Pollyanna

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.

Filling the tiny, but oh so impressive feet of Mary Pickford in one of her most acclaimed silent screen classics was quite a chore for Walt Disney. But in an impressive American screen debut, Hayley Mills launched her career in a most impressive way as Pollyanna.

Pollyanna, who is now an orphan, comes to live with her aunt Polly played by Jane Wyman who is one reserved New Englander. She's the richest woman in town and pretty much everyone kowtows to her. But when the eternally optimistic Hayley Mills comes to live in that town, her infectious spirit seems to effect everyone and everything around her.

Pollyanna is one of Disney's best live action films, Mills and the rest of the cast make it believable without being maudlin. Disney gave Mills and Wyman an impressive roster of players in support that include, Donald Crisp, Leora Dana, Karl Malden, Nancy Olson, James Drury, Reta Shaw, Mary Grace Canfield, and Kevin Corcoran as Mills's partner in juvenile hijinks.

Two people deserve special mention. One is Adolphe Menjou because this turned out to be his last film. He plays Mr. Prendergast the old miser who lives alone and miserable, but who softens at the warmth Pollyanna brings in his life. The second is my favorite here, Agnes Moorehead, who plays crotchety old Ms. Snow, one of those old folks who seem to enjoy being sick and miserable. Her scene at the end with Hayley Mills is the most touching of all in the film.

Pollyanna like George Bailey in It's A Wonderful Life both never realizes all the good she's done in that town and like Jimmy Stewart's character faces a crisis. But all her friends rally to her in an It's A Wonderful Life type climax.

Walt Disney does a wonderful job in recreating that era before World War I in small town America, very much like The Music Man. Pollyanna is what they mean by fine family entertainment, as good now as it was when I first saw it in theaters in 1960.

In fact it might just make one curious enough to check out the Mary Pickford silent version.

This movie ,,Pollyanna'' is quite fascinating especially the leading actress makes a wonderful atmosphere while watching the actual film. A good adaptation but it would have been nice if they'd show the ending with Pollyanna on crutches. In some moments you could have seen a tear in my eye, which proves the fact of the movie being sad and realistic. Sweet Haylie Mills and the other actors make a great-standard presentation of their talent.Unfortunately their seems to be something missing and my vote goes for the ending. I also loved to see Agnes Moorehead and the lovely cooks.If you liked this movie you'd probably love ,,The parent trap'' with the same actress, or should I say actresses taking the lead. A good film for the whole family.

Pollyanna is one of the sweetest movies I've ever seen. So what if it's cheesy at times? Movies are still cheesy today, sometimes, but at least Pollyanna is wholesome. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not an advocate for violence-free, nudity-free, perfectly goody-goody movies. But I do think this is a beautiful movie that just happens to be OK for everyone. Young children might be scared by the minister or by the ordeal Pollyanna faces, but the fun and happy scenes in the movie (the carnival is my favorite) will more than make up for the -- in the words of Pollyanna herself -- "gloomy" ones. Hayley Mills is terrific. Watch Pollyanna's expressions. You can tell, at times, she thinks everyone in town is completely nuts, but she never says it out loud. Instead, she keeps a happy and hopeful demeanor through most of the movie. And while, at first, the townsfolk resent her attitude and even insult her, she doesn't lose it, and she is rewarded for it in the end. This is a great message.

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.