The Little Foxes (1941) is a masterclass in dramatic storytelling, directed by William Wyler and adapted from Lillian Hellman’s play of the same name. Starring Bette Davis in one of her most chilling performances, this Southern Gothic drama is a deep dive into greed, manipulation, and family betrayal set in the early 20th-century American South.
Detailed Summary
The Setting and the Greedy Hubbards
The film takes place in Alabama in 1900, focusing on the wealthy yet morally corrupt Hubbard family. The three siblings — Regina Giddens (Bette Davis), Ben Hubbard (Charles Dingle), and Oscar Hubbard (Carl Benton Reid) — are all driven by ambition and a desire to climb even higher socially and financially.
The Hubbards plan to partner with a Chicago businessman to build a cotton mill in their town. However, the deal requires a large investment — money Regina doesn’t have direct access to because it belongs to her ailing husband, Horace Giddens (Herbert Marshall).
The Power Struggle
Regina’s brothers expect her to use her husband’s fortune to invest, but when Horace refuses, the tension explodes. Horace, who has been away due to health issues, returns home and quickly realizes the extent of the family’s scheming. He’s disgusted by their greed and refuses to take part, declaring that he won’t let their corruption infect his daughter Alexandra (Teresa Wright).
Meanwhile, Oscar’s son Leo (Dan Duryea), who works at Horace’s bank, steals Horace’s bonds to fund the mill investment. This theft triggers a chain reaction that exposes everyone’s true nature.
Regina’s Ruthless Ambition
When Horace discovers the theft, he tells Regina that he plans to change his will to ensure she gains nothing from his estate. But Regina, in one of the film’s most iconic moments, lets him die of a heart attack — literally watching him collapse and calling for help only after it’s too late. This act is the ultimate expression of her cold, calculating ambition.
The Aftermath and Alexandra’s Realization
After Horace’s death, Regina blackmails her brothers into giving her a larger share of the mill’s profits, using Leo’s theft as leverage. Her plan seems to have worked perfectly — until her daughter, Alexandra, learns the truth about what her mother did. In the movie’s emotional final moments, Alexandra confronts Regina and decides to leave her, saying she’ll never become like her mother.
Regina ends up rich but utterly alone, a haunting reflection of the film’s central theme: greed destroys everything it touches.
Movie Ending
The ending of The Little Foxes is one of the coldest and most memorable in classic cinema. After Regina’s husband dies, she manipulates her brothers into surrendering their shares of the business deal. She gets everything she ever wanted — wealth, independence, power — but loses the only person who genuinely cared for her, her daughter Alexandra.
As the film closes, Regina sits in her grand but empty home, staring out into the darkness. The sound of her daughter’s departing carriage echoes through the house, leaving her trapped in silence. It’s a cinematic masterstroke: a woman who schemed her way to the top, only to end up isolated in her own victory.
There’s no redemption, no comforting music — just the chilling image of a woman who traded love for control.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No. The Little Foxes is a 1941 classic, long before post-credits scenes became a thing. The film ends on Regina’s haunting image — a perfect and complete conclusion that doesn’t need anything extra.
Type of Movie
This is a Southern Gothic drama with elements of psychological realism and family tragedy. It’s driven by character conflict, greed, and the corrosive effects of ambition.
Cast
- Bette Davis as Regina Giddens
- Herbert Marshall as Horace Giddens
- Teresa Wright as Alexandra Giddens
- Charles Dingle as Ben Hubbard
- Carl Benton Reid as Oscar Hubbard
- Dan Duryea as Leo Hubbard
- Patricia Collinge as Birdie Hubbard
Film Music and Composer
The music was actually arranged by Alfred Newman, whose lush orchestration gives the film its emotional depth, alternating between genteel Southern grace and dark tension.
Filming Locations
Filming took place mainly at Samuel Goldwyn Studios in Hollywood, California. The Southern mansion setting was built entirely on a soundstage — a stunning recreation of an early 1900s Southern aristocratic home. The grand staircase and the parlor became symbols of power and repression, central to many of the film’s most intense scenes.
Awards and Nominations
- 9 Academy Award nominations, including:
- Best Picture
- Best Director (William Wyler)
- Best Actress (Bette Davis)
- Best Supporting Actress (Teresa Wright, Patricia Collinge)
- Best Editing
- Best Music
Although it didn’t win in the major categories, its performances and production design were widely praised.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Bette Davis replaced Tallulah Bankhead, who originated the role on Broadway. Davis made the character colder and more menacing than Bankhead’s interpretation.
- Davis and director William Wyler clashed heavily during production — Wyler wanted subtlety, Davis wanted theatrical power. Their creative tension arguably made the film stronger.
- Wyler used deep-focus cinematography (inspired by Citizen Kane) to emphasize power dynamics within the Hubbard family.
- The staircase scene was shot over several days to capture the exact emotional detachment Wyler wanted from Davis.
Inspirations and References
The movie is based directly on Lillian Hellman’s 1939 play The Little Foxes, which itself takes its title from a biblical verse: “Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines.” The “foxes” symbolize greed and corruption, the very qualities destroying the Hubbard family.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
While no alternate ending exists, early drafts of the script included more dialogue between Regina and Alexandra after Horace’s death. Wyler chose to cut these to preserve the chilling silence of the ending.
Book Adaptations and Differences
There’s no separate book version — the movie stays close to Hellman’s play. However, the film adds visual storytelling that the play couldn’t show: Wyler’s use of space, silence, and close-ups adds emotional layers beyond dialogue.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- Horace’s heart attack — Regina watches without helping.
- Birdie’s heartbreaking confession about her miserable marriage.
- Alexandra confronting her mother in the film’s final act.
- Regina descending the staircase alone, framed in shadow.
Iconic Quotes
- Regina: “I hope you die. I hope you die soon. I’ll be waiting for you to die.”
- Birdie: “There are people who eat the earth and eat all the people on it. Then there are people who stand around and watch them eat.”
- Regina: “I’m not cold, I’m just not sentimental.”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- Regina’s costume color palette changes as she grows more ruthless — from soft creams to dark blacks and purples.
- The film subtly mirrors King Lear, with familial betrayal and moral decay.
- The large staircase becomes a visual metaphor for Regina’s social climb — and her descent into moral emptiness.
Trivia
- The role of Birdie was played by Patricia Collinge, who also originated it on Broadway.
- Bette Davis modeled Regina’s posture and hand gestures on portraits of Queen Elizabeth I.
- Wyler and Davis worked together previously on Jezebel (1938), which earned Davis her second Oscar.
Why Watch?
If you love powerful performances, razor-sharp dialogue, and elegant visual storytelling, The Little Foxes is a must-watch. It’s a beautifully dark tale about ambition, greed, and the human cost of success — with Bette Davis at her most electrifyingly cruel.
Director’s Other Movies
- Wuthering Heights (1939)
- The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
- Roman Holiday (1953)
- Ben-Hur (1959)
Recommended Films for Fans
- A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
- All About Eve (1950)
- Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958)
- The Heiress (1949)
- Suddenly, Last Summer (1959)
