Le petit Lord Fauntleroy

Our family have loved this film for years. (see my comments posted in December 2003) But our recorded VHS version had deteriorated so much that it was no longer enjoyable to watch. I tried the "normal" means to searched for a DVD version but without success. I could only find VHS "collectable" copies at ludicrous prices (£40 to £50 plus postage, etc.) . Then I found someone in Holland offering a version on Ebay and thus discovered accident that a DVD version had been produced in Italy! - in English AND Italian. A quick web search enabled me to order from an Italian book & media Internet seller and I got an excellent copy in proper box within 3 days for a total price including delivery of under £20 ($35). Worth every penny even though it had only mono sound and presumably must have been a copy from a film distributor's version !

The young Rick(y) Schroder is delightful as the displaced and uprooted Little Lord Fauntleroy/Ceddie. Consider the beautiful English countryside as an important member of a stellar cast; mixed together it would be difficult to make anything but an excellent film.

That innocent young Fauntleroy melts the heart of his cantankerous grandfather played by Alec Guinness is hardly surprising. It is the typical Christmas good overcoming evil theme in the best Charles Dickens tradition. It is the path of the film, the actors and the setting that make this a jewel. The plot goes something like this: Grandfather sends for grandson.

Grandson assumes love, Grandfather is looking for an heir.

Heir becomes loved grandson.

There are subplots of grandfather not liking American mother/daughter-in-law and refusing to acknowledge her; the deplorable conditions of the estate's workers; and a contender for heir to the title and estate.

I watched this gem when it first aired and have watched my poorly transferred VHS copy yearly since (in my household it wouldn't be Christmas without it).

I long for this made-for-TV movie to be released on a remastered DVD.

Long ago, CBS used to make excellent adaptations of classic novels, before reality TV poisoned the sensibilities of the viewing public. Little Lord Fauntleroy is one of their best, filled with charm and energy and superior performances all around.

Filmed in England with virtually no other American in it than Ricky Schroeder, it has the proper Victorian feel to it. Ricky brings his brash but honest Yankee personality into this staid atmosphere and shakes up his grandfather's long-held prejudices against the Colonies and his own family and tenants. Schroeder was the ultimate child actor; no other I could think of would have done this role justice as he is perfect for the part. His beautiful blond hair, in the requisite pageboy required for a Victorian Lord Fauntleroy, frames his angelic face and visually sets him on a plane above every other actor, even Alec Guinness. Guinness is superb as the bitter and self-absorbed grandfather. The rest of the supporting players are excellent, especially Colin Blakely as the opinionated Mr. Hobbs, the American grocer. The English countryside and architecture also have their own role to play here. The landscape is lush and beautiful, and the enormous estate that Lord Fauntleroy will inherit is magnificent, adding much to the atmosphere.

This is a fine family film which is especially wonderful to watch at Christmas; unfortunately it hasn't been out on VHS since 1980 and hasn't been released in the US on DVD, but has been released in an Italian edition with the English soundtrack and Italian menu options. The transfer is excellent and the film is uncut. This is not hard to find but is in Region 2 format, so regular US DVD players won't play it. If you ever run across a copy of the film in any form don't hesitate to snap it up. This is one of those rare films that truly brings a novel to life, and it shouldn't be missed.

Not only an excellent leading cast, Alec Guinness superb as the curmudgeony earl and Ricky Schroeder believably charming as the American boy thrust into the world of the English nobility, the minor characters are also exceptional: Eric Porter as the earl's steward and Patrick Stewart as the head coachman both particularly memorable. The pace of the film is also excellent, events happen and characters develop with interesting detail but without over emphasis or very drawn out scenes. Overall, in our family's top 20 or even top 10 fims. So, why on earth can't the studio issue this film on VHS or DVD! Considering the absolute rubbish that is now available even on DVD there must surely be a market for an excellent seasonal "family" film like this. We made a recording when this film was shown on TV sometime in the early 80s, since when it has been played at least twice a year for the last 20 years and both sound and vision have now deteriorated to a point where it is almost unwatchable. PLEASE! someone, pass this request on to the studio and get it issued on DVD. We know there are many families like us who would be happy to pay £15 or so for a new version to play for the next 20 years.

I remember this film with great fondness. The film is full of well known British actors and American's Connie Booth and Ricky Schroder. I would dearly love to see this film again. I first saw it at the cinema, which would often show TV movies, and then it seemed to be shown on TV almost every Christmas.

The music score was particularly good too and even now I can remember the wonderful theme.

Another reason why I liked this film so much is that it was filmed locally to where I used to live. The castle scenes were filmed in and around Belvoir Castle in Lincolnshire (near Grantham), and where the Duke of Rutland resides. The shop/village scenes were filmed in the village of Exton, Rutland (near Oakham - my home town).

Hope to see a DVD copy sometime! BTW would love to know Patrick Stewart's thoughts/memories on this film!