Movie Reviews for The Little Foxes

The Little Foxes

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Movie Reviews of The Little Foxes

Movie Review: "Cynicism's an unpleasant way of telling the truth."
Summary: 4 Stars

The main reason I watch and love classic films such as "The Little Foxes" is that they are primarily concerned with sharp script-writing and solid character acting. Modern films are more concerned with the latest CGI visual effects or "new" ways of blowing things up. So when I found out that this film was also directed by the legendary William Wyler ("Ben-Hur," "Mrs. Miniver," "The Best Years of Our Lives," "The Big Country," and the list goes on and on) I simply had to watch it. At the time I have to admit that I wasn't a big fan of Bette Davis, but this film coupled with her turn in "All About Eve" changed my opinion forever. Some roles just seem tailor-made for her now infamous persona. Her performance in "The Little Foxes" is fantastic and extremely memorable, with significant depth that appears only in her character's more vulnerable moments. The rest of the time she is cast in iron yet deceptively manipulative. Remarkable. The rest of the cast is superb, each turning in exceptional moments when required. There are a couple negatives with the film. This story occurs in the "Deep South" in the year 1900 and contains some stero-typical racial tendencies, mostly in lieu of having all the black men and women employed and/or bossed around by rich white folk. However, to William Wyler's credit these roles are all fleshed out and oftentimes they seem more caring than the central characters who are asked to carry the film. The other negative has to do with the type-casting of Teresa Wright, who it just so happens plays similar characters in two other William Wyler films. She also plays the same young, frail, sweetly naive daughter in the Alfred Hitchcock film "Shadow of a Doubt." Most of the time in this film, however, it becomes nearly unbelievable that a character like Bette Davis portrays (Teresa Wright's mother in the film), who has such high aspirations for the future of her daughter, would allow her daughter to remain fragile and nearly altogether ignorant of the world and all its trappings. Bette Davis' character is far too controlling to let her daughter roam the countryside gathering flowers (in a manner of speaking). The photography is superb, with Gregg Toland ("Citizen Kane") behind the camera; and the adapted screenplay, for all its dated aspects, still remains "classic" in every positive sense of the word. Just check out the quote I used for the title of my review for a sample of the writing. I will watch this film again. Why? It has great writing and excellent acting. Two fine reasons to watch any film.

Movie Review: Good portrait of a greedy Southern family...
Summary: 4 Stars

The Little Foxes is by no means an uplifting and heartwarming film, but it is certainly entertaining and offers some interesting insights on how far some greedy people are willing to go to obtain what they want. Additionally, The Little Foxes features an excellent performance from Bette Davis (as well as the rest of the cast), and some fabulous black-and-white cinematography which shows the Southern home in all its elegance.

Basically The Little Foxes is about the ultimate Machiavellian woman, Regina Gibbons (Bette Davis) who will stop at nothing to gain control of the family business - including sacrificing the health of her sick husband and alienating her naive younger daughter (Teresa Wright). In fact, much of the drama in the film stems from the fact that the daughter slowly begins to realize what is going on in her home and moves from a meekly submissive girl to a more assertive and aware young woman.

Anyhow, this film is by far the best adaptation of the original play and is very interesting. Although the topic has somewhat mellowed with age, the acting, meticulous direction (by William Wyler, who collaborated with Davis twice and drew remarkable performances from her each time), and cinematography make The Little Foxes continue to shine even after all these years.

Movie Review: Entirely worthy of serious movie buffs
Summary: 4 Stars

Here's another classic from the era when you had to know how to act to be in the movies, and dialogue was aimed at adults rather than dumbed down. The theme -- clash of values, family ties vs. avarice, just desserts -- is as old as time and we have all see it many times before. But strong and realistic character development, engaging drama, sophisticated plot and subplots, and effective period reenactment (South, circa 1900), gave it a new and compelling spin and made me want to follow it through closely to its conclusion. Pick this winner, reminiscent of Tennessee Williams' plays, when you want an evening of serious entertainment reflective of the quality that once built the industry now since fallen into gross mediocrity.

Movie Review: Power Hungry Southern Family
Summary: 4 Stars

This is in the deep south, right after the turn of the century. There are a brother and sister Hubbard, who want money and lots of it. They don't care about their wives,husbands or children, all they want is money and power. Regina is the most calculating, this is Bette Davis's character. They want to get a cotton mill and Regina will sacrafice her husbands health and her daughter's happiness to get her hands on money so she can gain control of the main share of the mill. Blood is not thicker than greed. This film is chilling in that it shows how corruption and greed survived then as it survives now.

Lisa Nary