LITTLE LORD FAUNTLEROY (TV)
Summary
This made-for-television film is an adaptation of the 1886 children's novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The story begins in New York City, where young Cedric "Ceddie" Errol lives in moderate poverty with his mother and his longtime nursemaid, Mary. Ceddie visits with his shopkeeper friend, Mr. Hobbs, who strongly dislikes all Brits and "aristocrats," though Ceddie reflects that his own late father was an English captain. A man named Havisham arrives at the Errols' home and reveals to a shocked Mrs. Errol that Ceddie is now Lord Fauntleroy and heir to his grandfather's fortune, as her husband's brothers have also died. He explains that the Earl of Dorincourt wants Ceddie to live at his grand home in the English countryside and will allow her to occupy a nearby cottage, though he will not see or speak to her, as he disapproved of his son marrying a low-class American. Though offended, Mrs. Errol accepts the offer for her son's sake, though stipulates that Dorincourt must not reveal their animosity to Ceddie. Ceddie struggles to understand the situation and timidly admits to Hobbs that he himself is now an aristocrat, and Hobbs assures him that they are still friends despite his "misfortune." Relieved, Ceddie immediately spends his newfound wealth on gifts for Hobbs and his other friend Dick, a bootblack, and then bids them farewell.
Ceddie sails for England with Havisham, Mary and his mother, and they eventually arrive at the cottage where Mary and Mrs. Errol will live, where they meet Dawson, the maid. Mrs. Errol then informs Havisham that she will accept no money from Dorincourt, as it would feel as though she was "selling" Ceddie to him. Ceddie is awed by Dorincourt's vast property and enormous house, and he soon meets his grandfather, a cold and humorless man suffering from gout. Dorincourt is taken aback by the boy's jovial, down-to-earth nature, declaring that he is "impudent" because of his American mother, and is outraged to hear of Mrs. Errol's refusal of funds, though Havisham informs him that she has not spoken ill of him to Ceddie. The servants are quickly charmed by Ceddie's unassuming, friendly personality, and he is astounded to find that he has a playroom all to himself. As Dorincourt and Ceddie share an awkward breakfast at an overlarge table, Reverend Muldaur visits and pleads for leniency for one of Dorincourt's impoverished tenants, Higgins. Ceddie urges his grandfather to be charitable, but Dorincourt states that an earl must be "firm with underlings." Ceddie visits his mother, though Dorincourt refuses to accompany him, and later goes for a ride on his new pony. He offers a ride to a disabled village boy, Georgie, and Wilkins reports to Dorincourt that the townsfolk were greatly impressed with the little lord's kindness.
Upon arriving at Sunday Mass, Dorincourt is embarrassed when Ceddie greets Higgins and wishes him well, and he reminds the boy that they cannot sit with Mary and Mrs. Errol. Later, Mrs. Errol seeks a seamstress job and is shocked to come across "Earl's Lane," where Dorincourt's tenants live in squalor. She begins tending to the residents, bringing food and caring for the sick, and later encounters Dorincourt on the road, though he rudely rebuffs her courteous greeting. Ceddie tells his mother that he still has doubts about becoming an earl, but she reminds him to be brave and kind in regards to his status. Dorincourt's gout subsides and Ceddie happily notes that he will surely be less grumpy now, still confident that he is a kind person underneath. Hobbs and Dick are amused to receive a letter from their friend detailing his new life, though they are suspicious about Mrs. Errol's living arrangements. Dorincourt shows Ceddie the full expanse of his land, though he experiences guilt when Ceddie requests to see Earl's Lane and they learn that Mrs. Errol has been "an angel of mercy" to the downtrodden people. Dorincourt subsequently orders significant improvements to the area and shocks the servants by making plans for a dinner party, and he soon realizes that he has grown to love his grandson.
Dorincourt is then stunned, however, to learn that another woman is claiming to be his older son's widow, meaning that her son is in fact the true heir, not Ceddie. He orders Havisham to investigate the matter thoroughly, admitting that Ceddie is now "dear to him." Later, his long-estranged sister Lady Lorradaile arrives for the party and happily meets her great-nephew, touched that her "old curmudgeon" of a brother has grown more loving. She visits Mrs. Errol and tells her that Dorincourt loved Cedric Sr. most of all, suggesting that he could care for her too if they became acquainted. At the party, Ceddie charms the guests as usual and then gets everyone dancing when he requests an upbeat tune from back home, though Dorincourt is still privately worried about the other boy. Havisham then informs him that the marriage was legitimate and Ceddie is indeed no longer Lord Fauntleroy, and he orders the woman and her son brought to the house. Dawson reports back to the other servants that the woman is an unlikable "tart," though Ceddie is unconcerned about the title and cares only about not being separated from his beloved grandfather.
Dorincourt finally visits Mrs. Errol and she declares that she will not fight the new claim, though she notes that Ceddie would have made an honorable earl. Hobbs and Dick are stunned to read the news in Ceddie's latest letter, feeling that their young friend has been "done in proper" by the English. Upon seeing the woman's photo in the newspaper, Dick then realizes that the so-called widow is really his own brother's money-grubbing former wife, Minna, and that the child is not the heir at all. Dorincourt is thrilled to hear of the fraud and quickly sends for Dick and his brother, who bring Hobbs along to England as well. An angry Minna is forced to admit her lie when confronted by her former relatives, and Ceddie is overjoyed to see his old friends. He assures them that they must stay through the holiday season, and everyone sits down to a lavish Christmas dinner, with Dorincourt noting that the servants are to dine with them as well at Ceddie's request. They all toast to the young lord and Ceddie expresses his good wishes to everyone, after which Dorincourt takes Mrs. Errol's hand, signaling his acceptance of her as family. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: November 25, 1980 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:43:42
- COLOR/B&W: B&W Copy of Color Telecast
- CATALOG ID: B:01796
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Families; England -- 19th century - Social life and customs
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV, 1980
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Norman Rosemont … Producer
- William Hill … Associate Producer
- Jack Gold … Director
- Blanche Hanalis … Writer
- Frances Hodgson Burnett … Based on the novel by
- Allyn Ferguson … Music by
- Ricky Schroder … Cast, Lord Fauntleroy (Ceddie Errol)
- Alec Guinness … Cast, Earl of Dorincourt
- Eric Porter … Cast, Havisham
- Colin Blakeley … Cast, Hobbs
- Connie Booth … Cast, Mrs. Errol
- Rachel Kempson … Cast, Lady Lorradaile
- Carmel McSharry … Cast, Mary
- Antonia Pemberton … Cast, Dawson
- Rolf Saxon … Cast, Dick
- John Cater … Cast, Thomas
- Peter Copley … Cast, Rev. Muldaur
- Patsy Rowlands … Cast, Mrs. Dibble
- Ann Way … Cast, Miss Smith
- Patrick Stewart … Cast, Wilkins
- Gerry Cowper … Cast, Mellon
- Barry Jackson … Cast, Hustings
- Edward Wiley … Cast, Ben Tipton
- Tony Melody … Cast, Kimsey
- Kate Harper … Cast, Minna
- Rohan McCullough … Cast, Lady Grace
- Dicon Murray … Cast, Georgie
- Ballard Berkeley … Cast, Sir Harry
- John Southworth … Cast, Higgins
- Norman Pitt … Cast, Lord Ashby Delefant