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)

AwardRecipientResult
Best ActressBette DavisNominated
Best Supporting ActressPatricia CollingeNominated
Best Supporting ActressTeresa WrightNominated
Best Art DirectionArt Direction: Stephen Goosson; Interior Decoration: Howard BristolNominated
Best DirectorWilliam WylerNominated
Best Film EditingDaniel MandellNominated
Best Music - ScoringMeredith WillsonNominated
Best PictureSamuel Goldwyn ProductionsNominated
Best WritingLillian HellmanNominated
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The Little Foxes BlogHub Articles:

Screening of "The Little Foxes" at Daystar Center July 24

By Stephen Reginald on Jul 23, 2018 From Classic Movie Man

Screening 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 Button

The 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 You

I 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 You

I 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 Films

The 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 The Little Foxes

Regina Giddens: [Referring to marrying Horace] It didn't take me long to find out my mistake. Then it was just as if I couldn't stand the sight of you. I couldn't bear to have you touch me. I thought you were such a soft weak fool, you were so understanding when I didn't want you near me. The lies and excuses I used to make to you, and you believed them. That was when I began to despise you.
Horace Giddens: [starts looking agitated] Why didn't you leave me?
Regina Giddens: Where was I to go? What money did I have? I didn't think about it much, if I had, I'd have known you'd die before I did. But I couldn't have guessed you'd get heart trouble so early and so bad. I'm lucky Horace. I've always been lucky. I'll be lucky again.
[Horace drops his emergency medicine]
Horace Giddens: The other bottle. Please, upstairs in my room, in the draw.
[Regina does nothing. Horace stumbles upstairs himself, collapses and dies]


Regina Giddens: I hope you die!, I hope you die soon!, I'll be waiting for you to die!


Regina Giddens: I'm lucky, Horace. I've always been lucky... I'll be lucky again.


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Facts about The Little Foxes

Warner Brothers loaned Bette Davis to RKO for the role of Regina Giddens.
Four members of the original Broadway cast repeated their roles in the film: Dan Duryea, Charles Dingle, Carl Benton Reid, and Patricia Collinge.
Teresa Wright's debut and her first Oscar nomination.
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Best Picture Oscar 1941











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Also directed by William Wyler




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Also produced by Samuel Goldwyn




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