MovieChat Forums > Little Women (1933) Discussion > Professor Bhaer

Professor Bhaer

posted 14 years ago by practicepiano
5 replies | jump to latest

I always have an eye out for good teaching, in life and in films, and have always liked the way the professor is introduced, as well as his later encouraging Jo to write more realistic characters.

When Jo first meets the professor, there is the obvious, broad depiction of his making learning enjoyable for the kids -- the bear rug bit.

But, I like what happens after they are introduced, when he gets the kids to help put away the linens.

Those few seconds show his warm personality and instincts as a teacher -- he prevents the maid from dumping the whole stack on the oldest child, divvies up the work between the children and himself, jokingly gives them military ranks (a nice way to make sure the boy doesn't balk at doing domestic work), and marches them off singing "Marching Through Georgia."

I just noticed that, as they march off-screen, he parodies the lyrics by singing

"while we are marching to the linen closet!"

I never noticed that before.

[–] Dr. Cumin 14 years ago

"while we are marching to the linen closet!"

lol! I don't think I understood what he was saying until I had seen this movie a few times. I just love this performance. Lukas had great range as an actor and he's utterly charming here. I never can understand people who find him "too old" for the part. He's actually the age he's supposed to be.
As a pianist the only flaw I find is the abysmal faking he does while playing the Tchaikovsky--snicker.

[–] practicepiano 14 years ago

>>As a pianist the only flaw I find is the abysmal faking he does while playing the Tchaikovsky--snicker<<

I close my eyes. :-)

My sense of the Professor is that he is an older male counterpart to Jo -- perhaps a history of being socially clumsy, with enormous, almost childlike enthusiasm for art and learning, warm-hearted, and hungry for friendship and companionship.

One thing he has that nobody in her past could match is his literary sense -- he has the skill and the nerve to criticize her unrealistic characters and encourage her to write more personally.

I think that Lukas conveys that all very nicely in his fairly small amount of screen time.

[–] Dr. Cumin 14 years ago

The small amount of screen time is really a shame here. But he really makes the most of it. And the embrace at the end instead of a kiss. Hmmm.

The scene where Bhaer criticizes her writing is really very fine. You see how he's in love with her but still must be honest about her writing. We don't get a sense of Jo's feelings until she's ironing on the porch after she's returned home. The Westinghouse TV production from the 1950s actually does a good job of growing the romance---although the rest of that production is rather weak.

[–] Forlorn_Rage 10 years ago

I loved Professor Bhaer and his relationship with Jo in this movie! They had a lovely wholesome and innocent relationship, yet he opened up her world and they both help each other grow in the movie- the way a great courtship should be.

Everytime I see it, it makes me fall in love with the movie all over again and hope to find love as great as this.

[–] Deidra 8 years ago

Since Louisa May Alcott's father was involved in progressive education in New England and Louisa herself had some progressive teachers, she felt strongly about educational values and techniques and incorporated that into her books. The character of Professor Bhaer, in addition to allowing Alcott to delve into her ideas of love, romance and marriage, also allowed her to discuss educational concepts that she felt were important. This is a lovely family film or holiday film.