bkoganbing The famous children's novel later made into a play is a vehicle that is perfectly suited for MGM's British born child star Freddie Bartholomew. Little Lord Fauntleroy can well be said to be his perfect role during his childhood years with Leo the Lion.Little Lord Fauntleroy was first published in 1885 and it concerns young Cedric Erroll who is living in Brooklyn in reduced circumstances with his mother due to the recent death of his father. Who as it turns out was the last surviving heir to an earldom back across the pond. Which brings Henry Stephenson over from the United Kingdom to tell Dolores Costello and her son Freddie Bartholomew that the young lad is now the new Earl to be of Dorrincourt once the old Earl, C. Aubrey Smith has passed on.Smith is one crusty old dude, but if you had lived as long as he had and seen all your sons predecease you, you might be bitter as well. And set in your ways and prejudices. One of the conditions is that Dolores Costello can come over as well, but she has to live separate and apart from her child as the Earl of Dorrincourt does not like those rebellious colonials and never forgave his son for marrying one. But cute and mannered young Freddie charms the old guy as only Freddie Bartholomew could back in those days and Smith warms up to the lad. However then another claimant comes on the horizon, Helen Flint says that she was the wife of an older deceased son and she's got a son by him played by Jackie Searl.Rounding out the principal players are Guy Kibbee who is the local grocer where Costello and Bartholomew live, in Brooklyn of all places and Mickey Rooney a pal from those mean streets who actually hold the key to the inheritance problem.Little Lord Fauntleroy was old fashioned even for 1936, it is set perfectly during the time of 1885. With the UK and USA going through two hot World Wars and one Cold War, the prejudices shown by Smith and Kibbee who starts out as a big Anglophobe despite liking Bartholomew are quaint to say the least. But the film does have a nostalgic charm about it though I daresay the play made from the original novel hasn't been too much revived. Probably the novel itself is still on a reading list in some public schools. The film is a great example of why both Freddie Bartholomew and Mickey Rooney were held in such esteem by the movie going public. MGM teamed them in a few films during these years, Captains Courageous and The Devil Is A Sissy also made good money for the coffers of Louis B. Mayer. One can still enjoy this film today.

Space_Mafune A nine year old Brooklyn boy nicknamed "Ceddie" (Freddie Bartholomew), beloved by all who know him due to his kindly nature, finds himself in for a most unexpected change of lifestyle when he learns he's to be heir to the estate of his grandfather (C. Aubrey Smith), a British Earl and has to move in with him. A bigger challenge for the boy to overcome though is to bring down the barrier between his stubborn, set in his ways grandfather and Ceddie's mother "Dearest" (Dolores Costello), who the Earl resents his son marrying as she's an American.This one really grabs you by the heartstrings and doesn't let up. Freddie Bartholomew is simply wonderful as "Ceddie", wonderfully capturing his character and winning over the viewing audience's hearts in fairly short time, no easy feat for a child star. C. Aubrey Smith too is just marvelous as the crotchety old grandfather who finds his stubborn, hard-hearted, icy exterior being worn away just by being in the presence of such a terrific young lad who loves him unconditionally. Dolores Costello too was nicely cast and delivers the goods when she's called upon to do so. It's the likable performances given by these stars that make this a real winner in that we're truly made to care about these characters and what happens to them.

Snow Leopard This is a good adaptation of the story of "Little Lord Fauntleroy", with a very good cast that brings the characters to life in a believable and entertaining fashion. Besides telling the enjoyably old-fashioned family story, the movie adds some nice scenes that simply emphasize the relationships among the characters.This is one of Freddie Bartholomew's best roles, and he seems pretty natural in the part of Fauntleroy. The adult cast features some very good performances. Dolores Costello is a good choice as the gentle 'Dearest', Henry Stephenson is well-cast as the faithful Haversham, and C. Aubrey Smith seems the very embodiment of a bad-tempered Earl.But perhaps the best performances come from Guy Kibbee and a young Mickey Rooney, as Cedric's American friends. Their camaraderie in their scenes with Bartholomew works particularly well, and they figure in some of the movie's best moments.The story is just the familiar old tale, with young Cedric leaving his humble but cozy existence in Brooklyn to go to England, where he must contend with his grandfather's coldness towards his mother and with other challenges. But it's the kind of story that's easy to watch over again when it is told the right way.

Ron Oliver The Earl of Dorincourt, lonely in his great castle, has grown old. Now, with the death of both of his sons, he sends for his only grandchild to be with him. This is an innocent boy living in New York City with his American mother. Sweet-tempered and beloved, the earnest young child knows nothing of the crusty, fierce old lord in England, or of the wonderful changes about to happen in his own life, now that he is LITTLE LORD FAUNTLEROY.This is David O. Selznick's wonderful & lavish retelling of the classic children's story by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Much effort was put into getting the details just right. Sentimental? Yes, but honest sentiment, with emotions straight from the heart. Freddie Bartholomew & marvelous Sir C. Aubrey Smith are picture perfect in their roles as young Fauntleroy & his grandfather. There may never be a finer male child actor than Master Bartholomew and Sir C. was the epitome of the English aristocratic tradition. Two champion scene-stealers, they work together beautifully.The rest of the cast is both extensive & uniformly excellent: Dolores Costello Barrymore, Henry Stephenson, Guy Kibbee, Jessie Ralph, Una O'Connor, Constance Collier, E. E. Clive, Lionel Belmore, Eily Maylon & Mickey Rooney. Film mavens will spot uncredited appearances by Mary Gordon as a churchgoing villager & Leonard Kibrick as one of Fauntleroy's Brooklyn tormentors.Sir Hugh Walpole, the celebrated English novelist, wrote the screen adaptation.