Little Women

George Cukor directed the first of Hollywood's many adaptations of Louisa May Alcott's sentimental novel about family life during the Civil War. In this version, Katharine Hepburn stars as Jo, the headstrong eldest daughter of the March family, which is struggling against great financial hardships due to Mr. March's (Samuel S. Hinds) involvement in the war. After sister Meg (Frances Dee) becomes engaged, Jo leaves for New York to become a writer; however, all of the March girls are drawn back home when the saintly Beth (Jean Parker) falls ill.