Polyana

As Pollyanna would say, the movie is simply "gorgeous"! In my 57 years I've seen this movie more times than I should admit. Just watched it again on Hallmark and felt compelled to offer my first comments on IMDb.

Everyone can feel down, lonely or put upon at one time or another. "Pollyanna" is just the right medicine for those ailments. I realize this is early Disney, but that is a positive attribute, not an indictment. Cheezy? How about "touching" instead? The cast, the performances, the setting, and most of all, the message are right on.

The film makes me laugh and cry every time I view it. How could you possibly ask for more? Guess I'm just a soft touch. Highly recommended for all but the terminally cynical.

A vast improvement on the cutesy, blatantly unrealistic and cliched story on which it is based, the Disney film Pollyanna is a truly enjoyable, BELIEVABLE film. It has a very charming, nostalgic feel to it. The period costumes and sets are very good, and the direction is good, too. The best thing about it, however, are the performances. The talented cast really makes you believe in them and forget they're all stereotypes. Jane Wyman is quite good as Aunt Polly, as are Agnes Moorehead, Adolphe Menjou, and espicially Karl Malden. And Hayley Mills more than holds her own, giving a very good, subtle, believable performance. This Pollyanna does not spend all her time chatting her mouth off and misinterpreting every cold act of her aunt's as an expression of love, which made her very annoying in the book, but rather, she really gets to know people and very subtly brings out the best in them. A truly good family film, much better than the book, and one really worth viewing.

Many different movies have been made out of Eleanor Porter's novel throughout the years. The story of the young Pollyanna, adopted by her strict aunt after the death of her parents, bringing back a long lost joy to an entire village is rather well known. Still, this Walt Disney version is both very charming and moving. It is probably thanks to David Swift excellent craftsmanship as a director, portraying some interesting characters while alternating with success funny or lighter moments with deeply moving ones. It may be thanks to a beautiful cast of experienced actors such as Jane Wyman (as the strict aunt), Karl Malden (as the flaming priest), Adolphe Menjou (as the recluse Mr Pendergast) or Agnes Moorehead (as the hypochondriac Mrs Snow). It could also be related to the beautifully optimistic message of joy and friendship. Yet, it is certainly due the exceptional on-screen presence of young British actress Hayley Mills. Her performance, only surpassed, in my opinion, by the one she delivers in The Parent Trap, earned her an Academy Award and allows her to deliver the spontaneity, curiosity and joy of living characteristic of Pollyanna. With such a package of qualities, this movie may do more than bring the best out of its character by bringing the best out of ourselves thanks to a little bit more than two hours of happiness.

This is an absolutely remarkable film.It is uplifting,life-affirming,and painfully truthful about human ways.Even though it is set in the early 1900's, its message is still very applicable in the modern world.I was blown away by the genuine power of Hayley Mill's performance.The supporting cast is also excellent,especially Karl Malden and Agnes Moorehead.If you want to see a nearly flawless and absolutely charming fim,than this is the one to see.Far and away Hayley's best performance.

Hayley Mills embodies Pollyanna as a lanky adolescent with pigtails and knock-knees who never delivers a saccharine line or maudlin moment. Naturally optimistic, she leads a variety of sour adults-- including a recluse (Adolphe Menjou), a minister (Karl Malden), and a spinster aunt (Jane Wyman)-- toward a better humor just by asking them questions, showing an interest in them.

It's simplistic, of course, and even ridiculous (the town seems to have more orphans than citizens). But that is where subtlety comes to the rescue, and craftsmanship. It's a well-made Disney feature, particularly in terms of art direction and costumes which were clearly designed with Technicolor in mind. The direction and photography are uninspired, but the screenplay has elements sophisticated enough for any critic. The early anecdote about crutches is clever foreshadowing, for instance, and the recluse collects lamp prisms that are colorful symbols of a cheerful outlook.

And Disney hires terrific actors. Malden plays his fire-and-brimstone minister to the hilt. Donald Crisp is a stoutly impassioned mayor. Wyman and Menjou deliver quietly supportive, reflective performances. In spite of a story in which the adults are barely believable caricatures, this film was so solidly constructed and underplayed that the children's-book aspect is overwhelmed by the genuinely delightful message, and a marvelously realistic performance by Hayley Mills.