Studio One (TV Series) Little Women: Jo's Story (1950) User Reviews

Pretty good considering....

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 5 August 2012]

"Studio One" did a two-part series of "Little Women" and "Jo's Story" is based on the latter portion of the book--the portion that is sometimes omitted in movie versions. This episode begin in 1868. Father is home from the war, one of the girls is married and Jo finds herself longing to leave Massachusetts and see the world. When she spoils an opportunity to go to Europe, she decides she wants to go to New York to become a writer. But there are a lot of difficulties--including a proposal, a sick sister and a very critical new friend who insists she can do better. All in all, well worth seeing BUT I would like to see part one and cannot find it! But, considering I am familiar with the story, it's not like I had a huge amount of difficulty getting into the show.

By the way, I noticed that another review really ragged on this show for being cheap. Well, considering this was filmed live on TV during the earliest years of the industry, I actually was surprised how good it looked! Really. You need to make some allowances for this--especially since Nancy Marchand and Kent Smith were so good in their leading roles.

A must for Nancy Marchand fans!

[Sylviastel · 6/10 · 22 January 2014]

Long before she was known as Livia Soprano, she made her television debut as Jo March in a stage & television adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's classic novel, Little Women. As Jo March, Nancy delivers a solid performance despite the script's obvious flaws. Despite discrepancies, it is an entertaining to watch a youthful Nancy Marchand for a change. She was such a wonderful versatile actress whether on stage, television, or film. You notice how tall she was and how she towered over her cast mates. They only did Jo and Meg's stories with the same cast for this program. Here she displayed Jo's fierce sense of independence ad determination for her own life.

Dated beyond belief but with some worthwhile performances

[Dr. Cumin · 7/10 · 26 December 2009]

Even though I'm a huge Little Women fanatic, the negative reviews I've come upon for this production had me put off seeing this for years. Well I finally got around to watching part 2--Jo's Story (Meg's story is the first half of this two-part Westinghouse TV production from the early 1950s). Having low expectations really helped a lot. The story starts after Meg is already married and with Aunt March looking for a traveling companion to accompany her friend to Europe, so if you want a complete retelling of the story, look elsewhere. The sets and sound quality are just what you would expect from the era---pretty lousy and even depressing, but this is early TV so cut it some slack. But Nancy Marchand is really a very fine Jo March. She actually looks the part more than any later versions. Laurie is virtually an afterthought since the story focuses on the two romances of Meg and Jo, so that's a disappointment that is born of time constraints. The startling thing to me is that the scenes between Professor Bhaer (Kent Smith) and Jo work so very well here. So stick with the opening 10 or 15 minutes, because once Smith comes into the story, it really picks up steam. These two actors did a great job with newly constructed dialogue that didn't upset the purist in me. Kent Smith is a terrific Professor Bhaer---very convincing and moving in his portrayal. Having said that, go in with really low expectations because with the exception of these two performances, this is definitely just for the most fanatical Little Women fan.

Good things come in small, tight packages.

[mark.waltz · 7/10 · 16 June 2022]

So what if there had been a big budget MGM version of the classic Louisa May Alcott story when the two part Studio One variation came to TV the following year. This takes what little budget it has and presents a fine videotaped production. This episode focuses on the character of Jo, the fictional version of Alcott herself, played by Nancy Marchand. In her early years, she was prominently featured in many classic TV productions, most notably "Marty" opposite Rod Steiger. She's perfect as Jo, paired with Kent Smith here.

The episode has a large ensemble, but most of the actors are not well known. I didn't recognize the actress playing Marmee from anything. Elizabeth Patterson, who plays Aunt March here, had played the maid Hannah the year before in the colorful MGM version. Una O'Connor, another familiar film character actress, is Hannah here. While Jo is the focus, the other sisters do get a bit of story, with Beth's illness a good supporting story. A bit slow and static, but still worth seeing.

Bored Me To Tears

[Rainey-Dawn · 1/10 · 22 November 2022]

First off: I've never read the book nor have I ever watched a film on the story until I watched the Studio One's Little Women: Jo's Story & Meg's Story.

Secondly: I've always thought this story would bore me to tears - and yep it did.

Third: My mother loved Little Women. Sorry mom but this is a boring romance-drama.

Fourth: It seems Little Women is an autobiography or semi-autobiography by Louisa May Alcott.

Apparently, Jo is the protagonist of Little Women; she wrote a book or two and married later in life. She's got a mind of her own and doesn't conform to society's rules very readily.

BORING!

1/10.