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Pollyanna (2003)
Reviewer: Charity Bishop
Some stories never grow old. They remain just as captivating to an older
reader as they were to the freckled youngster who discovered their
delightful secrets while sitting beneath a tree in her backyard.
Pollyanna is just such a tale. I loved the book as a child, and I
love it as an adult. This recent adaptation is faithful to the novel,
and will introduce new viewers into the wonderful world of an orphan
girl that wins over the hearts of the entire village.
Polly Harrington (Amanda Burton) is the only occupant of the enormous
sprawling house on the hillside overlooking the town. Known for her
downcast countenance and standoffish nature, Polly is unexpectedly
saddled with the care of her only niece, Pollyanna (Georgia Terry). The
child's parents have died while serving in the mission fields, and Polly
intends to "do her duty" and bring the girl up sensibly. Pollyanna is a
vibrant little girl full of wonderful notions and simple kindness,
obsessed about a game her father invented about finding the good in
every situation. She rapidly wins over the adoration of their only
servant, Nancy (Kate Ashfield), who is being innocently pursued by
Polly's young driver, Tim (Tom Ellis). While their romance blossoms
amidst Tim's obsession with motor cars and Aunt Polly's attempts to keep
the spontaneous little girl under control, Pollyanna begins to work on
the heart of a crotchety sick woman in the village.
Mrs. Snow (Pam Ferris) isn't the only one influenced by Pollyanna's sunny
disposition. The town's physician Dr. Chiltern (Aden Gillett) believes her to be
a finer tonic than medicine for his patients. Stumbling across wealthy Mr.
Pendleton (Kenneth Cranham) at the bottom of a ridge, Pollyanna works through
the rough exterior to reveal the man's generous heart, and unearths a secret
bygone love affair. Convinced that Pendleton was once in love with Aunt Polly,
the intrepid little girl schemes to bring them together again, but old rivalries
die hard, and nothing is what it seems. From excitement over the "punishment" of
having to sleep in Polly's room after rooftop antics to sly determination when
it comes to outsmarting Mrs. Snow, Pollyanna has brought joy to every house in
the village. But while sudden tragedy forces old alliances to be reborn and
quarrels to be forgiven, it also threatens her happiness.
Very few books have such an obvious message as Pollyanna
does, but the way in which it's presented never
makes the reader feel as though they are being lectured. Full of simple
truths and moral ethics, the story is actually a tale of optimism, of
hope, of learning to transcribe to positive thinking and searching for
the sunny side in every situation. The contrast between the exuberant
little girl overflowing with joy and her aunt, a woman shaken by pride
and unhappiness because of an unforgiving nature, is evident. Aunt Polly
is never truly the villain of the piece, although at first it may seem
that way when she places Pollyanna into the most dismal room in the
house. Gradually we see a change overcome Polly, as she learns to have
faith in humanity and seek joy again, if not for her sake then the child
that has entered her heart and household. There are downcast hours in
their lives, some of them a little too dark for very young viewers, but
the story has a happy ending.
Although not a piece of English literature, Masterpiece Theatre
has brought in British actors with varying thick
accents. They all do a sublime job, particularly young Georgina in the leading
role. The production values are very good, creating an atmospheric existence in
which even rainstorms have a subtle beauty. One of the things I appreciated most
was how the humor of the book has been delicately woven into the screenplay,
creating a series of delightful incidents and snippets of dialogue. You cannot
help but smile when, after hearing Tim go on about how automobiles are the
future, Aunt Polly quips, "You once thought the
Titanic
was the future," or after being ordered to go to his
room, young Jimmy Bean replies, "Which one?" Everything is plain enough for
children to understand, but holds deeper meaning for adults. There is no content
to speak of, except for thematic events. A man is found at the foot of a ravine
with a broken leg. An auto car comes along the lane and hits someone (impact
unseen). Polly and Pendleton engage in a shouting match. Conversation revolving
around "lovers" is present on numerous occasions, but it's mean in the sense of
being sweethearts. It's a movie that will touch your heart, bring an occasional
tear to your eye, and endure forever as one of the wonderful children's classics
that is actually for grown ups.
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