The Best Little Girl in the World (1981): Cast & Plot
The Best Little Girl in the World is a 1981 drama directed by Sam O’Steen, starring Charles Durning as Frank Powell, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Lisa Pelikan. It runs 1 hour 40 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 40m (100 min)
- Director
- Sam O’Steen
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Aaron Spelling Productions
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Best Little Girl in the World About?
The premise of The Best Little Girl in the World without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A stark drama about teenage anorexia nervosa, following Casey Powell as she hides a dangerous eating disorder. Struggling to cope with family stress and intense social pressure, she resorts to self‑starvation and vomiting. The film portrays the illness’s mental and physical toll, offering a sobering look that could help families recognize the warning signs.
The Best Little Girl in the World Themes & Keywords
· 19 tags- anorexia
- dysfunctional family
- pregnant sister
- teenager
- teen angst
- starvation
- reflection
- peer pressure
- mother daughter relationship
- mental illness
- father daughter relationship
- doctor patient relationship
+7 more Show fewer
- disease
- compassion
- bulimia
- shoplifting
- eating disorder
- based on novel
- domineering mother
The Best Little Girl in the World Cast & Characters
Charles Durning leads the cast as Frank Powell, with Jennifer Jason Leigh as Casey Powell and Lisa Pelikan as Gail Powell. Directed by Sam O’Steen; 25 actors are credited in all.
- Director Sam O’Steen
-
Charles Durning as Frank Powell -
Jennifer Jason Leigh as Casey Powell - Lisa Pelikan as Gail Powell
-
Eva Marie Saint as Joanne Powell
Also Starring in The Best Little Girl in the World
· 21 more- Viveca Lindfors Madame Seurat
- Melanie Mayron Carol Link
- Jason Miller Clay Orlovsky
- Ally Sheedy 1st Girl
- Michael Dudikoff Chuck
- Pat Corley Store Manager
- Gwen Van Dam O.R. Nurse
- David Spielberg Dr. Garrett
- Richard Venture Dr. Neil Holzer
- Marilyn Coleman Emergency Room Nurse
- Lenora May Julie
- Enid Kent 1st Nurse
- Ruth Silveira 2nd Nurse
- Jonathan Estrin Dr. Shuster
- Laurence Lau Mark
- Elisha Rapson Witch
Show all 25 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Richard Milholland Dr. Norman
- Lang Yun Nurse Prine
- Stephanie Cannon Mary
- Andrea Pope Michelle, the Cheerleader
- Paul Laurence Respiratory Therapist
More from Sam O’Steen
More films directed by Sam O’Steen: Look What’s Happened to Rosemary’s Baby, Sparkle, Queen of the Stardust Ballroom and A Brand New Life.
The Best Little Girl in the World Plot Summary
What happens in The Best Little Girl in the World from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Casey Powell, Jennifer Jason Leigh is a seventeen-year-old who moves through life with a quiet resolve: she does well in school, she dreams of becoming a professional ballet dancer, and she longs to be seen for who she truly is. Her world is quietly upended by the attention her 19-year-old sister Gail Powell, Lisa Pelikan receives after discovering she’s pregnant and has no plans to marry. Casey’s parents, Frank and Joanne Powell, shower Gail with focus and opinion, leaving Casey to feel overlooked and left to manage her own growing pains on the sidelines. The family dynamic tightens around Casey’s needs as she contends with a troubling sense of invisibility and a pressure to conform to expectations that don’t fit her.
Full summary
The whole story of The Best Little Girl in the World, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know The Best Little Girl in the World?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which actress portrays the 17‑year‑old protagonist Casey Powell?
Seen The Best Little Girl in the World?
Movies Like The Best Little Girl in the World
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including My Little Girl, Catherine and Sharing the Secret.
The Best Little Girl in the World FAQ: Cast & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Best Little Girl in the World, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Best Little Girl in the World?
The Best Little Girl in the World runs 1 hour 40 minutes (100 minutes).
When was The Best Little Girl in the World released?
The Best Little Girl in the World was released on May 11, 1981.
Who directed The Best Little Girl in the World?
The Best Little Girl in the World was directed by Sam O’Steen.
More films by Sam O’Steen Who is in the cast of The Best Little Girl in the World?
The Best Little Girl in the World stars Charles Durning as Frank Powell, Jennifer Jason Leigh as Casey Powell and Lisa Pelikan as Gail Powell, among 25 credited actors.
Does The Best Little Girl in the World have a post-credit scene?
No. The Best Little Girl in the World has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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