SimonJack The Los Angeles Times review of this film said: "At once timeless, yet timelier than ever in its indictment of greed." That was in the late summer of 1941. Seventy-five years later, the face of greed may have changed and taken on many more looks, but it still is prevalent and ugly as ever in the world today. It is likely to be so until the end of time. So, "The Little Foxes" remains a powerful story of how greed ruins lives, tears families apart, and destroys love. The stage play of "The Little Foxes" must be the most performed of Lillian Hellman's works. It surely is the finest. I was in a college production of it in 1960. This RKO film of the story was a wonderful adaptation – more an embellishment of the stage play. Hellman wrote the screenplay for the film herself. What the stage lacks, this film makes up for wonderfully. In just a few scenes outdoors – with a carriage and small southern town, seeing the African Americans working ("darkies" was a general term of the culture that wasn't derogatory then, but today is taken as offensive), the movie lifts the story out of the strictures of the stage and makes it seem more real. In invites the viewer into the story with some recognition of the time and place. A few versions of the story have been put on film. None can equal this 1941 movie by RKO. The cast seems perfect, and every performance, from the smallest to the largest is flawless. One can't imagine anyone playing Regina better than Bette Davis. Or playing Horace better than Herbert Marshall. Charles Dingle is excellent as Ben Hubbard. Carl Benton Reid is very good as Oscar Hubbard. Patricia Collinge is superb as Birdie Hubbard. And Teresa Wright and Dan Duryea play their roles of Alexandra and Leo perfectly. Alexandra is the daughter of Regina and Horace. Leo is the son of Oscar and Birdie. The screenplay has some characters added that weren't in the original stage play. One of those is David Hewitt played by Richard Carlson. Another is Manders, played by Lucien Littlefield. The supporting cast of actors in the Black roles is excellent. Jessie Greyson plays Addie, and John Marriott plays Cal. There isn't a stereotyped role among them, likely because of Hellman's southern background. This is a wonderful production of a timeless play and morality tale. The film adds a nice touch at the end that the stage play doesn't have. It drives the point home more obviously of the bed of bitterness and loss of love and happiness that Regina has made for herself. She watches out the window as Alexandra leaves, meets David in the rain, and walks out of her mother's life.

jacklmauro I know this film backwards and, like 'The Heiress,' it's testimony to the greatness sometimes achieved in yesterday's Hollywood. The screenplay is faithful to Hellman, and the opening-up scenes have no forced feeling. However - and as melodramatically wonderful as the story is - it's mostly about Davis. Her Regina is exquisitely perfect, with a lifetime of bitterness as subtext always. The climax in which she sits as her husband dies is breathtaking, time after time; she becomes a fixated, horrified and horrifying, porcelain doll. But do NOT fail to appreciate the beauty of Patricia Collinge's Birdie. In fact, keep your eye on her as the vile Hubbards scheme and she occupies a background corner. I honestly can't think of a supporting performance as brilliant, with the possible exception of Hopkins in 'Heiress.'

GeoPierpont Like Bette needed the ghost white makeup to further insure we comprehend her icy cold character? Giveth thy viewer a primal break!! She constantly twirled both arms in a windmill fashion to show evil hummingbird motion? I was very confused as to why she played this character so over the top. In preparation for "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?" I could at least appreciate the Toland Touch, the swampy location shots in LA as well as the sumptuous sets. The saccharine Zan and David were not anywhere near enough to offset the tortuous scene after scene of scheming death, destruction and desolation.This was extremely difficult to watch as it became a horror film and was just waiting for the zigzag lightning streaks to suddenly appear on her hair. Yikes!Can only recommend for Toland's work and sets. Bette be damned for this!

RoseXGold I liked this movie and I didn't at the same time. Is that even possible?? Well, here goes. I loved the overall plot of the movie, it is very wicked! That is intriguing to an audience...a plot that makes you raise a brow. I liked the character that was played by Davis. Davis lights an extremely stern kind of evil spirit into her character. The costume and lighting came to aid in this evil persona. The music also caused a dramatization for the overall movie. The hairstyles really portrayed the personalities of the characters quite well. Regina's(Davis)hair was never out of line. It was always kept tight and put together. Not a single strand was out of place. The styles were very rigid, like her character. Facial expressions were key in this film. Davis' expressions were nothing but chilling and cold. This I believe was exactly what the film needed. The downside was, in my opinion, the movie was a bit too drawn out for my liking. However, this is just my opinion. The overall production of the film was great though.