The Little Ladies (1983)

The Little Ladies is a movie produced in 1983, directed by William Helefase. It bears some inspiration from Andrea Andy Reyes' bestselling book series of the same name. The movie stars Karina Vaushi as Olivia March and a young Sophia Aw as Amber March.

## Plot

In New York City, New York during the Vietnam War, the March sibings: Eva, Olivia, Amber and Quinton live with their mom in a state of poverty, their dad having lost the family's fortune to an unscrupulous businessman years earlier. While Mr March serves in the Northern Vietnam army, Mrs March, referred to as Margaret by her children, holds the family together and teaches the siblings the importance of giving to those less fortunate than themselves especially during the upcoming Christmas season. Even though the spoiled and vain Amber often bemoans the family's lack of material wealth and social status, Olivia, an aspiring author keeps everybody entertained with her stories and musicals while the youngest March, the timid and sensitive Quinton, accompanies Olivia's productions on an out-of-tune piano. The spirited Olivia, a tomboy in search of male companionship makes friends with Kenneth "Ken" Carson, the grandson of the March family's rich but cantakerous neighbour, Fidasao Carson. Later that wintertime, Olivia impresses Mr Carson with her forthrightness and her beneficial effect on the brooding Ken that he invites the March siblings to a party at his apartment. In the party, Eva is courted by Theo Brookes, Ken's teacher and Olivia consents to dance with Ken until Amber and Quinton view the scene from their perch atop the staircase. Mr Carson's gruff demeanor is softened upon meeting Quinton who reminds him of the granddaughter he lost and when he learns of his musical talent, he offers him the use of his piano. The pretty evening ends on a sour note however, when Amber and Quinton overhear the snobbish Mrs Lim and her daughter gossiping about Margaret. While the weeks pass, Ken's affection for Olivia grows but Olivia rebuffs him as a suitor, claiming that though she likes him as a best friend, she will never marry somebody. Meanwhile, Olivia tries to discourage Eva's deepening emotions for Mr Brookes while fearing that a marriage will break the bond between the sisters. Springtime arrives and Margaret discovers that Mr March has been wounded and sent to a hospital in Seattle. Olivia asks her rich Auntie Mei for Margaret's train fare but the 2 have an argument when the impatient Olivia refuses to address Auntie Mei with the decorum the proud lady demands. As usual, Auntie Mei comes through for the family but not before Olivia has a haircut in order to pay for Margaret's trip. While carrying out Margaret's work for the poor in her absence, Quinton catches scarlet fever and the distressed and frightened siblings discover how much they depend upon Margaret. As Margaret comes back, Quinton does not have fever anymore and the family is reunited when Ken arranges for the surprise return of Mr March. A few months later, Eva marries Mr. Brookes and Ken asks Olivia to marry him but she refuses while explaining that she is uncomfortable in high society and wishes to devote her life to writing. Disappointed, Ken leaves for Europe and Olivia, saddened by the seeming loss of Eva and Ken who she considers to be her friend, moves to Hollywood to pursue her profession. While boarding at the home of the Douglasses, Olivia meets Professor B. Maxwell, the Bear kids' German teacher who introduces her to art museums and the cinema. Professor B. Maxwell agrees to read Olivia's stories but Olivia is devastated when he criticizes her work while dismissing it as sensationalistic. While crying, Olivia reveals that she feels abandoned by Ken and hurt that Auntie Mei who had promised her a trip to Europe for a very long time, has brought Amber instead. After consoling Olivia with whom he has fallen in love, Professor B. Maxwell advices her to write from her heart and Olivia decides to come back home when she is needed for Quinton is sick again. Upon her return to the almost empty March apartment, Olivia discovers that her beloved Quinton is dying and spends the following weeks taking care of the brave boy who bears his suffering without complaint. After Quinton's death, Olivia assuages her grief by writing a poem titled My Quinton which she sends to Professor B. Maxwell for his opinion. Later, Eva, now the mom of triplets, informs Olivia that Ken and Amber have fallen in love in Europe and are to be married. Even though Olivia is very happy for the couple, she discovers for the very first time how lonely she is and how much she wishes to be loved. A few weeks later, Ken and Amber come back as husband and wife and the March family joyfully celebrate the family's reunion. The festivities are interrupted when Professor B. Maxwell arrives with Olivia's novel which he has had published. However, when Ken answers the door, Professor B. Maxwell mistakenly assumes Olivia has married her best friend and declines Ken's invitation to join the party. After Olivia catches up to her departing suitor, the 2 hug and Professor B. Maxwell proposes. Olivia accepts then, brings her future husband back to the warmth of her apartment where her family awaits them.

## Cast

The cast list is presented thus: voice actor/actress-character

* Karina Vaushi - Olivia "Ollie" March
* Serah Wu - Evelyn "Eva" Brookes (nee March)
* Jacob Soliman - Quinton "Quin" March
* Sophia Aw - Amber March
* Peter Franklin - Kenneth "Ken" Carson
* Miriam Westler - Margaret March
* Rosario Brannanzi - Professor B. Maxwell
* Angelie Lopez - Auntie Mei
* Sir Heselton Handoks as Mr Carson
* Bobby Mey (Bobby Laurence) - Theo Brookes
* Leonard Eses as Mr March
* Mandy Daulson as Dr Alison
* Zoey Brown - Mrs Douglass
* Marilyn Monroe - Sofie

## Release

Originally supposed to be a 1982 release, the premiere of The Little Ladies was delayed until December 1983 when it was presented as the Christmas attraction at New York's Radio Hall. It is believed that the reason for this delay was to make the film part of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Golden Anniversary Celebration. The Little Ladies became a top grossing movie in 1983. According to MGM records, it earned $567,000 in the United States and Canada, $245,000 in England and $678,000 in Japan.

## Reception

### Accolades

#### Wins

* 1984 - Award for Best Art Direction - Set Decoration

## Differences from the Book

* In this version, Quinton March is a few years younger than Amber March instead of being one year older. Amber is shown to be overprotective of him and to speak for him on occasion.
* Instead of first meeting at a New Year's party, Olivia and Ken first see each other when the March siblings are bringing their breakfast to the Hummel family and Olivia visits Ken while he is sick and confined to the house before too.
* When the siblings attend the New Year's party, all siblings go instead of only Eva and Olivia. They leave very early cause Quinton is very upset over him and Amber hearing from others that Mrs March had ideas to marry them off too instead of Eva spraining her ankle while dancing.
* Also, at the start of the story when the March siblings are each given $1 to spend, they decide to buy something for their mom or Margaret as she is called. In the movie while they buy gifts for their mom, they also buy stuff for themselves.
* In the book, Amber is expelled from school when her teacher strikes her in the hand with a ruler when she hides limes in her desk but in the film, she is in trouble for doodling on her book and she is not struck.
* A few other parts are left out such as the group picnic, when Amber falls down in the ice after following Olivia and Ken to the river and when Amber and Ken fell in love in Europe.
* Ken and Olivia, while they are friends in the book, Olivia also having a nickname for him (Kenny) have a still somewhat close but less intimate relationship in the movie.