This next film is one of my favorite Disney movies from when I was a kid, and one that I still enjoy watching to this day. For this project, I’m focusing on the story itself, including dialogue, character development, any subplots, how a story presents itself, the speed at which it moves, if it slows down unnecessarily, etc.
A Brief Summary
Pollyanna is an orphan who comes to live with her rich stern Aunt Polly in the town of Harrington (which was named after their family). When she arrives, the people are nice but on the slightly grim side. But with Pollyanna’s cheerful disposition and her “Glad Game”, she slowly transforms the town into a much more optimistic, compassionate place. When tragedy strikes after a town bazaar, Aunt Polly might just realize how much she has changed because of Pollyanna and finally share the love and compassion that she had so long withheld. Includes a busted pipe, quilting squares, and a long bicycle parade.
What works
- The supporting cast, oh my goodness gracious sakes. My love for the supporting cast. Yes, Hayley Mills did well as Pollyanna but she wouldn’t have appeared as well as she did on screen without the rest of the cast. The cast had good chemistry, some excellent dialogue and they were just fun. They made that town seem like a good place to live.
- The transformation of the town from more solemn faces and actions to the lighter, happier people that filled the bazaar towards the end of the movie was fantastic. I may be a little ecstatic about the cast, but honestly, I just had all the feels watching them on the screen.
- The Reverand Ford and Mrs. Snow were possibly, no, they are definitely my two favorite characters with Mr. Pendergast as a very close third. In fact, let’s just add him as one of my favorite characters. His living room covered in rainbow makers (aka prisms) was my dream living room when I was a kid.
- Mrs. Snow was this cranky, bed-ridden woman who had some of the best lines in the movie and had the best physical transformation to Pollyanna’s presence in the town.
- Rev. Ford’s transformation from a man who could almost be the stooge of Aunt Polly (not that he intended it) to a stand-on-his-own preacher was one of my favorite changes in the movie. He was such a strong character and so very likable throughout the entire film.
- Because it’s set in a small town, the focus of the story becomes more about character development and in-town conflicts, rather than out-of-town dilemmas. It made it a lot easier to get to know the different townspeople and really become immersed in the town itself.
What may or may not work
- Hayley can’t really sing, or she can but she’s not good. Yet not only does she had a solo in the ‘America the Beautiful’ song, the other kids only sing part of one verse. Hayley sings all of the rest of the song. Side note: Part of Pollyanna’s petition to go to the bazaar (and the main part of all other peoples’ petitions) was that she was part of the flag. Watching how the flag looked, they totally could have made it work without her and the kids would have had a greater chance to sing.
Honorable Mentions
- The scene between the Reverand and Aunt Polly after Pollyanna’s fall is my number one favorite scene in the movie. That scene was Aunt Polly’s big reflective moment with the Reverend essentially holding up a mirror to her. “Just think, Polly, if she had never come to this town. We ought to get down on our knees and thank God for sending her to us.”
- Other favorite quotes (the dialogue in this movie was so well-done):
- Aunt Polly: “Hope. What she really needs is love. and that’s something I never gave her.” Edmund: “We can still give her that love, you and I, together.”
- “They’ll ruin our flowerbeds.” Poor Mr. Thomas (the driver/gardener), he just wants to protect the flowers and all the townspeople are just walking over them. When he gives up, “Oh the heck with it”.
- Rev. Ford: “We looked for the good in them, and we found it, didn’t we?”
- “When you look for the bad in mankind, expecting to find it, you surely will – Abraham Lincoln” (not actually a real quote from Lincoln)
- Other favorite moments in the movie:
- Pollyanna’s chat with Rev. Ford pre-Bazaar Sunday (Rev. Ford’s big reflective moment)
- Rev. Ford’s last sermon in the movie. His earlier sermons were fantastic and very much fire-and-brimstone, but this last one was my personal favorite due to how much it showed his new mindset.
- When the entire town comes to visit Pollyanna after her accident, they’re not expecting a changed Aunt Polly. Her face, as she realized that this could help give Polly that boost of hope and love before her surgery, and the faces of those right on the doorstep, as they realized that she had changed, was priceless.
Side Questions
- Considering the fact that the doll did not shatter from that multi-story fall, thereby implying that it is not porcelain, why didn’t Pollyanna just toss it in her room? (It might be that it’s supposed to look porcelain because of the time period, but I still question it)
- I also question how the whole doll-rescue scene goes down prior to her fall. Other than the fact that the script no doubt said to do it as shown, why didn’t Pollyanna try to move the doll closer with her foot before trying to reach for it? Safety first.
Would I watch this movie again?
- Absolutely. This was one of the movies that I grew up watching and one that I continue to enjoy watching. Also, I mentioned it earlier, but the supporting cast killed it in this film. I would watch it for them alone anytime.
If you’ve seen Pollyanna, what are some of your thoughts? Share in the comments below!
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