Little Lord Fauntleroy (1936)
Directed by John Cromwell and produced by David O. Selznick, Little Lord Fauntleroy is a heartfelt adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s 1886 novel. This film marked the first production by Selznick International Pictures, and it became the studio’s most profitable release until Gone with the Wind (1939).
Plot Summary
Young Cedric “Ceddie” Errol (Freddie Bartholomew) lives modestly in Brooklyn with his beloved mother, whom he affectionately calls “Dearest”. After the death of his father, Ceddie learns he is the sole heir to his estranged grandfather, the Earl of Dorincourt (C. Aubrey Smith). The Earl, a stern aristocrat who once disowned his son for marrying an American, summons Ceddie to England.
Despite the Earl’s initial coldness and refusal to allow Dearest to live at the estate, Ceddie’s charm and goodness begin to melt his grandfather’s heart. Just as the Earl prepares to formally introduce Ceddie as his heir, a woman named Minna Tipton claims her son is the true descendant. A twist involving Dick Tipton (played by Mickey Rooney) helps reveal the truth, restoring Ceddie’s rightful place and reuniting the family.
Cast Highlights
- Freddie Bartholomew as Cedric “Ceddie” Errol
- Dolores Costello as Dearest (her first film after divorcing John Barrymore)
- C. Aubrey Smith as Earl of Dorincourt
- Mickey Rooney as Dick Tipton
- Helen Flint, Henry Stephenson, and Constance Collier in supporting roles
Behind-the-Scenes Trivia
- Publicist Russell Birdwell created a two-mile-long canvas sign along Washington Blvd. in Los Angeles to promote the film—an unprecedented stunt that made headlines worldwide
- Ceddie was aged to nine in the film to match Freddie Bartholomew’s real age of 11 during filming
- The film’s costume—velvet suit with lace collar—revived the “Fauntleroy” fashion craze, influencing children’s formal wear and even the Buster Brown cartoon character
