The Best Little Girl in the World
Encyclopedia
The Best Little Girl in the World is a 1981 television film directed
by Sam O'Steen
and executive produced
by Aaron Spelling
. The film is based upon the 1978 novel of the same name written by Steven Levenkron
.
to become better in ballet
. Her parents, Frank and Joanne, give all their attention to her 19-year-old sister Gail, who just found out she is pregnant by somebody she has no interest in marrying. Frank is infuriated and Joanne is worried about Gail, so they forget to spend time with Casey. They think of her as the good girl who doesn't cause any trouble. Feeling ignored, Casey starts wanting to look like the girls on the covers of magazines and begins working out and dieting
as well.
One day, Casey's friends convince her to join a ballet lesson. Casey is noticed by the teacher, Madame Seurat, who tells her she could be very good if she loses a few pounds. It doesn't take long before Casey becomes a starving anorexic who occasionally purges. She is surprised when her parents don't take her desire of professional dancing seriously, but doesn't give up her dream. Over the next two months, Casey becomes obsessed with dieting and improving in ballet. This causes her school work to deteriorate, which brings attention from her parents.
When her sister really sees how thin Casey is, she warns her parents. Casey is sent to a doctor
who orders her to start eating normally again, threatening to send her to a hospital
if she doesn't. Despite the pressure, Casey is afraid to gain weight and continues her eating disorder secretly. When her parents discover diet pills, Frank tries to force her to eat, but she refuses to do so. When she returns home from a party
she tries to convince her parents that she ate at the party, but Frank isn't convinced and tries to shove a peanut butter sandwich in her mouth, but she bites his hand. After her parents take the pills from her, Casey steals a package at the pharmacy
the next day. However, she is caught and is arrested. After her parents bail her out, she collapses outside the police station
and is taken to the hospital. She tries to run away, but collapses yet again outside the hospital and is taken back.
In the hospital, she befriends fellow patient Carol Link. Carol is also suffering from anorexia and bulimia and gives Casey advice about how to get kicked out of the hospital and also teaches her tricks to mislead the doctors. At one moment, Carol overdoses on pills and Casey witnesses her dying. Crushed and devastated, she runs away, but collapses for the third time. When she becomes conscious again, she is angry that she is back in the hospital. She tells her doctor, Clay Orlovsky, that she is afraid to die as well, but he assures her that is not going to happen.
When Casey improves, she is finally allowed to see her family again. Dr. Orlovsky analyzes their meeting. He tells the family that he thinks Casey has developed an eating disorder because it seems to be the only way for her to get attention. After a while, Casey finally recovers and is released from the hospital. She doesn't want to leave, however, and feels safer with Dr. Orlovsky. In the final scene, she eats ice cream
without disliking it.
came to the idea of making a movie about the book. Jennifer Jason Leigh replaced Jodie Foster
, who was at one point assigned to play the lead. Leigh weighed 98 pounds at the time, but dieted down to 86 pounds to play the role.
died of complications from anorexia nervosa. Although the film was later released on VHS
, the movie is now quite rare.
The movie however received criticism for its portrayal of treatment for anorexia victims, which was thought to be unrealistic. Another criticism was that its plot differed too much from the novel.
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
by Sam O'Steen
Sam O'Steen
Samuel Alexander O'Steen was an American film editor and director. He had an extended, notable collaboration with the director Mike Nichols, with whom he edited twelve films between 1966 and 1994...
and executive produced
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
by Aaron Spelling
Aaron Spelling
Aaron Spelling was an American film and television producer. As of 2009, Spelling's eponymous production company Spelling Television holds the record as the most prolific television writer, with 218 producer and executive producer credits...
. The film is based upon the 1978 novel of the same name written by Steven Levenkron
Steven Levenkron
Steven Levenkron is a psychotherapist and writer known for his research into anorexia nervosa and self-injury. He now lives and still continues his practice in New York....
.
