I have long loved Mrs. Porter's two novels, & I very much enjoy Hayley Mills' 1959 Pollyanna. This version is very good. Subtler and with less treacle than the Disney production (but what else would one expect from Disney?). The cast are very good, reserved and dignified and somber, starkly contrasting Pollyanna's irrepressible optimism. The locations and sets are peaceful and serene, quiet and gentle examples of pre- industrial/technological explosion society.

This was a great movie. I loved how all the characters were developed. Pollyanna was very believable in her optimism and sunny attitude. Nancy's blunt comments were funny and in character. I loved Amanda Burton's portrayal of Miss Polly. Her expression could convey so much emotion, and her changing attitude toward life was mostly shown without words. Also, even in the beginning, she isn't completely inhuman, she shows a dry sense of humor when talking to Timothy about the motor car. Later, she becomes less bitter and more open to her niece by shutting out the world less and revealing what she must have been like before she quarreled with Dr. Chilton. That was a huge problem that I had with the Disney version. While the Disney version was a nice movie, it had nothing in common with the book. After reading the book, I couldn't watch the Disney version because the plot and characters were so different. Miss Polly was not a cruel and unfeeling queen bee, simply hurt and stubborn and not necessarily dealing with it well. Also, Mr. Pendleton (as opposed to Pentergast) was a developed character with the whole other plot line about his relationship with Pollyanna's mother Jenny. This movie was faithful to the book and did a great job bringing it on screen.

This just showed on television tonight and I can't contain my joy and happiness for it. Last year mum bought the Hayley Mills version on DVD which I had used to like as a young girl but kind of stopped watching because my older sisters said it was 'so stupid and babyish.' So last year I renewed my love for Pollyanna and then I found the book in our library and read it and loved it again and again. I actually was reading it today on the bus (a different library's copy). And yesterday mum was telling me that she saw an ad for Pollyanna that's a different version and I was so excited. I had a little pet peeve with the Hayley Mill's Pollyanna because it completely strayed from the book, though the essence of gladness is still there. I started watching it tonight and pulled out the book from my bag and read along during those enormously long commercial breaks, and well I've only seen this and the other version of Pollyanna, I'm so glad to find it so in tune with the book completely! Amanda Burton is such a good actress and she would've been a good silent film actress with such a stunning ability to convey emotion with looks. I do think Jane Wyman did a very good job as Aunt Polly too! Pollyanna (Georgiana Terry) was so much how I imagined from the book, except for some occurrences of storming out of the room which I thought was a bit out of character for the happy girl, and was so adorable how could Aunt Polly and everybody help but love her.Dr. Chilton (not Chiltern) was much how I pictured him as well and had a very nice look about him. It was all so faithful to the book, I am very very glad about that, and now I don't know how I could ever watch the other version again, though I probably will until I own this one on DVD. Yes. I shed tears at the end. It was wonderful! I'd like to think that Elanor H. Porter would be very pleased because as a Pollyanna lover I am!

I have to say, I enjoyed this version of the wonderful book by Eleanor H. Porter because I believe it is more true to how she would want it portrayed. They use most of the story lines, and create some nice ones to go along with the originals!I loved this version from the moment I saw it. I taped it from ITV and have nearly worn out the tape. I read the book when I was about 11, and have adored it ever since, and I thought this version only complimented it.I purchased the other, older version by Disney a little while ago and found it very sickly sweet, like many Disney films, though often, they are tempered with a moral. This was, but the sweetness and goofiness if I may speak plainly, overtook the story and did not add anything to it.This version, on the other hand, was excellent and even my brother, who hates these types of movies, can sit through it quite easily and happily. I love Amanda Burton's portrayal of Polly Harrington, it was just like I had envisioned and I loved Mr Pendleton, not Perndergast.Thank you for your time, I would advise you watch the film and think of your own opinion!