Daddy Long-Legs

Daddy Long-Legs is the name of a very popular American novel by Jean Webster (1876-1916), as well as several stage and film adaptations.

Also written Daddy Longlegs, or Daddy Long Legs by some South African sources.

The original text

The epistolary novel for young adults was first published by Grosset and Dunlap in New York in 1912, with illustrations by the author and scenes from the play. It had a sequel called Dear Enemy.

Stage adaptations

was adapted by the author herself

Film versions

The book was filmed several times, beginning in 1919 (starring Mary Pickford), 1931 (starring Janet Gaynor and Warner Baxter), 1935 (a Shirley Temple adaptation called Curly Top) and a 1955 film, Daddy Long Legs (starring Fred Astaire and Leslie Caron).

Translations

The play was translated into Dutch and Afrikaans as Vadertjie Langbeen

1918: The American Dramatic Company brought it to His Majesty's Theatre in Johannesburg, South Africa, opening on 21 February 1918. The cast consisted of Eileen Errol (Judy Abbott), Charles H. White (Jervis Pendleton), Ray Brown (Cyrus Wycoff), Albert Lawrence (Jimmie McBride), George R. Montford (John Codman), Richard Scott (Griggs), Edward Donnelly (Walters), Caroline Locke (Miss Pritchard), Florence Roberts (Mrs. Lippett), Naomi Rutherford (Sally McBride), Hilda Attenboro (Julie Pendleton), Martha Rowson (Sadie Kate), Jacky Turnbull (Freddie Perkins). It was directed by George R. Montford, with scenery designed by Frank Tyars.

An Afrikaans translation entitled Vadertjie Langbeen was staged by James Norval in 1934 and a film version directed by Pierre de Wet for Afrikaanse Rolpentproduksies came out in 1955.

198*: Produced by ** with Diane Todd, Bob Courtney, Jill Girard.

Source

Stage & Cinema, 16 February 1918

Return to

Return to D in Plays 1 Original SA Plays

Return to D in Plays 2 Foreign Plays

Return to South_African_Theatre/Plays

Return to Main Page