The Little Princess (1939) is an American drama directed by Walter Lang, starring Shirley Temple in one of her most beloved roles. Loosely adapted from Frances Hodgson Burnett’s 1905 novel A Little Princess, the film follows Sara Crewe, a wealthy young girl left at Miss Minchin’s boarding school while her father departs to fight in the Second Boer War.
Sara’s privileged life collapses when news arrives that her father has died and his fortune lost, leading the cruel Miss Minchin to force her into servitude. Despite hardship, Sara remains kind, imaginative, and hopeful — convinced her father is still alive. Her search through hospitals and military wards culminates in a dramatic, emotional reunion.
The film was Shirley Temple’s first in full Technicolor and her last major box‑office success as a child star.
Film Details
Year: 1939
Genre: Drama / Family
Director: Walter Lang
Screenplay: Ethel Hill, Walter Ferris; based on A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Produced by: Gene Markey (associate producer)
Starring: Shirley Temple, Richard Greene, Anita Louise, Ian Hunter, Cesar Romero, Arthur Treacher, Mary Nash, Sybil Jason
Cinematography: Arthur C. Miller, William Skall
Edited by: Louis Loeffler
Music: Charles Maxwell, Cyril J. Mockridge, Herbert W. Spencer, Samuel Pokrass
Studio: Twentieth Century‑Fox Film Corporation
Distributed by: Twentieth Century‑Fox Film Corporation
Release Date: March 10, 1939
Runtime: 93 minutes
Country: United States
Language: English
Budget: Over $1 million (reported up to $1.3 million)
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