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.
