The Little Minister (1934) Review: Is this the weirdest Hepburn movie?

Is this worth watching today? Honestly, only if you have a massive crush on Katharine Hepburn or if you really miss the days when Hollywood thought Scotland was just a collection of fog machines and plaid. If you hate slow, stagey movies where people talk about 'sin' for two hours, you should probably skip this one. 🎬

I sat down to watch this because I’m trying to see everything Hepburn did in the 30s. Some of it is gold, and some of it, like The Little Minister, is just... strange.

The story is about Gavin Dishart, who is the new minister in Thrums. He’s played by John Beal, who looks like he’s about twelve years old and spends most of the movie looking like he’s about to apologize for existing. He’s very serious and wants everyone to be holy, but then he meets Babbie in the woods.

Babbie is supposed to be a 'gypsy' girl. She’s actually a lady in disguise, which is a classic trope, but Hepburn plays her with so much energy it’s almost vibrating. She’s hopping over logs and laughing at nothing. It's a bit much at first.

The the sets are actually quite pretty in that fake, studio way. You can tell none of this was filmed within a thousand miles of an actual Highland. It looks like a Christmas card that’s been left out in the rain. 🌫️

One thing that really stuck out to me was the accents. Oh man, the accents. They are all over the place. Some people sound like they’re from London, others sound like they’re doing a Groundskeeper Willie impression. It’s hard to take the drama seriously when everyone sounds like they're gargling pebbles.

There is this one scene where Babbie leads a riot to help some weavers. The 'riot' consists of about six guys standing in a circle and shouting. It’s not exactly the intense action you see in something like Strike. It’s very polite, as far as riots go.

I kept waiting for the movie to get to the point. The middle section drags because Gavin is just so confused all the time. He loves her, but he’s a minister! She’s a 'gypsy'! The horror!

There’s a lot of focus on Gavin’s mother, played by Beryl Mercer. She’s very sweet but the relationship is a bit clingy. It feels like Gavin can’t make a single decision without worrying if his mom will be sad. It’s a very 1840s problem, I guess. 👵

I noticed Lumsden Hare is in this. I just saw him in Island of Lost Souls recently and he’s much more respectable here. It’s always fun seeing the same character actors pop up in these old RKO and Paramount flicks. It’s like seeing old friends, even if they’re playing grumpy Scottish elders.

Katharine Hepburn’s costumes are the real star. She wears this one hat that looks like a flattened bird, and somehow she makes it look stylish. She has this way of looking at the camera that makes you forget the plot is paper-thin. 👗

The romance doesn't always click for me. Beal is so stiff and Hepburn is so wild that they feel like they belong in two different movies. He’s in a serious drama about faith, and she’s in a romantic comedy about a girl who likes trees.

There is a moment near the end where things get weirdly dark with a flood. The special effects for the water are actually not bad for 1934. It’s the only time the movie feels like it has real stakes. But then it goes right back to being a sweet, tidy romance.

If you've seen So's Your Old Man, you know how these 20s and 30s movies can sometimes have a very specific, quirky rhythm. This movie tries for that but stays a bit too stuffy. It wants to be important because it’s based on a J.M. Barrie play, but it works better when it’s just being silly.

I found myself checking the time around the hour mark. The village politics are just not that interesting. There’s a lot of talk about 'the Auld Lichts' and religious factions that I didn't really care to follow. I just wanted more scenes of Babbie making fun of the minister’s big hat.

One reaction shot of a village elder lingers so long it becomes funny. He just stares. For like, ten seconds. I think they forgot to cut the film. 🤨

Is it a great film? No. It’s a bit of a relic. But it’s a fascinating look at how Hepburn was being marketed back then. They didn't quite know what to do with her yet, so they put her in a wig and told her to be 'mysterious.'

The ending is very abrupt. Everything just kind of... works out? The village suddenly decides they like Babbie, and the minister gets to keep his job. It’s very convenient.

I’d say watch it if you’re doing a deep dive into 1930s cinema. Otherwise, you might find it a bit too dusty. It’s the kind of movie you put on a Sunday afternoon when you’re half-napping anyway. It’s cozy, if nothing else.

Also, the dog in this movie is very cute. I don't remember its name, but it had a very expressive face. Better actor than some of the villagers, honestly. 🐶

Anyway, it’s not as good as her later stuff. But The Little Minister has its charms. Just don't expect a masterpiece. It’s just a nice, slightly boring story about a guy who needs to loosen up his collar.