LITTLE WOMEN 

So, after six movies and a Broadway musical, do we really need another version of Little Women? Actually, yes!
Greta Gerwig’s 2019 version is, well, perfect! Who doesn’t love Amy, Beth, Meg and especially Jo? Gerwig’s idea is to meld fledgling writer Jo March with real life Louisa May Alcott. And it works to a charming tee! Saorise Ronan is an inspired choice for this role, and she knocks it out of the park. The film opens with Jo visiting a surly publisher who tells her if she makes a woman the main character, the woman should end up either married or dead. But Jo perseveres, thank goodness. The mother of the girls, Marmee, is wonderfully played by veteran Laura Dern. And speaking of veterans, Meryl Streep is on board as the curmudgeonly Aunt March who is wealthy and doesn’t care who knows it. 
Aunt March takes Amy to Europe for a Grand Tour instead of Jo, whom she deems too forward and pushy. Well, she is both, of course. Jo is dearly loved by neighbor Laurie (Timothee Chalomet) who declares he will always love only her no matter what. Jo likes him okay but just isn’t in love with him, and isn’t interested in marriage anyway. Laurie somehow shows up in Europe, courts and marries Amy, and they surprise just about everyone on their return to Massachusetts. Amy is well played by Florence Pugh. Beth (Eliza Scanlen) charms their neighbor Mr. Laurence, (Chris Cooper, another veteran) by her playing on his piano. She reminds him of his deceased daughter. 
Meg develops scarlet fever and her demise is feared. After a lingering illness, Meg (Emma Watson of Harry Potter fame) indeed dies. All this time, the March girls’ father is away serving in the Union army during the Civil War. Toward the end he makes a triumphal return to the homeplace. 
I have left out great chunks of the story, which most of you know anyway. Suffice it to say the at the end the publisher talks Jo into having her main character get married, so Jo marries Professor Baher and they open a school. Her manuscript is published, with the title Little Women.
Mr. Movie hasn’t actually seen all of the prior efforts at Little Women. Before Ms.Gerwig’s version, my favorite was the 1949 with a who’s who of great actors. June Allyson is Jo, Peter Lawford is Laurie, Elizabeth Taylor is Amy, Janet Leigh is the doomed Meg, Margaret O’Brien is Beth and Mary Astor is Marmee. Good Lord, what a cast! And it is really good, maybe only a half step behind the 2019. 
The 1933 version is certainly worth a look, if for no other reason to see Katherine Hepburn’s take on Jo March. The 1994 version is quite good, with Susan Sarandon as Marmee.
I didn’t care for the 2018 version, which is hopped up as a modern story.
And I have seen, and liked, the musical version and have the CD. It made it to Broadway, but only ran January-May in 2005. I guess this UNC alum should admit I saw the musical version at Duke University.
All of the films in this article are available in DVD except the newest one. All are fine for everyone.