Lights, camera action!

This year marks 30 years since the 1994 adaption of Louisa May Alcott’s novel hit the big screens, and soon after became a cult favourite.

It is hard to find anyone who doesn’t know (and love) the coming-of-age tale originally penned by Alcott between 1868 and 1869, hailed for introducing ideas of social change at a time when a women’s place in society was still much based on who she marries.

The story follows the four young March sisters as they grow up in 1860s Massachusetts during the US civil war. It may have not been the first adaption of the movie (or the last!), but the 1994 film directed by Gillian Armstrong was definitely one that captured several generations’ hearts.

Long In The Making

Facing initial resistance from production companies who deemed it unappealing to male audiences, it took producers 12 years to find a studio for the 1994 film. The adaptation was the first feature film of Little Women since 1949! That version had starred June Allyson as Jo March, and the basket carried by Beth in the movie was the same prop used by Dorothy in Wizard of Oz (1939). However, there were three more adaptations prior to this. The first was a British silent film from 1917, the second was a US silent film shot in Massachusetts, followed by a 1933 version which had sound.

Stars Were Born

Some of the cast were already famous in 1994. 22-year-old Winona Ryder had been in films such as Beetlejuice, Heathers and Edward Scissorhands, while Susan Sarandon – much praised for movies like Bull Durham and Thelma And Louise – was cast as Margaret ‘Marmee’ March, the girls’ mother.

However, Little Women was also a starting point for many actors and actresses who would make it big soon after. Claire Danes, known for multiple late 90s favourites, as well as her lead role in the TV series Homeland, was Beth. Christian Bale was cast as Laurie, and 13-year-old Kirsten Dunst was the youngest March sister Amy for parts of the movie, beating others like Natalie