara and Captain Crewe are reunited was heart-rending, I do think they should have stuck to the original story. And how could they leave out Anne? She's the best bit!! If you haven't read the book, then READ IT!!! Although I liked this film, the original book is way better!