Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

Parents are funny. In one breath they whine about the terrible influences their children are exposed to, and in the next they are giving them money to rent Scream 2.
They lament the evil ways of the world as their kids are in the next room watching violent cartoons and playing disturbing video games.

Not me. When my daughter was very little, of course, there was always that idiot Mom that rented inappropriate movies for slumber parties she was invited to, but we stuck mostly to Disney movies; our favorite was Pollyanna.

Pollyanna, made in 1960 and the lead role played by a young Hayley Mills, is about an orphan that goes to live with her rich, rigid, and unaffectionate Aunt Polly(played by Jane Wyman) in a big mansion that is not very child friendly. (Pollyanna is shown to her room in the attic with the explanation that her aunt is not used to children's "noises".) Everybody in this house, including the staff, is in a bad mood. Aunt Polly's family has been the town's benefactor for so long that she thinks she has the right to make every decision, including what the minister will say in his sermons (a bunch of stuff about everyone in town being bad people and going straight to Hell).

Little by little, Pollyanna's bright disposition and her "Glad Game" (the very thing a child in her circumstances might use as a survival tool) rubs off on people. Mrs. Snow (Agnes Morehead of Bewitched fame), the cranky old hypochondriac learns to put her feistiness to a more useful purpose. Mr. Pendergast, the nasty hermit, realizes that he is lonely and adopts a child. The minister (Karl Malden) faces what has been gnawing at him -- his failure to teach about God's love and forgiveness.

The name "Pollyanna" has become synonymous with syrupy sweet optimism, but the child in this movie is more "real kid" than junior saint. She pesters adults, breaks rules, and really is pretty nosy. Of course, this is a Disney movie, not one directed by Quentin Tarantino. There's no edge -- no dark side. But it does carry a big, important lesson. Even a child can make a difference in people's lives. Love can be life changing. Aren't those the kind of lessons you want for your child?

In the end, when Aunt Polly says she loves Pollyanna like she was her own little girl, I defy you not to feel at least a twinge of emotion. I admit that if your kids are used to watching all the slasher or teenagers in search of their first sexual experience movies, they'll make fun of Pollyanna. But if you have little ones, start them off right with wonderful movies like this one.

(Pollyanna was directed by David Swift in 1960 and Hayley Mills won a special Oscar for her performance.)


Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children up to Age 4