Little Lord Fauntleroy (1936) in Color — Starring Freddie Bartholomew & Dolores Costello

Little Lord Fauntleroy (1936) — Buy This Classic in Color

Discover Little Lord Fauntleroy, John Cromwell’s 1936 family drama starring Freddie Bartholomew and C. Aubrey Smith, now available as a professionally colorized version. Own this classic movie in color as a DRM-free MP4 digital download for just €15.00.

Plot Summary

Young Cedric Errol (Freddie Bartholomew) lives a modest but genuinely happy life in a quiet Brooklyn neighborhood with his beloved widowed American mother, known affectionately to everyone as “Dearest” (Dolores Costello), surrounded by the warmth of their close-knit community and the unconditional love between mother and son. Their simple, contented life is shattered when a letter arrives from England bearing extraordinary, life-altering news: Cedric’s estranged paternal grandfather, the immensely wealthy and notoriously cold-hearted Earl of Dorincount (C. Aubrey Smith), has lost his other sons and now summons the boy to England as his sole surviving heir — the future Lord Fauntleroy, who will one day inherit one of the great estates and fortunes of the British aristocracy. The stern, bitter, imperious Earl, who bitterly opposed his youngest son’s marriage to an American woman of no social standing and has never acknowledged her existence, expects to receive a timid, impressionable boy whom he can mold into a proper English aristocrat according to his own rigid, class-conscious values. Instead, the Earl is confronted with a child of such genuine, guileless kindness, such irresistible natural warmth, and such unshakable moral goodness that even his decades-hardened heart begins, slowly and against every instinct of his proud, stubborn nature, to crack and soften. Cedric sees only the best in his intimidating grandfather, treating the fearsome old man with the same open, trusting affection he shows to everyone, and this innocent, unwavering faith gradually works a transformation in the Earl that no amount of argument, persuasion, or social pressure could ever have achieved. As Cedric settles into the vast, magnificent estate and wins the devoted hearts of tenants, servants, and neighbors with his natural generosity and genuine concern for their welfare, a scheming pretender emerges claiming to be the true heir to the earldom, threatening to destroy everything the boy has built and to separate him permanently from both his grandfather and his mother. The Earl must finally confront his own deeply entrenched prejudices and rigid pride, choosing between the cold, class-bound values that have governed his entire life and the transformative love of a grandchild who has shown him that compassion and kindness are the true measures of nobility. This classic movie is a beautifully crafted, deeply moving family drama that remains one of the finest adaptations of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s beloved novel.

Cast & Crew

Director: John Cromwell

Stars: Freddie Bartholomew, Dolores Costello, C. Aubrey Smith, Mickey Rooney, Guy Kibbee, Henry Stephenson, Constance Collier, E.E. Clive, Una O’Connor, Jackie Searl

Freddie Bartholomew delivers one of the finest child performances in the entire history of cinema as young Cedric, bringing a combination of natural intelligence, genuine warmth, and remarkable emotional subtlety that makes the character’s essential goodness completely believable and deeply affecting rather than saccharine or artificial. C. Aubrey Smith is magnificent as the stern Earl of Dorincount, creating a towering figure of aristocratic pride and emotional repression whose gradual, reluctant surrender to his grandson’s love provides the film’s most powerful and most satisfying dramatic arc. Dolores Costello brings quiet grace and genuine maternal warmth to Dearest, and a young Mickey Rooney provides lively, scene-stealing energy as Cedric’s Brooklyn friend Dick.

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

Little Lord Fauntleroy was originally filmed in black and white, its lavish Victorian sets, magnificent English countryside, ornate aristocratic interiors, and richly detailed period costumes all captured in the polished photography of this David O. Selznick prestige production. This professionally colorized restoration brings frame-by-frame precision to the emerald green English lawns, the warm oak-paneled rooms, the rich fabrics of Victorian costumes, and the visual contrast between modest Brooklyn streets and the magnificent Dorincount estate. The colorized version adds visual grandeur and period beauty to this restored classic film, bringing the Victorian world to warm, inviting life. Now also available in colour.

Buy Little Lord Fauntleroy in color today for just €15.00. Your DRM-free MP4 download is available for instant access.

Historical Significance

Little Lord Fauntleroy was a prestige production by David O. Selznick, the legendary producer who would go on to create Gone with the Wind just three years later, and it demonstrates the same meticulous attention to period detail, production values, and emotional storytelling that would define his masterwork. Freddie Bartholomew’s performance established him as one of the most accomplished and critically acclaimed child actors in Hollywood history. The film faithfully adapts Frances Hodgson Burnett’s beloved 1886 novel, a cultural phenomenon that defined idealized childhood for an entire generation, and C. Aubrey Smith’s portrayal of the stern Earl became the definitive screen interpretation. Through colorization, this landmark family drama is preserved for modern audiences.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4 digital download
• Resolution: HD restored
• Colorized: Professionally colorized from original black and white
• Audio: Original mono restored
• Runtime: Approximately 98 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes — watch on any device
• Instant download: Available immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: Is Mickey Rooney in this film?
A: Yes, a young Mickey Rooney appears in a lively supporting role as Cedric’s Brooklyn friend Dick, delivering the kind of natural, scene-stealing energy that foreshadowed the superstar career that awaited him.

Q: Who produced this film?
A: David O. Selznick produced Little Lord Fauntleroy, bringing the same meticulous attention to period detail and production values that would characterize his later masterwork Gone with the Wind.

Q: How does colorization enhance this Victorian drama?
A: Colorization brings the Victorian world to beautiful life — the emerald English lawns, the warm oak interiors, the rich fabrics of period costumes, and the striking visual contrast between modest Brooklyn and the magnificent Dorincount estate create a visually sumptuous experience.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: The film is delivered as an MP4 file compatible with virtually any device or media player.

Q: Is there DRM on the file?
A: No. The download is completely DRM-free so you can watch it on any device without restrictions.

Q: How quickly can I watch after purchase?
A: Your download link is available instantly after payment, so you can start watching within minutes.

Related Colorized Classics

• The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1939)
• A Christmas Carol (1938) in Color —
• Heidi (1937)
• Wuthering Heights (1939)
• Alice in Wonderland (1903)