A Man Greatly Beloved story
Precocious little girl Hildegard Fell attaches herself to the grumpy, reclusive newcomer in town, John Anderson. Hildegard's friend Clarence uncovers John Anderson's identity as a retired judge who had put many criminals away. Thanks to Hildegard's friendship, John opens up to the townspeople and is loved by all due to his kindness and generosity. After Anderson's death, Clarence discovers that "John Anderson" was a fake name, and that the man he knew was one of the murderers that the real John Anderson had sentenced to prison. Directed by: James Neilson. Story by: A. A. Milne, Sarett Rudley.
15 total · 2 major · 13 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| child power | major | Hildegard was a genius kid who exhorted favors from adults by using her wit and blackmail. |
| young character vs. old character | major | Hildegard, a girl much older than her age, was compared and contrasted variously with judge Anderson (whom she beat at chess), her own parents (whom she manipulated), and Mrs. Whiteford (whom she coached and played matchmaker to). |
| blackmail | minor | The judge referred implausibly to Hildegard's "blackmailing" as being against the law, even though she did not seek to gain materially from it. |
| Christianity | minor | There was a church fair, and Reverend Fell quoted from the Book of Daniel while planning a sermon. |
| father and daughter | minor | Richard and Hildegard. |
| friendship | minor | The reclusive and irritable Mr. Andersen reluctantly accepted young Hildergard as a friend. |
| husband and wife | minor | Richard and Mrs. Fell. |
| keeping secrets | minor | Hildegard was sworn to secrecy about Mr. Andersen but promptly broke that promise. |
| legal occupation | minor | It was mentioned that a retired judged had sentenced a man to hang. |
| mother and daughter | minor | Mrs. Fell and Hildegard. |