Pollyanna (1960)

What a waste of my time!!!

Well Deserved Praise

Sadly Over-hyped

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

I saw this movie as a child, a few years after it was released, and I love it still today. It's a great family movie, no violence, bad language or hatred. It's very uplifting, and I think anyone would love it. It's on TCM tonight, and we'll be watching!Even though it's set back many generations ago, I think it still has appeal today. Even when it was released in 1960, the setting was several generations earlier. and we LOVED it. Kids today, (does that make me sound old), are used to wonderful animated Disney movies. We were blessed with both.. and this was one of the BEST Disney movies EVER!! Enjoy!

Eleanor Porter's novel about a young orphaned girl who brightens the lives of a whole town with her sunny disposition makes for charming film entertainment. The film could easily have become sappy and saccharine, but is saved by the sincerity of the performances by an impressive cast- Jane Wyman, Richard Egan, Karl Malden ("DEATH COMES UNEXPECTEDLY!"), Agnes Moorehead, Donald Crisp, Adolphe Menjou, Nancy Olson, to name a few. And then, of course, is Hayley Mills in the title role. Mills is natural and unaffected in the role, and makes Pollyanna feel like a real girl. The film is a bit on the long side, but the running time is used well, allowing Pollyanna's relationships with the townsfolk to fully develop, and to allow the audience to see just how much her presence contributes to the town. The film also displays some immense and richly designed period sets and costumes. With a whimsical musical score by Paul Smith, this easily becomes one of the best Disney films ever produced and makes for some high-quality family entertainment. The film is sweet, but not overbearingly so. We could use a little more sweetness in films today. A feel-good film, if ever there was one.

It's surprising how long this epic actually runs - almost two and a half hours - given it doesn't feel like an endurance to watch Hayley Mills as the blissfully naive Pollyanna, barely tolerated by her childless Aunt Polly (Wyman), going on to win the hearts of her adopted community after life-changing encounters and a terrible accident.Steve Corcoran is memorable as the rosy-cheeked little rascal whom Pollyanna befriends, as is Agnes Moorhead as the 'cantankerous' bed-bound spinster with an apparent heart of ice, slowly and surely melted by the unassuming youngster. Others may prefer Adolphe Menjou and his refracted light crystals, while Nancy Olson has a reasonable supporting role as the kindly housekeeper. Richard Egan plays Wyman's love interest, frustrated by her obstinate and negative attitude for which, Pollyanna is just the antidote she privately craves but publicly rejects.It's a typical feel good movie, although the climax is quite confronting if you're ten years old. Plenty of colourful characters of contrast and light-hearted child's play that should entertain the whole family. Not so sure about the patriotic national anthem solo at the film's finale, but otherwise, it's a substantial film that benefits from great performances by Wyman, Moorhead and Mills and consistently watchable.

POLLYANNA succeeds as a wonderful vehicle for HAYLEY MILLS, who was rightly awarded a special juvenile Oscar for her role as the sunshine girl who spreads cheer and good will to a town that really needs some cheering. JANE WYMAN is fine as her stern and wealthy aunt and the rest of the cast is equally impressive in a variety of supporting roles.Disney has given the tale a wholesome flavor with sets and costumes entirely in keeping with the early 1900s era and spared no expense in hiring the best players for the interesting supporting characters.KARL MALDEN has a fine time with the role of a hellfire and brimstone preacher talking about unconverted souls. NANCY OLSON is Wyman's maid who is told not to carry on a relationship with a suitor while under her employ. RETA SHAW is a gruff scullery maid. KEVIN CORCORAN is a mischievous schoolboy with his own method of catching fish. RICHARD EGAN is a doctor friend from Wyman's past who still harbors feelings for Wyman (as Aunt Polly). ADOLPHE MENJOU is the misunderstood "meanest man in the world," according to little Kevin Corcoran.And AGNES MOOREHEAD does her usual scene-stealing turn as a crotchety hypochondriac.Although the tale itself might be too syrupy and too commonplace for some folks, it moves along at a brisk pace under David Swift's direction but could have used some tighter editing, with a running time of 2 hours and 14 minutes.