Reviews

This movie does depict the little Match Girl by Hans Christian Anderson beautifully. The special effects were wonderful for the time period. The little unnamed actress did such a beautiful job, silently miming her role of sadness and hope. When the girl lit a match she would see something she wished for, like a hot fire to warm her from the snowy street, a hot feast with the turkey floating towards her, a Christmas tree all lit up(the story takes place around the holiday season) and finally she see her grandmother in the light of the last match she lights. At the end she goes up to heaven to join her grandmother and is found frozen to death by a policeman with a smile on her face. This movie is just lovely. I can't say that enough. I would love if anyone could tell me the name of the actress who played the girl. I haven't been able to find out.

Well if I may add my two cents I agree this is not what the little Match girl was suppose to be. It gives me a feel of a babes in toy land and the nut cracker personally. It is still very pretty and I enjoyed the animation.The toy solders moving around in the stop go animation was done wonderfully! I thought the actresses were down right lovely and performed well. I really loved the actresses dress as dolls dancing. Just lovely, what else can I say. It is a lovely film. As a version of the match girl the film fails. However it is still a lovely peace despite the name issue. If you can look past that,its an enjoyable film. There's my two cents for you!

I myself feel this film is a rare treasure. Not only is it the beginning of Shirley Temple's career, but a rare look on how our society has changed. You have to understand, certain things we today would view as sexual, back then would be considered innocent. For example, the parents of the children in the film as well as the many parents who took their children to see this movie, saw this as just children mimicking adults. Most people didn't think of anyone viewing children sexually attractive, other than teenage boys lusting over teenage girls. To them it wasn't sexual. Mind you this was before we had internet, TV, etc... Most sex crimes weren't openly brought up. Occasionally there would be a whisper about the kid with the "funny uncle." But that was often all that came of it. Yes very sad. But it is kinda sad today, for even I too can see this film as anything other than what it was intended, innocent and funny. When I saw Shirley dance like that and the boys eye balling her, yes I felt disturbed. I have to remind myself the time this took place! Those children didn't know what sex was. The parents knew that, both those of the children in the movie and those watching it. The thought may not have even entered their minds. In the eyes of the average adult back then, this was no more sexual then if Shirley was playing house. Even today kids will enter beauty contest, many dressed up extremely maturely, for a three yr old. However the child is merely pretending. I don't blame the child for wanting to act like an adult. Or the old movies that display this. In all honesty, our media has made a lot of things seem back then seem sick and wrong. This sometimes can be for the best. But I truly believe this movie isn't one of them. It gives a rare look of an innocent mentality, that we have long lost.