Little Lord Fauntleroy (1936)
“A little American boy melts the heart of an English earl.”
Streamed free from the Internet Archive · no signup, no cost — this film is in the public domain.
Synopsis
David O. Selznick's lavish first production for Selznick International Pictures adapts Frances Hodgson Burnett's 1886 novel. Freddie Bartholomew stars as Cedric Errol, the warmhearted American lad who becomes Lord Fauntleroy and travels to England to live with his cold, imperious grandfather, the Earl of Dorincourt (C. Aubrey Smith). The boy's innate goodness gradually thaws the old man, even as a rival claimant threatens his inheritance.
Cast
About the Director
John Cromwell — John Cromwell directs with polish and warmth, drawing a winning performance from young Bartholomew and a memorable one from the great character actor C. Aubrey Smith. The film's high production values reflect Selznick's famous fastidiousness.
Why It’s Free: The Public-Domain Story
Public domain in the United States. Registered by Selznick International Pictures in 1936 (LP6189) with no renewal registration ever filed, the film's copyright was not renewed and lapsed. The 1886 Burnett novel is also public domain.
Behind the Scenes
It was the very first film produced by Selznick International Pictures and the studio's most profitable release until Gone with the Wind. The George Eastman House restored the film, and Kino Lorber issued it on Blu-ray in 2012.
Did You Know?
- This was the debut production of Selznick International Pictures, three years before Gone with the Wind.
- A young Mickey Rooney appears in a small but memorable role as shoeshine boy Dick Tipton.
- Dolores Costello, billed as Dolores Costello Barrymore, was the wife of John Barrymore and grandmother of Drew Barrymore.
Reception & Legacy
Critically well received and a strong box-office performer, it stands as one of the most affectionately remembered family films of the 1930s, praised for its sincerity and its standout supporting cast.
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