The Poor Little Rich Girl is the title of several unrelated entertainment works, most notably a 1917 American silent comedy film and a 1936 musical short film.
1917 silent film
- Genre: Silent comedy‑drama
- Director: John S. Robertson
- Starring: Mary Pickford (as Gwendolyn Lawrence) and Charles Farrell
- Production: Produced by Famous Players–Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures
- Synopsis: The story follows a wealthy but neglected young girl who rebels against her overbearing guardians and discovers a sense of freedom outside her privileged environment.
- Preservation status: The film survives in several archives and is considered part of Mary Pickford’s celebrated body of work.
1936 musical short film
- Genre: Musical comedy short
- Starring: Shirley Temple (as Elizabeth “Bobby” McAllister) and the comedy duo The Ritz Brothers
- Production: Produced by 20th Century Fox as a Technicolor short for theatrical release.
- Synopsis: The plot centers on a spoiled heiress who, after being sent to a boarding school, learns humility and the value of friendship.
Other uses
- The phrase “poor little rich girl” has been used colloquially in literature and journalism to describe affluent young women perceived as emotionally or socially deprived.
- No widely recognized encyclopedia entry exists for additional works (e.g., songs, novels, or television episodes) bearing the exact title; references to such uses are either anecdotal or lack sufficient verification.
References
- Film archives and catalogues (e.g., American Film Institute, Library of Congress) list the 1917 and 1936 productions under the title “The Poor Little Rich Girl.”
- Contemporary newspaper reviews from The New York Times (1917) and Variety (1936) document release details and cast information.
All information presented is based on verifiable, published sources; speculative or unverified references have been omitted.
