A Little Princess

1995
G
1h 37m

IMDb RATING

7.6/10

38K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

Play trailer2:49

Sara is sent to a strict boarding school after her father enlists in WWI. When he is presumed dead, the headmistress, knowing she will not receive any more money, forces the girl to become a... Read allSara is sent to a strict boarding school after her father enlists in WWI. When he is presumed dead, the headmistress, knowing she will not receive any more money, forces the girl to become a servant.Sara is sent to a strict boarding school after her father enlists in WWI. When he is presumed dead, the headmistress, knowing she will not receive any more money, forces the girl to become a servant.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.6/10

38K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

4,279

317

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 2 Oscars
- 3 wins & 10 nominations total

Videos2

Photos19

+ 13

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Like the character she played, Liesel Matthews (Sara) came from a wealthy background. Matthews (whose actual name was Liesel Pritzker) is a grandchild of wealthy industrialist A. N. Pritzker and a niece of Jay Pritzker, who founded the Hyatt Hotel chain. After a family dispute and lawsuit in her early twenties, Liesel received about $500 million of her family's fortune. She subsequently became a philanthropist in, among other places, India (a country that her character Sara loved as well) and created several educational and development charities.

Goofs
There are many latex balloons as decorations at Sara Crewe's birthday party in 1914 or 1915. However, the modern balloon that we see pictured in the film was not invented until 1931.

Quotes
Miss Minchin: [after ordering the girls out and punishing Becky, to Sara] And you will perform all her chores in addition to your own without breakfast, lunch, OR dinner! It's time you learn, Sara Crewe, that real life has nothing to do with your little fantasy games. It's a cruel, nasty world out there, and it's our duty to make the best of it - not to indulge in ridiculous *dreams*, but to be productive and useful! Do you understand what I'm saying?
Sara Crewe: [short pause] Yes, ma'am.
Miss Minchin: [short pause] Good.
[she leaves]
Sara Crewe: But I don't believe in it.
[Miss Minchin stops, turns back to Sara, and goes awestruck]
Miss Minchin: Don't tell me you still fancy yourself a princess!
[laughs]
Miss Minchin: Good God, child, look around you! Or better yet, look in the mirror!
[after a long pause]
Sara Crewe: [confidently] I am a princess.
Miss Minchin: [in disbelief] Oh!
Sara Crewe: All girls are! Even if they live in tiny old attics, even if they dress in rags, even if they aren't pretty, or smart, or young, they're still princesses - *all* of us! Didn't *your* father ever tell you that? Didn't he?
Miss Minchin: [furiously, in tears] If I find you up here with any of the girls again, I WILL THROW YOU OUT INTO THE STREET!

Alternate versions
The digital platforms featured the 2003 Warner Bros. Family Entertainment logo with the 1998 fanfare while the 2003 Warner Bros. Pictures logo appears as an additional closing logo.

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Crimson Tide/A Little Princess/The Perez Family/The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill/Swimming with Sharks (1995)

Soundtracks
Kindle My Heart
Written by Maggie Smith
Produced by Maggie Smith
Performed by Liesel Matthews
Courtesy of Sony Records

User reviews146

Review

Featured review

10/10

A sweet movie that kindles your heart.

A Little Princess is a great movie of friendship and hope. It shows that all little girls can be princesses regardless of race, appearance, or being a snob. The year is 1914 and little Sarah is forced to go to a school in New York, New York (after spending all her life in India) when her father must fight for Britain in the First World War. Immediately Sarah has made two foes, the head-mistress and founder Miss Minchin and Livinia the school bully. Miss Minchin doesn't like Sarah because Sarah is imaginative and smart. Livinia doesn't like Sarah because she is a threat to her popularity. When a tragic problem arises Sarah is reduced to a servant girl her friends show her that she doesn't need to give up on life. This movie is wonderfully heart touching with a great ending. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone.