The Little Match Girl (1987 TV Movie) User Reviews

And A Child Shall Lead Them

[Christmas-Reviewer · 8/10 · 29 August 2017]

BEWARE OF FALSE REVIEWS & REVIEWERS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW TO THEIR NAME. NOW WHEN ITS A POSITIVE REVIEW THAT TELLS ME THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE MOVIE. IF ITS A NEGATIVE REVIEW THEN THEY MIGHT HAVE A GRUDGE AGAINST THE FILM . NOW I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 300 HOLIDAY FILMS & SPECIALS. I HAVE NO AGENDA.

Keshia Knight-Pulliam stars as the title character, an orphaned waif of the 1920s who helps instill the Christmas spirit into a contentious New England family.

This story is based on a short story but this version has a happy ending.

Well worth watching with a cast that could make "Speed 2" look like a masterpiece.

If you are looking for a more faithful adaption then pass this one on by. I prefer watching this one. I had no idea at the time that the source material was a sad story.

Has Nothing to Do With the Hans Christian Andersen Story, But...

[LindaY · 8/10 · 23 December 2022]

...this is an enjoyable Christmas film all the same.

Keshia Knight Pulliam is at her most adorable and roguish as an angel sent to earth (this isn't a spoiler as it's signaled in the opening scenes) to help the wealthy but fractured Dutton family: businessman Heywood, his wife Frances, their estranged older son Joe (who married a poor Irish girl and is considered persona non grata by dad), their wastrel younger son Neville, and daughter Lindsay. The corrupt chief of police is stoking a feud between Joe, who runs a crusading newspaper, and his father to get himself a promotion--while poor people are going to be evicted from their apartment buildings before Christmas.

I know history, so at first I didn't like this movie because no rich white family in the 1920s would have let a poor Black orphan run around their house--if you can look past that fact this is a nifty little period piece that features a stellar cast (William Daniels as Dutton senior, Rue McClanahan as his wife, and John Rhys-Davies as corrupt Murphy along with Pulliam). The poor people actually look poor and the contrast between the poor and wealthy is striking, plus Irish servants that don't talk all "sure and begorrah."

This was a great movie and I've looked for it to play every Christmas

[pia_jerome · 10/10 · 14 December 2008]

I'd like to know why it does not air each Christmas or even at some other time of the year - It was beautiful - I'd like to see it play more often. This was one of Keisha's best performances during a time when she was a young actress. This role suited her and she was able to play it so very well and brought the maturity needed even in a young actress. The performance was brilliant in that she never flawed in who she was and yet she got across the message that the show was suppose to have for anyone at any age. The setting was perfect. The other actors where just the right folks for each role. I don't believe that any other actor would have been able to play this role with the sort of innocence and cause for life than Keisha showed in her emotions and smallness of person. If she had not been in this role the movie would not have been the hit that it was. It really must be shown more!

This is a great movie.

[buppy · 18 October 1998]

"The Little Match Girl" stars Keshia Knight-Pulliam, Rue McLanahan, William Daniels, and John Rhys-Davies. It's a wonderful story and has excellent performances by both Keshia Knight-Pulliam and Rue McLanahan. If you've read the story by Hans Christian Anderson then you know the story if you don't then here it is. Heywood Dutton has been torn from his son because of a feud that has happened a few years prior. Rue McLanahan stars as Frances Dutton who is trying to bring the two together one magical Christmas. Pulliam is Molly, the match girl who every time she strikes a match something good happens. This is a wonderful story and young as well as old will enjoy this.

The match girl warms the hearts of the mighty Duttons

[dennisg-6 · 9/10 · 4 February 2010]

This movie is a gem. It moves along, slowly but surely (not rushed along the way).

The characters are all fleshed out, so you can understand their motivations. Among the other good (and well-cast) actors is William Youmans; he is the consummate kidder (making fun of his very-rich family, their lack-of-compassion, conservative lifestyle, ...). He first befriends the homeless match girl, and brings her home to meet his family. His mom likes her, and invites her to stay for the Christmas holiday; finally mom has someone who likes to sit down with her and have fun.

William Daniels is very good at playing the stern businessman, who has lost his heart; this occurred years before when his elder son Joe (the other one) wanted to marry a poor Catholic girl ... and (GASP) refused to go into the family business. At this, his son was banished from the house (and, the rest of the family didn't communicate with him, out of respect for the heart-less dad).

The story opens as all of the residents of Fennel Street are given 24-hours' notice to vacate their apartments by a corrupted chief-of-police (this eviction notice was served on Christmas Eve).

Joe, the publisher of a small weekly newspaper, cannot believe that his father would have the nerve to illegally evict his innocent tenants on Christmas. He gathers the story, and begins to ready for a special edition, sticking it to his dad for this evil thing. Of the pictures taken on Fennel Street, was one of the match girl warming herself with a match: this is going to be on the front page.

I enjoyed the chemistry between Keisha and Rue; Rue was the perfect "temp" mom for the match girl; they have several touching moments. The author of the screenplay plays Joe's assistant at the paper, and does it pretty well.

Teachably Adorable Watch w/Children:: When Adult? Humble Reminders

[mandm-30384 · 10/10 · 25 December 2020]

Perspectives echoed in others reviews.I couldn't have expressed it any better.

a wonderful family movie

[stephgator · 26 January 2002]

This movie is absolutely wonderful. I have enjoyed watching time and time again. It has wonderful acting and is wonderful heart-warming story. I highly recommend this to any and every family. Keshia Pullian does a great job, and I wish I could receive this movie again, because mine unfortunately got deleted. WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS TIMES!!

My mum loved this

[garywrght756 · 10/10 · 18 November 2020]

This film reminds me of my mum. She loved this film and Christmas. Who can't love Christmas after watching this