Little Lord Fauntleroy (1936 film) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Little Lord Fauntleroy
Directed by	John Cromwell
Produced by	David O. Selznick
Screenplay by	Hugh Walpole
Starring	Freddie Bartholomew Dolores Costello C. Aubrey Smith
Music by	Max Steiner
Cinematography	Charles Rosher
Editing by	Hal C. Kern
Studio	Selznick International Pictures
Distributed by	United Artists Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures (current)
Release date(s)	March 6, 1936 (1936-03-06) (United States)
Running time	98 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$590,000

Little Lord Fauntleroy is a 1936 drama film based on the 1886 novel of the same name by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The film stars Freddie Bartholomew, Dolores Costello, and C. Aubrey Smith. The first film produced by David O. Selznick's Selznick International Pictures, it was the studio's most profitable film until Gone with the Wind. The film is directed by John Cromwell.

The film was critically well received and is now in the public domain. In 2012 it was released on Blu-ray Disc by Kino Lorber, following a restoration by the George Eastman House Motion Picture Department.

Plot

Young Cedric "Ceddie" Errol (Freddie Bartholomew) and his widowed mother, whom he calls "Dearest" (Dolores Costello), live frugally in 1880s Brooklyn after the death of his father. Cedric's prejudiced English grandfather, the Earl of Dorincourt (C. Aubrey Smith), had long ago disowned his son for marrying an American.

Dolores Costello and Freddie Bartholomew

The earl sends his lawyer Havisham (Henry Stephenson) to bring Ceddie to England. As the earl's sons are all dead, Ceddie is the only remaining heir to the title. Mrs. Errol accompanies her son to England, but is not allowed to live at Dorincourt castle. For Cedric's happiness, she does not tell him it is because of his grandfather's bigotry. The earl's lawyer is impressed with the young widow's wisdom. However, the earl expresses skepticism when Mr. Havisham informs him that Cedric's mother will not accept an allowance from him.

Cedric soon wins the hearts of his stern grandfather and everyone else. The earl hosts a grand party to proudly introduce his grandson to British society, notably his sister Lady Constantia Lorridaile (Constance Collier).

After the party, Havisham informs the earl that Cedric is not the heir apparent after all. American Minna Tipton (Helen Flint) insists her son Tom (Jackie Searl) is the offspring of her late husband, the earl's eldest son. Heartbroken, the earl accepts her apparently valid claim, though Tom proves to be a rather obnoxious lad.

Ceddie's friend Dick Tipton (Mickey Rooney) recognises Minna from her newspaper picture. He takes his brother Ben, Tom's real father, to England and disproves Minna's claim. The earl apologises to Ceddie's mother and invites her to live with the delighted Ceddie on his estate.

Cast

Freddie Bartholomew, Guy Kibbee

Freddie Bartholomew, Mickey Rooney

Henry Stephenson, Freddie Bartholomew, Dolores Costello, Una O'Connor

C. Aubrey Smith, Freddie Bartholomew, Dolores Costello

The cast of Little Lord Fauntleroy is listed at the American Film Institute Catalog of Feature Films.

Uncredited

Box office

By 1939, Little Lord Fauntleroy earned an estimated profit of $447,000. It was Selznick International Pictures' most profitable film until Gone With the Wind.