Amelia Shankley shines as Sara Crewe in this faithful adaptation of the beloved children’s novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett (The Secret Garden). Produced for London Weekend Television, this mini-series fully captures the spirit of the original novel and brings all of its extraordinary characters to life.
Sara Crewe has always been the pampered darling of her doting father, a British Indian Army captain, and the exclusive boarding school she attends. But when her father dies and her fortune is lost, Sara becomes the victim of hardship and cruelty. Through friendship, imagination and her own resolute nature, the “little princess” finds her way back to happiness. As seen on PBS “Wonderworks” – WINNER, Parents’ Choice Award and BAFTA Award for Best Children’s Program
Starring Maureen Lipman, Miriam Margolyes and Nigel Havers.
Parents need to know that Burnett’s novel is a beautiful, fanciful, old-fashioned story with a complex heroine. The book is sweet and uplifting throughout, but Sara does suffer a terrible loss and is ill-treated by Miss Minchin, which could upset very young children. This classic novel also contains some old-fashioned attitudes. Becky asks if a new neighbor is a “Chinee” because his skin is “yellow.” Sara recalls her time living in India, where she had an “ayah who adored her,” and servants bowed to her. These passages carry a note of racial stereotyping, but Sara’s goodness to all people overshadows her outmoded perspective. The novel has been made into two very good movies: [the 1939 version starring Shirley Temple](http://amzn.to/1R81gtz), and a lovely remake from 1995 (see below). Though neither film is true to the plot of the book, both versions are wonderful and faithful to the spirit of Burnett’s story and characters. – Common Sense Media