Plot
17-year-old Casey Powell is a shy and insecure teenager, whose friends are caught up with dietingDieting
Dieting is the practice of eating food in a regulated fashion to achieve or maintain a controlled weight. In most cases dieting is used in combination with physical exercise to lose weight in those who are overweight or obese. Some athletes, however, follow a diet to gain weight...
to become better in ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
. Her parents, Frank and Joanne, give all their attention to her 19-year-old sister Gail, who just found out she is pregnant by somebody she has no interest in marrying. Frank is infuriated and Joanne is worried about Gail, so they forget to spend time with Casey. They think of her as the good girl who doesn't cause any trouble. Feeling ignored, Casey starts wanting to look like the girls on the covers of magazines and begins working out and dieting
Dieting
Dieting is the practice of eating food in a regulated fashion to achieve or maintain a controlled weight. In most cases dieting is used in combination with physical exercise to lose weight in those who are overweight or obese. Some athletes, however, follow a diet to gain weight...
as well.
One day, Casey's friends convince her to join a ballet lesson. Casey is noticed by the teacher, Madame Seurat, who tells her she could be very good if she loses a few pounds. It doesn't take long before Casey becomes a starving anorexic who occasionally purges. She is surprised when her parents don't take her desire of professional dancing seriously, but doesn't give up her dream. Over the next two months, Casey becomes obsessed with dieting and improving in ballet. This causes her school work to deteriorate, which brings attention from her parents.
When her sister really sees how thin Casey is, she warns her parents. Casey is sent to a doctor
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
who orders her to start eating normally again, threatening to send her to a hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
if she doesn't. Despite the pressure, Casey is afraid to gain weight and continues her eating disorder secretly. When her parents discover diet pills, Frank tries to force her to eat, but she refuses to do so. When she returns home from a party
Party
A party is a gathering of people who have been invited by a host for the purposes of socializing, conversation, or recreation. A party will typically feature food and beverages, and often music and dancing as well....
she tries to convince her parents that she ate at the party, but Frank isn't convinced and tries to shove a peanut butter sandwich in her mouth, but she bites his hand. After her parents take the pills from her, Casey steals a package at the pharmacy
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
the next day. However, she is caught and is arrested. After her parents bail her out, she collapses outside the police station
Police station
A police station or station house is a building which serves to accommodate police officers and other members of staff. These buildings often contain offices and accommodation for personnel and vehicles, along with locker rooms, temporary holding cells and interview/interrogation rooms.- Facilities...
and is taken to the hospital. She tries to run away, but collapses yet again outside the hospital and is taken back.
In the hospital, she befriends fellow patient Carol Link. Carol is also suffering from anorexia and bulimia and gives Casey advice about how to get kicked out of the hospital and also teaches her tricks to mislead the doctors. At one moment, Carol overdoses on pills and Casey witnesses her dying. Crushed and devastated, she runs away, but collapses for the third time. When she becomes conscious again, she is angry that she is back in the hospital. She tells her doctor, Clay Orlovsky, that she is afraid to die as well, but he assures her that is not going to happen.
When Casey improves, she is finally allowed to see her family again. Dr. Orlovsky analyzes their meeting. He tells the family that he thinks Casey has developed an eating disorder because it seems to be the only way for her to get attention. After a while, Casey finally recovers and is released from the hospital. She doesn't want to leave, however, and feels safer with Dr. Orlovsky. In the final scene, she eats ice cream
Ice cream
Ice cream is a frozen dessert usually made from dairy products, such as milk and cream, and often combined with fruits or other ingredients and flavours. Most varieties contain sugar, although some are made with other sweeteners...
without disliking it.
Cast
(in credits order)- Charles DurningCharles DurningCharles Durning is an American actor. With appearances in over 100 films, Durning's memorable roles include police officers in the Oscar-winning The Sting and crime drama Dog Day Afternoon , along with the comedies Tootsie, To Be Or Not To Be and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, the last two...
as Frank Powell - Eva Marie SaintEva Marie SaintEva Marie Saint is an American actress who has starred in films, on Broadway, and on television in a career spanning seven decades. She won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the drama film On the Waterfront , and later starred in the thriller film North by...
as Joanne Powell - Jennifer Jason LeighJennifer Jason LeighJennifer Jason Leigh is an American film and stage actress, best known for her roles in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Single White Female, Last Exit to Brooklyn, Georgia and Short Cuts...
as Casey Powell - Melanie MayronMelanie MayronMelanie Joy Mayron is an American actress and director of film and television. Mayron is best known for portraying the role of photographer Melissa Steadman on the ABC drama Thirtysomething.-Biography:...
