MovieChat Forums > The Little Princess (1939) Discussion > Did it ever bother anyone else...?(spoil...

Did it ever bother anyone else...?(spoiler)

posted 9 years ago by sorrowfulkitten
1 reply | jump to latest

...that Ram Dass, although when he first saw Sara and Becky running away thought they were playing a game...but then he sees actual police and that hooked nose harpy chasing them, he says and does nothing, just backs off, looking terrified. It's always bothered me since I was a little girl.
Now, before anybody says it, yes I realize he is a servant, and probably doesn't have the ability to do that, but least he could've done was gotten his cranky old master (who we found out wasn't so cranky after all when he gifted the girls with the items) and told him what was happening, and helped the girls.
And yes, I realize had he done this, she never would've made it to the hospital to find her father, and he would've been out on an ambulance and gone forever.
I guess I wish they would have handled the scene a bit different, it would've made me feel a bit better if he hadn't just stood there and watched them get chased away, without knowing why (and of course knowing why he could've cleared it up immediately).
So simple question, did it ever bother anyone else?

[–] moogie (205) 7 years ago

Totally understand where you are coming from and Yes I would've liked to have seen Ram Dass step in right then. For me, though it would have been the right thing to do under the circumstances it doesn't bother me that he did not and I just move on with the story. I grew up with Shirley Temple and have seen this movie lots and lots of times, so I've just accepted this particular scene. My opinion is Ram Dass honestly did not realize that the girls were not pretending and you can see his reaction stepping back on the steps when he finally realizes it's not just a game. Most likely he did not step in because of Shock and Position. When Ram Dass first meets Sarah she is dressed nicely and in a nice room. Then later on when he must retrieve his bird that flew across into her deplorable conditions he comes face to face with the changes that she has encountered. Though she explains she must pretend to keep things nice for herself, his face shows he realizes that Sarah has met with some unfortunate circumstances, thus he and his master give her the expensive comforts. So when Sarah and Becky ask if they may pass through his home, he thinks again that they are playing a pretending game. In short - I think he was caught "off guard". I know you know all this but wanted to say it anyway.