Lizzie Borden Society Forum

"American Masters" (PBS) ran an informative episode on Louisa May Alcott, a few weeks back.

Of course, her life intersects with Lizzie's in that they were both born and bred Massachusetts women of roughly the same time period, Louisa May being about 20 years older, having died in 1888.

L.M. was reared under different circumstances, her family being one headed by a philosopher and educator who was friends with Emerson and Thoreau, and who fell on very hard times.

L.M.'s constant search for work to assist her family underscores the plight of women in that era, and their extremely limited options. At one point, L.M. felt so forlorn at not being able to find anything beyond menial, hard labor that she considered drowning herself.

The profession of author was one of the precious few ranks through which a woman could rise, and L.M. wrote a lot of pulp fiction under male pseudonyms.

After the Civil War, a burgeoning market for children's literature developed, and she was editing a children's magazine (for $400/year) when she was asked to write the "children's book" that became the novel "Little Women."

By the time of her death, she had earned something more than $100,000 and was living in a townhouse on Beacon Hill in Boston, with TEN servants. She was also supporting her ailing father and an orphaned nephew, among others-- in lavish style (she wore only silk dresses), on less than half of what Lizzie inherited.

Surely, Lizzie read "Little Women"-- maybe others of Alcott's books. It would have been relevant: the presence of a loving Mother, the death of a sister. I don't wonder if a lot of Mothers stacked up poorly to Marmee March.

I toured her house, "Orchard House", around 1996. The character of Amy was based on one of her sisters. In "Amy's" bedroom, there were drawings all over the walls. She did become an artist. It seems to me "Amy" died young in childbirth.

I was appalled that there was no "Laurie"! I had such a total crush on Peter Lawford from the June Allyson version of the movie. I expected to see a gorgeous brick mansion next door when I looked out the window, but no.

I remember hearing something on the tour about someone getting mercury poisoning from nursing the soldiers in the Civil War, and their skin turning a blue or purplish hue, and I think the person died from it. I guess this was not an uncommon thing during the war. Mercury from what, I now wonder.

Anyway, the house is well worth touring. My daughter (13 at the time) was reading "Little Women" and she so enjoyed it. The souvenir I bought from their little gift shop was a wooden red apple.

Hope you're feeling better, A--

Speaking of which, it was L.M.A. who contracted typhus and was given a mercury-based treatment. She blamed the mercury on poor health conditions in later life. She had gone down to Washington, D.C., to nurse soldiers in a hospital for the Civil War wounded, and wound up gravely ill herself before the month's end.

Incidentally, her account of that experience is considered one of the most profound and detailed of a Civil War nurse's experiences.

I don't know that that there was an exact correlation to Laurie, although L.M.A. had a "thing" for a Polish artist during a grand tour she made as another woman's traveling companion (witness Amy and Aunt March, in "Little Women"; also, L.M.A.'s mother came from a wealthy, disapproving family). L.M.A. did have a sister who succumbed to a most horrific death from scarlet fever, as did Beth in "L.W."

I think "Little Women" works precisely because Jo doesn't marry Laurie. That ending line to her fiance, when he says, "But my hands are empty," and she takes them, and says, "Not anymore," is great. Another gut-socker, when Jo sells her hair so Marmee can have train fare to visit their wounded father in D.C., and Marmee says, "You'll never look more beautiful to me than you do right now."

I like the June Allyson version, and there's a really fine later one, with Winona Ryder as Jo (excellent, and nominated for an Oscar), Susan Sarandon as Marmee (surprisingly good), and Christian Bale as Laurie (perfect). The great Mary Wickes makes a triumphant final film appearance as Aunt March. I believe she died before the animated "Hunchback of Notre Dame," in which she supplies a voice, was released. That, too, is a surprisingly good movie. Wickes came to Hollywood as one of the original cast members of "The Man Who Came to Dinner."

There is a companion book out for the Alcott program. Apparently, "new" pseudonymous Alcott stories continue to surface!

What an interesting post, DJ. I liked the June Allyson movie best for years, then that newer one came along that is so good.

I just bought "The Man Who Came to Dinner" dvd. I'll watch for Mary Wickes, one of my favorites.

Not to hijack the topic in any way, but The Man Who Came To Dinner is one of my favorite movies and plays.
Monty Woolley, who starred in both versions , was born, raised and died in Saratoga Springs. And while he loved his home town, he was known to be a holy terror! No one can spout off a stream of invective the way he can.

As much as Monty Woolley defined the role of Sheridan Whiteside on stage and screen, and as much as the movie stands on its own merits with its incredible cast, there is also a good "film version" of a limited-run Broadway production, which includes the full text of the play, including the song that Cole Porter wrote for the character inspired by Noel Coward.

Nathan Lane is "Sherry," Jean Smart in the Ann Sheridan role ("Now listen here, you French bitch!"), and Harriet Harris (I think that is her last name-- you'll recognize her from her extended TV work, including the portrayal of Frasier Crane's nightmarish agent-- "She doesn't worship Satan; Satan worships her!", as well as the first season of "Desperate Housewives") in the Bette Davis part.

Anyway, well done and worth a look-see!

DJ:
I love the recent Broadway production every bit as much as the Woolley version. The cast is a perfect fit in every way.