Pollyanna Review
American audience came to know (and adore) Hayley_Mills from her star-making turn in Pollyanna, and even decades later it's easy to see why. Mills is a total delight as the title character, using her considerable charm and appeal to its full without ever becoming cloying. Indeed, although Pollyanna has a reputation as an insufferable do-gooder, that reputation is entirely unearned. She may be a "glad girl" who always tries to see the bright side, but she's not annoying about it; she doesn't come across as a goody two-shoes but as someone who sincerely loves life and people and sincerely wants everyone to appreciate the everyday joys that surround them. Mills makes all of this perfectly clear, creating a character that is entirely winning. As a result, as cornball as the ending is, it's still effective and guaranteed to bring a tear to the eye. The rest of the cast, from the steely Jane_Wyman to the crabby Agnes_Moorehead and the reclusive Adolphe_Menjou, are all quite good. David_Swift's direction is solid, creating a charming portrait of bygone Americana, and his screenplay artfully avoids many of the pitfalls that this kind of picture can fall into. The result is a sweet, engaging family film that keeps its corn to a minimum. Craig Butler, Rovi
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