Debuting on Sunday 13 Apr 1958, this six-part BBC children’s series was adapted for television by Constance Cox from the famous novel by Louisa M. Alcott. The producer was Joy Harington.
Set in a small New England community in the 1860s, it was a charming story of childhood, pleasantly sentimental and often very funny.
The story followed the domestic adventures of the March family, especially the children – 15-year-old tomboy Jo (Andree Melly), who wanted to be an author, and her three sisters: gentle 16-year-old Meg (Kate Cameron), delicate, timid 13-year-old Beth (Diana Day), who wanted to be a musician, and the pert and pretty 12-year-old Amy (Sylvia Davies).
The girls lived with their mother, Margaret (Phyllis Calvert), whom they called “Marmee” (their father was away fighting in the American Civil War), and episodes followed their attempts to increase their income and their friendship (and later, love affairs) with the boy next door, Laurie (David Cole) – although Meg was more interested in Laurie’s young tutor, John Brooke (Michael Aldridge).
Noel Howlett played the terrifying Mr Laurence, their elderly, wealthy neighbour.
The BBC went on to produce episodes of Good Wives(1958) and Jo’s Boys (1959), also adapted for television by Constance Cox.
Jo March
Andree Melly Mrs Margaret March (Marmee)
Phyllis Calvert Meg March
Kate Cameron Aunt March
Anita Sharp Bolster Beth March
Diana Day Amy March
Sylvia Davies Laurie
David Cole John Brooke
Michael Aldridge Mr Laurence
Noel Howlett Mary
Ann Iddon Hannah
Aithna Gover Mrs Moffat
Madge Compton Mr Moffat
Alexander Archdale Annie Moffat
Jill Hyem Belle Moffat
Jennie Goossens Hortense
Anne Padwick Major Lincoln
Maurice Hedley Ned Moffat
Denny Gabin Miss Croaker
Totti Truman Taylor
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