Il piccolo Lord

This fantastic TV Movie made in 1979-80 still holds its place as the Best TV Movie ever made. The production values are fabulous, the cinematography awesome, the music score perfect, the casting magnificent, the pacing on track and the story emotional and very involving. Initially I video taped it, cutting out commercials, and that print was very imperfect. Years later I bought the VHS video version and the picture quality was quite poor with dirt specks and impurities and a very faded, sepia toned print. This film should be on the list for film preservation and remastering. It is a classic and I agree with those of you who say it is the best version to date, as I've seen the others and they pale in comparison. The DVD on Blu-Ray or regular would sell like hotcakes if it were properly marketed and there's a huge whole new audience out there who'd absolutely love it! There is a Website for TV Series Wanted on DVD, but sadly, no such forum for Movies Wanted on DVD. I have a List on my Website at: King Spud's Movie & TV Pages of many great films not yet released on DVD. Someone has been peeking at it as some very obscure films I listed have been produced on DVD. I just wish I could get All of those who own the rights to check out my List. Til then we can hope for the DVD or Hallmark Channel and other cable networks to run it again.

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.

With a star like Alec Guiness and a screenwriter like Blanche Hanalis (The Waltons) it can't be a typical made for TV movie, and it isn't.

Director Jack Gold manages to stay away from the cloying sentimentality and excessive wordiness of the badly written novel by F H Burnett. The relationship between the young boy (Schroder) who refuses to see the selfishness in his crusty and ill-tempered grandfather (Guiness) and the lonely old man, is developed reasonably well considering the budget and time restraints.

The plot concerns a young, fatherless boy, growing up on Hester Street in the low income district of New York as he rises to wealth and social position by the whim of an old man after his three sons die. Cedric's father, the youngest son, would have been the last to inherit his father's Earldom in rural England. But his unfortunate death when Cedric was very young, means the nine year old will be the next Earl of Dorincourt. His grandfather does not approve of his son's marriage to Cedric's mother, and sends for the boy to live with him, putting the mother up in a cottage on his estate because he fears what others will say if he does not provide for her in some way.

The boy is not told of his grandfather's disaffection for his mother and gradually thru his trust and fondness for his grandfather, the boy transforms the selfish Earl into a kinder, more compassionate person. When the Earl suddenly hears of another claim to the Earldom thru the illegitimate child of his middle son, Beavis, he is shocked and outraged to discover the boy and his mother are ignorant and mercenary.

Shamed by his grandson into doing good deeds, the old Earl realizes that he is not as good a man as he should be and begins to mend his ways.

The story is well told, and from a strictly critical viewpoint may be a bit too sentimental. But compared with the actual novel this film is derived from, the story has been made vastly more enjoyable by the removal of the hundreds of unnecessary adjectives in Burnett's badly written novel. Although the story was brought forward in time a few decades, this does not lessen the impact of the plot, or decrease the enjoyment factor. THe language used by young Cedric sounds a bit stilted in the mouth of Ricky Schroder, but it is the fault of the author and not the director.

I definitely feel this film is well worth viewing, so make some popcorn, call the kids into the living room and sit back and enjoy Alec Guiness, Ricky Schroder, Eric Porter and Patrick Stewart in LITTLE LORD FAUNTLEROY.

This film was released in 1980 (as stated), three years after my younger daughter was born. I taped it on TV, and she watched it avidly for many years. It became a milestone in our family life.

Within a year of first seeing it, my daughter knew every line of the script, and we would watch her watching the movie, her lips moving, speaking all the parts...(she was of course, going to marry Ricky Schroder). She still has the tape, and even at 28 years of age, still watches it from time to time. But it is sadly worn, and like another reviewer, I too long for it to be re-released on DVD. It is a beautifully made story performed equally beautifully by a superb cast.

It is an exiting story for all ages, with a feel good ending reminiscent of a kinder and more gentle age. May it last forever, and if anyone knows where it may be purchased, either new on tape, or even if it has indeed been released on DVD...please, PLEASE let me know...Enjoy! Brian Arpel

I love this film and think it is criminal that it isn't out on DVD for everyone to enjoy. It is Alec Guiness at his best --as good as Star Wars--and Little Ricky Schroder as perfectly as the author wrote the book.

The mother is great and all the supporting cast too. The beauty of English countryside and of New York are wonderful. The lines are terrific. The mother's speech about American values and the lawyers prejudice of English countryside are just fantastic.

I have a worn VHS tape from the TV of it that may break any year now. so I really would like it out on DVD.

A great children's or Cmas film. I put it up to the level with "It's a Wonderful Life."!!!