as Carol Link - Lisa PelikanLisa PelikanLisa Pelikan is an American stage, film and television actress.She was born in Berkley, California, the daughter of American parents Helen L., a psychologist, and Robert G. Pelikan, an international economist who served as the minister-counselor from the United States at the Organization for...
as Gail Powell - Viveca LindforsViveca LindforsElsa Viveca Torstensdotter Lindfors , better known under her professional name of Viveca Lindfors, was a Swedish stage and film actress.-Life and career:...
as Madame Seurat - David Spielberg as Dr. Garett
- Jason MillerJason Miller (playwright)Jason Miller was an American actor and playwright. He received the 1973 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play That Championship Season, and was widely recognized for his role as Father Damien Karras in the 1973 horror film The Exorcist...
as Clay Orlovsky - Richard Venture as Dr. Neil Holzer
- Lenora May as Julie
- Laurence LauLaurence LauLaurence Henry Lau is an American soap opera actor. He was born in Long Beach, California.One of his first roles was on the comedy/drama Eight Is Enough...
as Mark - Michael DudikoffMichael DudikoffMichael Joseph Dudikoff II is an American actor who has been in numerous films, including the American Ninja series , Tron , Bachelor Party , Platoon Leader , River of Death , Soldier Boyz , Ringmaster , and The Silencer , to name a few...
as Chuck - Stephanie Cockington as Mary
- Ally SheedyAlly SheedyAlexandra Elizabeth "Ally" Sheedy is an American film and stage actress, as well as the author of two books. She is best known for her roles in the Brat Pack films The Breakfast Club and St. Elmo's Fire.-Early life:...
as First Girl - Andrea Pope as Michelle
- Richard Milholland as Dr. Norman
- Jonathan Estrin as Dr. Shuster
- Lang Yun as Nurse Prine
- Pat CorleyPat CorleyPat Corley was an American actor. He was known for his role as bar owner Phil on the CBS sitcom Murphy Brown from 1988–1996. He also had a recurring role as Chief Coroner Wally Nydorf on the television drama Hill Street Blues...
as Store Manager - Enid KentEnid KentEnid Kent is a former American television actress.She was born to William Kent, a refugee from Hitler's Germany and Irene Tedrow, an actress of radio, stage, film and television, originally from Denver, Colorado.A Hollywood High School graduate , Enid Kent explored the world of theater from an...
as First Nurse - Gwen Van Dam as Nurse
- Ruth Silveira as Second Nurse
- Marilyn Coleman as Emergency Nurse
- Paul Laurence as Respiratory Therapist
- Helen HuntHelen HuntHelen Elizabeth Hunt is an American actress, film director, and screenwriter. She starred in the sitcom Mad About You for seven years, before being cast in the romantic comedy As Good as It Gets...
as a friend of Casey - Jessica LangeJessica LangeJessica Phyllis Lange is an American actress who has worked in film, theatre and television. The recipient of several awards, including two Academy Awards, four Golden Globes and one Emmy, Lange is regarded as one of the première female actors of her generation.Lange was discovered by producer...
Production
Producer Aaron SpellingAaron Spelling
Aaron Spelling was an American film and television producer. As of 2009, Spelling's eponymous production company Spelling Television holds the record as the most prolific television writer, with 218 producer and executive producer credits...
came to the idea of making a movie about the book. Jennifer Jason Leigh replaced Jodie Foster
Jodie Foster
Alicia Christian "Jodie" Foster is an American actress, film director, producer as well as a former child actress....
, who was at one point assigned to play the lead. Leigh weighed 98 pounds at the time, but dieted down to 86 pounds to play the role.
Reception
The film's reception was generally positive; in particular, Leigh was praised for her portrayal of a teenager. The film gained attention again in 1983, when singer/drummer Karen CarpenterKaren Carpenter
Karen Anne Carpenter was an American singer and drummer. She and her brother, Richard, formed the 1970s duo The Carpenters. She was a drummer of exceptional skill, but she is best remembered for her vocal performances of idealistic romantic ballads of true love...
died of complications from anorexia nervosa. Although the film was later released on VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
, the movie is now quite rare.
The movie however received criticism for its portrayal of treatment for anorexia victims, which was thought to be unrealistic. Another criticism was that its plot differed too much from the novel.