YMMV / Little Women (1994)

• Adaptation Displacement: This version employed a lot of changes to make the Marches' lives more directly resemble the Alcotts'. Marmee is made to resemble the author's mother Abba, down to her physical appearance, getting renamed Abigail rather than Margaret, and having Abba's political beliefs worked into her dialogue. The house is modelled off the Alcotts', with Jo calling it the Orchard House and referencing skating at Walden Pond. Mr March is said to have had to close his school for admitting a black student, and Aunt March criticises his "new philosophies", which are taken more from the author's father than the literary character. Jo's published book is portrayed as being a retelling of her own family's story, itself titled Little Women. This blending of reality and fiction has led many viewers introduced to the story by this film to assume that Little Women was a straight up Roman à Clef.
• Replacement Scrappy: Kirsten Dunst for some is such a good Amy that when she's replaced by Samantha Mathis after the Time Skip that she just can't hope to follow her. Even those who like Mathis' take on the character tend to consider Dunst better in the role.
• Rescued from the Scrappy Heap: The Golden Age of Hollywood adaptations of the story have received criticism from book fans for not understanding Amy's character or emphasising her worst qualities. This film treats her with a more sympathetic edge, particularly the burned manuscript section, and Kirsten Dunst is considered one of the best versions of the character.
• Retroactive Recognition:
  • Claire Danes makes her debut here, before more famous roles such as William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet, Stardust and Homeland.
  • Voice actress Andrea Libman appears as one of the students Jo tutors in New York, although she has no lines.
  • Kirsten Dunst had done Interview with the Vampire before this, but of course would become far more famous afterwards.
• Salvaged Story:
  • The relationship between Fritz and Jo seemed rather asexual and unromantic by modern standards, especially for the fiercely independent Jo. This film goes out of its way to give them a more romantic courtship.
  • Amy is made genuinely remorseful for burning Jo's manuscript and is given a cute scene where she helps Jo rewrite it.
• Tear Dryer: The film's climax is Professor Bhaer delivering Jo's published manuscript and then informing her he's immediately catching a train to head west, leaving Jo looking very sad that she might not see him again. He then grudgingly congratulates her on getting married...and Jo realizes the mistake and excitedly tells him it's her sister that's getting married, not her. And then the most beautiful exchange follows.
  Bhaer: Jo...such a little name for such a person. Will you have me?
  Jo: With all of my heart!
  The two embrace happily.
  Bhaer: But, I have nothing to give you. My hands are empty.
  Jo: (taking his hand in hers) Not empty now.
• Tough Act to Follow: This adaptation set the bar so high that both the 2018 miniseries and 2019 Greta Gerwig film were met with scratched heads and why another one was needed. While the former is still considered more than up to the usual high quality of other BBC period drama adaptations and the latter was critically acclaimed and nominated for several awards, this is still considered the superior film.

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