This is How Movies Should Be Made

Such a frustrating disappointment

Entertaining from beginning to end, it maintains the spirit of the franchise while establishing it's own seal with a fun cast

Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.

I have watched this movie twice in the last year, after the BBC unearthed it from some long forgotten vault. There's no question that it seems an oddity, archaic in style, tone and subject matter. But if the viewer can overcome these barriers, and in my case the poor sound quality of the version the BBC showed, it's an involving tale with engaging central performances from the principles (and pretty reasonable Scottish accents too) and fine support from stalwarts such as Alan Hale and Donald Crisp who became well known faces over the next 40 years. What also interests, is that the period the movie was made is now over 3/4 of a century ago, and we see the earlier period of the story (1840's) through the prism of the sensibilities of that era (1930's) a similar distance from our own times. The view of the relationships, between men and women, between people of faith and the church, between individuals and the community identity they are a part of, at first they seemed to be so alien, and then I saw that these are still areas of tension in society, perhaps for ever, and in seeing that, I felt lucky to get a glimpse into history, to two pasts. This is something the 20th century and the invention of cinema are giving us for the first time in human history.

Spoilers. Observations. Opinions.March 16, 2017 update:I finally saw the rest of this film. Katharine Hepburn does not disappoint. She had two Scottish accents here; one for the gypsy and one for the cultured fiancé of Lord Rintoul.The minister actually looks taller than I imagined, and not so little. Maybe he was less rotund than the other men.I also enjoyed the later film made with Beryl Mercer: The Little Princess, with Shirley Temple. Beryl portrays that regal Queen Victoria, who helps Shirley in the quest for her missing father.I do like Kate's earlier films such as this one, which exist in the time period known as her box office poison era. In these, she is young, carefree and there is no Spencer Tracy around. My 2009 review:Sweet movie. I first heard of it while studying the life of Maude Adams, famous Broadway actress who played the lead (Lady Babbie) around 1897, to great success. Katharine Hepburn so clever in this movie -- so beguiling as the gypsy girl who constantly torments the minister with her tempting smile and flirtatious ways. Hepburn is very young here, and so fleetly flitting through the scenes.Gavin Dishart is so devoted to his mother, and she to him, that he can scarcely tear himself away to the cultivation of an adult romance. The mother thinks that the world revolves around her son. She gets to live in the manse (parsonage) with him, but all is overturned when the church elders find out that Gavin has been cavorting with the devilish gypsy girl. Mrs. Dishart knows that she and her son will be turned out of the house when all of this comes to a head.I haven't yet been able to see all of this movie. I thought there was a part where in reality Lady Babbie is the daughter of a wealthy, titled family, and that the gypsy outfit was just a disguise getup. Apparently Lady Babbie had lots of free time to join a countryside political group, disguising herself as a commoner and meanwhile attracting the attention of the naive young minister.I thought that Wearyworld was a very interesting personage. Everything he said is still very unique, profound and even humorous/funny. I like to see this movie just to listen to him talk and complain.

This was the last film version made of this delightful story based on James Matthew Barrie's first major successful novel and play, and it is long overdue for a modern remake, done with similar charm, beauty, and simplicity, please.Here we find a timeless tale of a fresh-faced, youthful pastor boy, direct out of seminary, who loves his mother and has affection for his congregation, but who finds himself flaunting convention by falling in love against his will with a wild, beautiful gypsy girl. You could no more imagine this girl sitting quietly in a church praying than you could imagine Ted Kennedy becoming a Republican.Gavin the minister, though he is "little" in physical size, is not small in courage or intellectual honesty. He knows he is falling in love with this girl, but can't seem to help himself. He fights his feelings, but still he is attracted, like a moth to a flame. She tricks him and teases him in their first encounters, yet he still comes back for more. There's just something different about this Babbie that he cannot resist (and one senses the gypsy girl feels the same way about Gavin). We see their relationship growing, the congregation begins to suspect something is distracting their beloved new minister from his duties, and an inevitable confrontation is in the works. I won't give away any more, but go rent the video sometime or catch it on AMC or TCM, especially if you wish to see Katherine Hepburn in one of her most poignant, humorous and delightful performances (she even sings, too!). Kudos also to the late John Beal, who was perfectly cast as Gavin Dishart, the little minister. And an A-plus goes to Max Steiner for his lovely background musical score. Also, read the book by JMB when you get a chance; one can't put it down.

A mysterious & headstrong gypsy girl falls in love with THE LITTLE MINISTER called to pastor in a small Scots village. Soon her influence has him behaving in a most unclerical manner, with repercussions for the entire community.Although sadly neglected & overlooked, this fine, sentimental film, based on a 1891 novel by Sir James M. Barrie, features excellent performances and superior production values. RKO lavished care & money to get the details just right; it is a fine example of how Hollywood films of the period could evocatively portray other times, other places.Katharine Hepburn has one of her most fetching roles in the exuberant Babbie. Full of boundless energy & good humor, yet fiercely protective of those weaker & less fortunate than she, Hepburn turns in a beguiling, always entertaining, performance. While there is really no mystery as to the true identity of her character, this in no way hinders Hepburn from continually delighting her expectant audience.In the title role, John Beal (born James Alexander Bliedung in 1909) had doubtless the best role of his career in this, his second, film. By underplaying his scenes, he holds his own with the vivacious Hepburn. Exhibiting real star quality, it is unfortunate that the good movie roles failed to materialize. Beal did quite a bit of work through the years on the stage and had a triumph in television's THE ADAMS CHRONICLES in 1976. John Beal died in 1997 at the age of 87.A very fine supporting cast lends depth to the smaller roles: Andy Clyde as the lonely village policeman; Donald Crisp as the local doctor; Reginald Denny as a pompous army captain; Mary Gordon as an elderly indigent; Alan Hale as the community's repentant drunk; Lumsden Hare as a strict & powerful church deacon; Eily Malyon as a member of the aristocracy; Beryl Mercer as Beal's devout mother; and Dorothy Stickney as a fluttery maid.Mention should be made of Max Steiner's lovely score, which incorporates old & familiar tunes.A couple of historical notes: the Auld Licht (Scottish for 'Old Light') is mentioned many times in the film. This was the very conservative Church of Scotland, or Presbyterian Church in America, which had the allegiance of a majority of the Scots people. Barrie's original novel was of the Kailyard (Scottish for a small cabbage patch near a cottage) School of writing which had great favor in Scotland in the late 19th Century. This style featured highly idealized & sentimental representations of Scottish village life. Thrums in THE LITTLE MINISTER would certainly be a prime example.