Pollyanna (2003/British Telefilm)
Picture: C+
Sound: C+ Extras: D Telefilm: C+
How many times have we heard, from general criticism to
psychobabble about a woman or even man having a "pollyannaish"
mentality, seeing the bright side of life no matter what happens. The original Eleanor H. Porter book is a
classic for so many reasons, including being an endless source for more
melodrama, illicit appeals to pity and formulaically so that it was amusing that
a recent Pollyanna adaptation happened at all. Georgina Terry is the title character, naïve and always seeing
the bright side to the point of it being dangerous, which it eventually
becomes. She has a mean, cold,
dysfunctional aunt, but you never hear much about anyone being like Aunt Polly,
though the name denotes a flipside to the young girl.
Populated by a cast of mostly unknowns, Simon Nye’s script
plays it straight, adapting the book like it were fresh and nothing needed to
be deeply examined. That is good on
some level and this was part of Masterpiece Theater’s broadcasts, but it is a
classic with strings attached. Perhaps
a deeper examination of the text (outside of the scholastic) will surface, but
the British production is sufficient if very, very predictable.
The letterboxed 1.78 X 1 image is not awful, but would
have been better if it were anamorphically enhanced. The production design is a highlight, but otherwise, there is
nothing special here visually. The
Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo has no surrounds, but sounds good for a recent
recording and is clean. Extras are nil,
with a weblink, recommendations and a note about closed captions. In this case especially, that seems like a
missed opportunity. You can order this
DVD from WGBH Boston Video at their website www.wgbh.com/shop
along with many other great titles.
- Nicholas Sheffo
