MovieChat Forums > A Little Princess (1987) Discussion > The Cook

The Cook

posted 14 years ago by DarcyBrandon
10 replies | jump to latest

I never understood why Cook was so mean to Becky and Sarah. She actually seemed to enjoy making life even worse for Sarah.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] DarcyBrandon 14 years ago

Oh I have the most unreasonable hatred toward the Cook. I mean, I really disliked her. The '95 version did have nicer adults and while the Cook in this version made me so angry, I think I like this version better. LOL Go figure.

[–] booksandcoffee 14 years ago

The Cook was awful, even worse than Miss Minchin because she had no reason behind being so hard-nosed to Sara and Becky. She had a devoted beau in the policeman and, while not wealthy, she appeared to be making enough of a wage to live industriously. She was simply the kind of character who took pleasure in the pain of others. Henriette's morale wasn't much better.

[–] DarcyBrandon 14 years ago

I think she just liked someone to lord over, her and Henrietta. And the only people lower than them were Becky and Sara

[–] tishtash03 13 years ago

I think she is mean because in the book it says 'The cook and the housemaids took their tone from Miss Minchin, and rather enjoyed ordering about the "young one" who had been made so much fuss over for so long. They were not servants of the best class, and had neither good manners nor good tempers, and it was frequently convenient to have at hand someone on whom blame could be laid'(from the chapter 'In the attic') however this is not very clear from watching the film

[–] alien777 11 years ago

Yes. And as for the film character I think she was just a bully - this species is still not listed in the Red Book, nor was it then.
The film also underscores Cook's habitual drinking - which might be a contributing factor to her meanness towards Sara.
Granted, some people become kinder and jovial when drunk, but aren't there plenty of those who are made extremely mean by excessive drinking.

[–] PrincessBoy 11 years ago

I hated the Cook - and as Annette Badland was such a nice person in real life, her adaptation of the horrible Cook persona in this version of the story is surely testament to her acting abilities! But I agree, she was vile!

Perfection is boring - flaunt the imperfection!

[–] velcronewsletter 9 years ago

when you are in a lowly position and someone new gets pushed down below even you, many people would take their chance to feel better about it and take it out on the new person

[–] rndgurl-971-654277 8 years ago

While I was watching this I so longed for Sara or Becky to get revenge on the Cook.. the Cook was so hateful.. and revenge on Miss Minchin as well..

[–] DarcyBrandon 8 years ago

I totally hated Cook more than Miss Minchin.