AllMovie

Eleanor H. Porter's novel about a cheerful girl who brightens the lives of those around her is brought to the screen once again in this made-for-television melodrama. Pollyanna Whittier (Georgina Terry) is an eleven-year-old girl who, after the unexpected death of her parents, is taken in by her Aunt Polly (Amanda Burton). Aunt Polly and her friend are not an especially happy lot, but despite the recent tragedy in her life, Pollyanna is the sort of person who invariably looks at the sunny side of life. Pollyanna invents what she calls "the Glad Game," in which she challenges those around her to see the positive side of every situation, and her upbeat outlook proves infectious. Produced for British television, this adaptation of Pollyanna received its American premier on the award-winning anthology series Masterpiece Theater.