‘A Little Princess’

Thank you for giving front-page coverage to the problem of small-budget, quality, uplifting films drawing in an audience (“Little Lost Princess” by Peter Reiner, Calendar, June 1).

The problem, as you said, is lack of advertising support. I am a constant TV-watcher, and I saw exactly two commercials for “A Little Princess.” Compare that to the advertising blitzkrieg for “Casper,” “Braveheart” and “Die Hard With a Vengeance.”

Of course, these small-budget films cannot afford major advertising campaigns. Which is why I personally feel the TV networks should give these filmmakers a break on the cost of a prime-time ad. It’s just good business: The network gets associated with promoting family films; and more small-budget film companies will devote their limited advertising dollars to network television.

MELODY SUPPES

Rancho Palos Verdes

I just got back from seeing “A Little Princess,” and I absolutely agree with your recent commentary. It’s a terrific film that holds its own against all the best-loved children’s classics.

Bravo to the team at Warner Bros. who created it, and bravo to The Times for running the commentary. Other than the poster, your article was the first I’d heard of “A Little Princess”--and it took the full weight of the commentary to balance out the awfulness of that one-sheet. The poster makes the film look cloying and saccharine and must shoulder at least some of the blame for the lack of audience response.

MICHAEL MAYHEW

Van Nuys

To understand why America is opting for “Casper” over “A Little Princess,” one would consider the advertising budgets of these two films.

Universal has undoubtedly far outspent Warner Bros. to place its product in the marketplace. Peter Rainer, ask not why the public isn’t packing the house; rather, why Warner Bros. doesn’t put any advertising muscle behind this gem of a “girl’s film.”

ANDREA GLEYSTEEN

North Hollywood

I took my two grandchildren to see “A Little Princess” recently and found it to be one of the most enchanting, captivating movies I have ever seen in my lifetime.

If we parents, grandparents and other adults do not embrace such outstanding films, we have no one to blame but ourselves for the death of high-quality films suitable for children and adults who are young at heart. I am recommending it to all of my friends.

CHARLOTTE P. ABRAMS

Anaheim