GEORGE CUKOR

Bil’s rating (out of 5):  BBBB. 

USA, 1933.  RKO Radio Pictures.  Screenplay by Sarah Y. Mason, Victor Heerman, based on the book by Louisa May Alcott.  Cinematography by Henry W. Gerrard.  Produced by Merian C. Cooper.  Music by Max Steiner.  Production Design by Van Nest Polglase.  Costume Design by Walter Plunkett.  Film Editing by Jack Kitchin. 

Considered by some to be the best film version of Louisa May Alcott’s story, this George Cukor-directed family weepie has Katharine Hepburn playing everyone’s favourite teen writer Jo March, who charms her sisters with her theatrical pastimes and disgraces them with her boyish habits. The rest of the cast is strong, but I grew up watching June Allyson’s version and always enjoyed it more, and think now that Gillian Armstrong’s 1994 version with Winona Ryder is actually the best one.

Academy Award:  Best Writing Adaptation
Nominations:  Best Picture; Best Director (George Cukor)

Venice Film Festival Award: Best Actress (Katharine Hepburn)