The Little Foxes (1941) | |
| Director(s) | William Wyler |
| Producer(s) | Samuel Goldwyn |
| Top Genres | Drama, Romance |
| Top Topics | Alcohol, Based on Play, Brother Sister, Marriage, Money, Mother Daughter, Romance (Drama) |
Featured Cast:
The Little Foxes Overview:
The Little Foxes (1941) was a Drama - Romance Film directed by William Wyler and produced by Samuel Goldwyn.
SYNOPSIS
The third of Davis's portrayals of icy women for director Wyler (the others were Jezebel, 1938, and The Letter, 1940), and perhaps the finest, though she never thought so herself and clashed constantly with the director on the set. Davis manipulates, blackmails, and finally needles her husband (Marshall) to an early grave in one of the boldest portrayals of avarice ever put on-screen. When her brothers come to her needing money for an exploitative business scheme, she sends for Marshall, who's recuperating from a heart attack. The would-be mill owners realize they'll never see the money from their principled brother-in-law and resort to stealing bonds from him. Davis seizes the opportunity to blackmail her brothers, and when her husband foils her scheme, she ignores his cries for help as he suffers another attack. Scripted by Hellman from her play (though with help from Dorothy Parker, among others), and with justly renowned camerawork by Toland, who also shot Citizen Kane (1941). Here, Toland employs the same deep-focus techniques that made Kane a cinema breakthrough. Hellman's prequel is Another Part of the Forest (1948).
(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).
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Academy Awards 1941 --- Ceremony Number 14 (source: AMPAS)
| Award | Recipient | Result |
| Best Actress | Bette Davis | Nominated |
| Best Supporting Actress | Patricia Collinge | Nominated |
| Best Supporting Actress | Teresa Wright | Nominated |
| Best Art Direction | Art Direction: Stephen Goosson; Interior Decoration: Howard Bristol | Nominated |
| Best Director | William Wyler | Nominated |
| Best Film Editing | Daniel Mandell | Nominated |
| Best Music - Scoring | Meredith Willson | Nominated |
| Best Picture | Samuel Goldwyn Productions | Nominated |
| Best Writing | Lillian Hellman | Nominated |
BlogHub Articles:
Screening of "The Little Foxes" at Daystar Center July 24
By Stephen Reginald on Jul 23, 2018 From Classic Movie ManScreening of "The Little Foxes" at Daystar Center July 24 The Little Foxes (1941) Where: Daystar Center, 1550 S. State Street, Room 102 When: July 24, 2018 Time: 6:30 p.m. Hosted by Stephen Reginald During the turn of the 20th century in the Deep South, the Hubbard family is fighting ... Read full article
The Little Foxes (1941, William Wyler)
By Andrew Wickliffe on Mar 25, 2017 From The Stop ButtonThe most impressive things about The Little Foxes are, in no particular order, Bette Davis?s performance (specifically her micro expressions), Patricia Collinge?s supporting performance, director Wyler?s composition, director Wyler?s staging of the narrative (adapted by Lillian Hellman from her play... Read full article
The Little Foxes (1941): the Melodrama for Our Political Moment
By Judy on Jan 28, 2017 From Cary Grant Won't Eat YouI found it eerie watching Regina (Bette Davis) plotting with her brothers in a story described by a contemporary reviewer as a “grim and malignant melodrama.” Certain themes kept surfacing that read like today’s headlines: mistreatment of minorities, disregard for others’ hea... Read full article
The Little Foxes (1941): the Melodrama for Our Political Moment
By Judy on Jan 28, 2017 From Cary Grant Won't Eat YouI found it eerie watching Regina (Bette Davis) plotting with her brothers in a story described by a contemporary reviewer as a “grim and malignant melodrama.” Certain themes kept surfacing that read like today’s headlines: mistreatment of minorities, disregard for others’ hea... Read full article
1001 Classic Movies: The Little Foxes
By Amanda Garrett on May 23, 2016 From Old Hollywood FilmsThe Little Foxes starring Bette Davis, is one of the 1001 classic movies you should see. Each Monday, I'm going to recommend a classic movie you should see (for the reasons behind the 1001 series and reviews of earlier films covered go here). Throughout May, I'll celebrate the 75th anniversary of... Read full article
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Quotes from
David Hewitt: Do you like me?
Alexandra Giddens: Not today.
David Hewitt: Why, I'll come back tomorrow.
Ben Hubbard: Regina, you're a fool! How many times did mama tell you it's unwise for a good-lookin' woman to frown? How many times have i told you that softness and a smile will do more to the hearts of men?
Regina Giddens: I'll do things in my own way, Ben. I know what I'm doing.
Ben Hubbard: I hope you do, Regina.
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Facts about
The original stage production of "The Little Foxes" opened at the National Theater in New York on February 15, 1939 and ran for 410 performances. It starred Tallulah Bankhead as Regina Giddens and featured Dan Duryea as Leo Hubbard. As of this date (Aug. 2008), it has had three revivals, starring Anne Bancroft in 1967, Elizabeth Taylor in 1981, and Stockard Channing in 1997.
Bette Davis and William Wyler fought a great deal during filming. Disagreements ranged from Davis's interpretation of the character (Wyler thought she should be more sympathetic) to the appearance of the house (Davis thought it was far too opulent for a family struggling financially), to her appearance (Wyler thought her white makeup made her look like a Kabuki performer.) Davis eventually walked out of production, but returned when she heard rumors she was going to be replaced by Katharine Hepburn or Miriam Hopkins.
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