Ep. 59 - Little Women Death Battle

Just in time for Mother's Day, this week on Fabulous Film and Friends we’re putting the brakes on the testosterone-fueled man vs. man combat of our last few episodes by diving headfirst into an intense congress of girl power and warmhearted thoughts and feelings as we pit the 1949, 1994 and 2019 versions of Little Women against each other in an uncompromising evaluation of cinematic depth and storytelling prowess.

My guests this week are two world renowned guy- guys but respected girl movie lovers in their own right: Dr. David Johnson, DMD and Gordon Alex Robertson and the woman whose furrowed brow, stomping feet, and desk pounding motivated this episode, my sister the English literature major Roseanne Caputi.

The synopsis:

 Set in the mid-19th century during and after The American Civil War, "Little Women" tells the story of the March sisters: Meg, the eldest and most grounded, Jo, a fiery headstrong writer, Beth, quiet and shy and an accomplished pianist, and Amy, an artist dead set on marrying for money. The films based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott follow the sisters as they grow up and face war, illness, death, love, marriage, financial crises and personal triumphs. 

 The 1949 version was directed by Mervyn LeRoy and starred 

June Allyson as Jo, 

Elizabeth Taylor as Amy, 

Janet Leigh as Meg, 

Margaret O’Brien as Beth

Mary Astor as Marmee,

Lucile Watson as Aunt March

Peter Lawford as Laurie

Sir Charles Aubrey Smith as Mr. Lawrence

Rossano Brazzi as Professor Bhaer

Little Women (1994) was directed by Gillian Armstrong and starred:

 Winona Ryder as Jo, 

Trini Alvarado as Meg

Claire Danes as Beth, 

Kirsten Dunst and Samantha Mathis in a dual role as Amy

Susan Sarandon as Marmee

John Neville as Mr. Lawrence

Christian Bale as Laurie 

Gabriel Byrne as Professor Bhaer

Little Women (2019) was Directed by Greta Gerwig and starred 

Saoirse (Surshee) Ronan as Jo

Emma Watson as Beth

Florence Pugh as Amy

Eliza Scanlen as Beth

Laura Dern as Marmee 

Bob Odenkirk as Reverend March

Meryl Streep as Aunt March

Chris Cooper as Mr. Lawrence

Timothee Chalamet as Laurie 

 Louis Garrel as Professor Bhaer