I have watched this movie twice in the last year, after the BBC unearthed it from some long forgotten vault. There's no question that it seems an oddity, archaic in style, tone and subject matter. But if the viewer can overcome these barriers, and in my case the poor sound quality of the version the BBC showed, it's an involving tale with engaging central performances from the principles (and pretty reasonable Scottish accents too) and fine support from stalwarts such as Alan Hale and Donald Crisp who became well known faces over the next 40 years. What also interests, is that the period the movie was made is now over 3/4 of a century ago, and we see the earlier period of the story (1840's) through the prism of the sensibilities of that era (1930's) a similar distance from our own times. The view of the relationships, between men and women, between people of faith and the church, between individuals and the community identity they are a part of, at first they seemed to be so alien, and then I saw that these are still areas of tension in society, perhaps for ever, and in seeing that, I felt lucky to get a glimpse into history, to two pasts. This is something the 20th century and the invention of cinema are giving us for the first time in human history.

"The Little Minister" is a very strange film. In some ways, it's very enjoyable and in other ways it's just odd. The oddest thing about this film is the casting. While Katharine Hepburn is able to approximate a Scottish accent reasonably well, casting her as a Gypsy (also called by the term 'Egyptian' in the film--an archaic word for Gypsy) is awfully strange. I just found this very hard to believe. I also found the main conflict in the film to be baffling--and didn't know exactly what the point was of this film! But, the acting was very nice--so it least it's not horrible to watch.John Beal plays the titular character--a new minister to a church in a Scottish village. At first all is very well--the congregation like his messages and he's well respected for such a young man. But, there is a bizarre Gypsy woman (Hepburn) perplexes him and throughout the film Beal inexorably is drawn to her and vice-versa (this really made no sense at all). Now considering she show no signs of being an adherent to ANY religion, I could understand how this would be a problem for him and his job--though the film seemed to feel that somehow love conquers all. I could talk more--but really don't want to give this plot any more significance, as it's a hole-ridden mess. BUT, the acting is very nice as well as the production values (especially the music) so it's not a total waste. Not a glowing endorsement, I know.

thanx a lot for warning me about this film. I watched it through because it was on and it was 1 in the morning, etc., but would assiduously avoid it in the future unlike many other older films, like those of Tom Walls of 1930's British cinema or even some of Katherine's other films from the '30's like Morning Glory &c. It may be that these actors from the 30's were so restricted in their performances that they were required to behave in such a stilted fashion but I doubt it. It is much more likely that it is the actual facets of the story itself which dictate their behaviour. Oh for a spirited director to reshape the fabric of this film in a more natural way so that the characters can live and the storyline convey its underlying message in a more frank and honest manner. Bits of it sound like ned flanders for god's sake ! thanx for the opportunity to comment

A mysterious & headstrong gypsy girl falls in love with THE LITTLE MINISTER called to pastor in a small Scots village. Soon her influence has him behaving in a most unclerical manner, with repercussions for the entire community.Although sadly neglected & overlooked, this fine, sentimental film, based on a 1891 novel by Sir James M. Barrie, features excellent performances and superior production values. RKO lavished care & money to get the details just right; it is a fine example of how Hollywood films of the period could evocatively portray other times, other places.Katharine Hepburn has one of her most fetching roles in the exuberant Babbie. Full of boundless energy & good humor, yet fiercely protective of those weaker & less fortunate than she, Hepburn turns in a beguiling, always entertaining, performance. While there is really no mystery as to the true identity of her character, this in no way hinders Hepburn from continually delighting her expectant audience.In the title role, John Beal (born James Alexander Bliedung in 1909) had doubtless the best role of his career in this, his second, film. By underplaying his scenes, he holds his own with the vivacious Hepburn. Exhibiting real star quality, it is unfortunate that the good movie roles failed to materialize. Beal did quite a bit of work through the years on the stage and had a triumph in television's THE ADAMS CHRONICLES in 1976. John Beal died in 1997 at the age of 87.A very fine supporting cast lends depth to the smaller roles: Andy Clyde as the lonely village policeman; Donald Crisp as the local doctor; Reginald Denny as a pompous army captain; Mary Gordon as an elderly indigent; Alan Hale as the community's repentant drunk; Lumsden Hare as a strict & powerful church deacon; Eily Malyon as a member of the aristocracy; Beryl Mercer as Beal's devout mother; and Dorothy Stickney as a fluttery maid.Mention should be made of Max Steiner's lovely score, which incorporates old & familiar tunes.A couple of historical notes: the Auld Licht (Scottish for 'Old Light') is mentioned many times in the film. This was the very conservative Church of Scotland, or Presbyterian Church in America, which had the allegiance of a majority of the Scots people. Barrie's original novel was of the Kailyard (Scottish for a small cabbage patch near a cottage) School of writing which had great favor in Scotland in the late 19th Century. This style featured highly idealized & sentimental representations of Scottish village life. Thrums in THE LITTLE MINISTER would certainly be a prime example.