The Little Foxes

Director: William Wyler William Wyler

Overview

In this film, Bette Davis stars as conniving turn-of-the-century southern aristocrat Regina Hubbard Giddens. Regina's equally odious brothers want her to lend them $75,000 to help build a cotton mill. To do this, she must make peace with her long-estranged husband Horace.

Product Details

Release Date:	11/10/2020
UPC:	0883929727315
Original Release:	1941
Rating:	NR
Source:	Warner Archives
Presentation:	[B&W]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono, Dolby Digital Stereo]
Language:	English
Time:	1:56:00
Sales rank:	19,430

Special Features

Original theatrical trailer; English SDH subtitles

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Bette Davis	Regina Giddens
Herbert Marshall	Horace Giddens
Teresa Wright	Alexandra
Richard Carlson	David
Patricia Collinge	Birdie
Dan Duryea	Leo
Charles Dingle	Ben
Carl Benton Reid	Oscar
Jessie Grayson	Addie
John Marriott	Cal
Russell Hicks	William Marshall
Lucien Littlefield	Manders
Virginia Brissac	Mrs. Hewitt
Terry Nibert	Julia
Alan Bridge	Dawson, the Hotel Manager,Dawson, the Hotel Manager
Charles Moore	Simon
Kenny Washington	Servant
Lew Kelly	Train Companion
Henry Roquemore	Depositor
Hooper Atchley	Guest
Henry Thomas	Harold

Technical Credits

Lillian Hellman

William Wyler	Director
Lillian Hellman	Screenwriter,Playwright
Samuel Goldwyn	Producer

Editorial Reviews

The Little Foxes is a triumphant screen translation of Lillian Hellman's classic stage melodrama, blessed with an exceptional cast and expert direction. True, there are a few minor missteps in the manner in which the play has been "opened up" for the screen, the most obvious being the addition of a rather stereotypical crusading journalist boyfriend for Alexandra. But these flaws are made up for by the glorious production, which manages to add a few new layers to some characters who can, in the wrong hands, come across as a bit too clearly drawn. Presiding over the cast with a velvet glove cast in iron is Bette Davis, turning in the kind of performance that made her a screen legend -- and deservedly so. Davis clearly presents Regina's hardness and severity, but she doesn't overplay that hand; her Regina knows how to charm, and to do so with conviction. The actress also shows the audience the character's vulnerability, but only enough glimpses to make us almost feel for her. She's well-matched by Herbert Marshall's extremely well-judged Horace, Patricia Collinge's magnificent Birdie, and Charles Dingle's dangerous but subtle Ben. Teresa Wright pushes a little too hard to demonstrate Alexandra's innocence and naïveté, but otherwise she's thoroughly engaging. Add in William Wyler's spot-on direction and a first-rate physical production, and the result is a true classic.