''Principessina'' ("Little Princess") is a 1943 Italian drama film directed by Tullio Gramantieri. It is an unauthorized remake of the 1939 film '' The Little Princess'', which was in turn based on the novel ''

A Little Princess ''A Little Princess'' is a children's novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, first published as a book in 1905. It is an expanded version of the short story "Sara Crewe: or, What Happened at Miss Minchin's", which was serialized in '' St. Nicholas ...

'' by

Frances Hodgson Burnett Frances Eliza Hodgson Burnett (24 November 1849 – 29 October 1924) was a British-American novelist and playwright. She is best known for the three children's novels ''Little Lord Fauntleroy'' (1886), ''A Little Princess'' (1905), a ...

Plot

The Prince of Torrefranca has to leave her young daughter Anna at a boarding school while he fights in the

First Italo-Ethiopian War The First Italo-Ethiopian War, also referred to as the First Italo-Abyssinian War, or simply known as the Abyssinian War in Italy (), was a military confrontation fought between Kingdom of Italy, Italy and Ethiopian Empire, Ethiopia from 1895 to ...

. He also entrusts a huge amount of money to the Headmistress, so that his daughter will have everything she needs. The child is treated well until her father is reported missing in action. Anna is now forced to sleep in the attic and is treated like a scullery maid by the cruel Headmistress, who has taken all of her money, but the child doesn't loose the hope to find her father, and after many researches and adventures she finally finds him injured in an hospital with the help of a royal princess. At the sight of her darling daughter, the prince recovers.

Cast

* Rosanna Dal as Anna di Torrefranca * Roberto Villa as Stefano, the riding instructor *

Nerio Bernardi Nerino "Nerio" Bernardi (23 July 1899 – 12 January 1971) was an Italian stage and film actor. He appeared in nearly 200 films between 1918 and 1970. Life and career Born in Bologna, Bernardi started his acting career in 1918 with a loc ...

as Principe di Torrefranca, Anna's father * Vittorina Benvenuti as the Headmistress *

Mario Siletti Mario Giovanni Siletti (22 July 1903 – 19 April 1964) was an Italian actor. He was born in Turin. He performed in more than 160 films from 1932 to 1964. He began appearing in American films no later than 1946. From 1962 to 1964, he also portra ...

as Germano, brother of the Headmistress * Edvige Elisabeth as Clara, the teacher * Rosetta D'Este as Mariannina *

Oreste Fares Oreste Fares (1885–1950) was an Italian stage and film actor.Landy p.155 Selected filmography * '' Before the Jury'' (1931) * ''Venus'' (1932) * '' The Missing Treaty'' (1933) * '' Villafranca'' (1934) * '' Red Passport'' (1935) * ''Cavalry'' ( ...

as Battista *

Tina Lattanzi Tina Lattanzi (born Annunziata Concetta Costantini; 5 December 1897 – 25 October 1997) was an Italian actress and voice actress. Biography A native of Licenza and the daughter of Ercole Costantini and Geltrude Montori, Lattanzi began her acti ...

as the Princess * Olinto Cristina as the Baron * Odette Bedogni as the Boarding school mate * Celio Bucchi as an Officer * Ruggero Capodaglio * Alessandra Adari *

Anna Carena Anna Carena (born Giuseppina Galimberti; 30 January 1899 – 15 April 1990) was an Italian actress. She appeared in more than thirty films from 1941 to 1983. Life and career Born in Milan, in 1924 Galimberti started her career on stage in the the ...

Production

''Principessina'' was shot at the Tirrenia Studios. The working title was ''Bende lorde di sangue'' ("Bloodstained Bandages"). It was the debut of Delia Scala, here credited with her real name Odette Bedogni.

Reception

The film was not a critical success.

Sources

External links

* {{A Little Princess, state=expanded 1943 films Italian drama films Films based on novellas Films about princes Films about princesses 1940s Italian-language films Films based on A Little Princess Unofficial film adaptations 1940s Italian films