Saturday, May 4, 2013

Classic Kids, or films the kids in your life have to see by 13 or else!

Day 46:  Pollyanna  (1960)

Don't let the Saccharine reputation keep you from this movie.  Yes, it is corny, but also a lot of fun.
Haley Mills (Pollyanna) is perfect as the Orphan child who is sent to be raised by her very strict and snobby Aunt Harrington, played by Jane Wyman.  Eventually Pollyanna wears down her Aunts tough exterior, through honesty and humor.  My daughter Joelle loves this movie, because Pollyanna seems to have so much agency and initiative, as well as an understanding of people.  Mills won a Juvenile Academy Award for her portrayal in this film, the first of six films she would do for Disney.  There are loads of Hollywood movie stars from the heyday here, besides Wyman, such as Karl Malden, Richard Egan, Agnes Moorehead, Donald Crisp and Adolph Menjou.  Much of the film was shot near Santa Rosa, California, which make for some lovely exterior scenes.


Themes:  Class, religion, regret, guilt, honesty
Media Literacy Questions for kids:  How does the film suggest turn of the century America?  Why is Pollyanna the heroine of our story?  What are the key values promoted within the film?


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