Friday, May 12, 2006

Movie review - "Little Lord Fauntleroy" (1936) **

Few American producers were more Anglophile in the 30s than David O Selznick, who produced this ode to the British upper classes. Freddie Bartholomew is incredibly annoying as a simpering child who finds out he's descended to British royalty. 

Although Bartholomew speaks with a strong British accent he's meant to have grown up all his life in Brooklyn - so when he arrives in Britain there is no real culture clash (the role probably should really have been played by Mickey Rooney, who plays one of Bartholomew's mates) just Bartholomew being cute. If you dig him, you'll like this. If not... C Aubrey Smith plays the crusty uncle role to perfection.

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