AnnaSophia Robb
Samantha Parkington
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Samantha: An American Girl Holiday: Directed by Nadia Tass. With AnnaSophia Robb, Jordan Bridges, Rebecca Mader, Kelsey Lewis. Set in 1904, "American Girls" revolves around Samantha as she moves in with her grandmother and learns how to become a proper Victorian young lady.
- (2.2K)
- Drama, Family
- Nadia Tass
A 2004 TV film based on the American Girl books by Susan S. Adler and Valerie Tripp. It follows Samantha Parkington, a wealthy orphan who befriends three poor girls in New York and faces a family crisis.
Samantha: An American Girl Holiday is a 2004 television film, based on the American Girl children's books written by Susan S. Adler and Valerie Tripp. The film follows young, wealthy Samantha ...
- 86 min
- 41.4K
- Old Memories
Samantha: American Girl Holiday. A girl moves in with her grandmother. 1,575. IMDb 7.0 1 h 26 min 2004 X-Ray G. Drama • Comedy • Nostalgic • Sweet. Rent. HD $3.79. Buy. HD $10.49.
- Overview
- Cast
- Crew
- Movie Plot
- Book Plots Included in the Film
- Book and Movie Differences
- Characterization Differences
- Historical Errors and Inaccuracies
- Television Release
- DVD/VHS Release
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Samantha: An American Girl Holiday is an American Girl Movie based on the character Samantha Parkington and her stories.
•AnnaSophia Robb as Samantha Parkington
•Kelsey Lewis as Nellie O'Malley
•Mia Farrow as Mary Edwards
•Jordan Bridges as Gardner Edwards
•Rebecca Mader as Cornelia Edwards
•Olivia Ballantyne as Jenny O'Malley
•Nadia Tass: Director
•Anna Sandor, Valerie Tripp, Marsha Norman: Script Writers
Act One
The movie begins in April 1904 at Grandmary and Samantha's Mount Bedford home. Samantha is running away from Eddie Ryland and quickly climbs a tree to get away. Eddie locates her up the tree and says that she's so dumb she probably thinks three times four is twelve. Samantha says that three times four is twelve and that if he doesn't leave her alone she'll take his money jar and dump it in the river near their home. Eddie says she's too dumb to find it. Samantha is about to retort, but loses her balance and falls out of the tree. Eddie turns to laugh at her as she gets to her feet with a torn stocking and messy clothing; she begins to chase him again. Eddie runs up to his house just as a carriage pulls up to the Ryland home with Nellie, her father, and her two sisters. Samantha asks who they are as Mr. O'Malley helps the girls out the back; Eddie says they are the new servants and the biggest of the girls is his new maid. Samantha says she's too young and that perhaps her mother is the maid. Samantha stays and watches as they unload. Bridget is impressed with the house and their father says to come along. Bridget complains of being tired; Nellie says to Jenny that she knows she's hungry but it will have to wait. The girls stop to look at the carriage as their father continues carrying their things inside; the four of them will be living in one room. As the girls are waiting, Eddie runs up, preps his slingshot, and breaks a window. Just as Samantha comes up Eddie goes to Nellie, accusing her of breaking the window by throwing a rock. Nellie denies this; Eddie says he will tell on her unless Nellie gives him a penny. Nellie says she doesn't have a penny. Samantha walks up and says that Nellie won't pay anything and that if Eddie doesn't stop causing trouble she'll tell his mother he took one of her good petticoats to make a kite's tail. Before anything else can happen, Mrs. Ryland begins to call for Eddie. Eddie runs off. Nellie thanks Samantha, calling her "miss". Samantha introduces herself and says she lives next door. Nellie introduces herself and her sisters. Samantha says not to pay attention to Eddie and Nellie says they must if they intend to keep their place. Da comes and tells the girls to come along. As they walk off Samantha follows them and asks if Nellie will be going to Mount Bedford School with her. Nellie says she's there to work. Samantha asks if she can see her tomorrow, and Nellie repeats that she'll be working long hours, especially given the size of the Ryland home. Before Samantha can ask any more questions, she is called by Mrs. Hawkins. Samantha runs up, excitedly chattering about the Ryland's new servants. She's about to head indoors when Mrs. Hawkins notices her stockings and says that her grandmother will not be pleased with them in that state. She tells Samantha to wash her hands before Samantha makes her way inside. In the hallway, Samantha does her best to fix herself up and hide the hole in her stocking before going into the parlor, where Grandmary is working on embroidery. Grandmary greets her and hopes Samantha has a good explanation for the hole in her stocking. Samantha says that she fell. Grandmary asks her if she was running and Samantha say she wasn't running when she fell. Grandmary cautions that haste makes waste and Samantha makes her way to the piano. She is about to tell Grandmary about the O'Malleys when Grandmary interrupts and says to begin her piano practice. Samantha tries to tell her again but is told to begin playing. Samantha starts playing as Jessie brings in the afternoon mail. Samantha asks if there is a letter from Uncle Gard and asks if he is coming back as he said he would and that he didn't miss his boat back. Grandmary, annoyed, tells Samantha to just finish her practice. Samantha looks out the window to see Eddie flying his kite and Nellie carrying laundry, now dressed in servant's clothing. After practice, Samantha goes out to see Nellie, who is hanging the wash to dry. Nellie greets her with "miss" and Samantha says not to call her miss; Nellie says she'll get in trouble if she doesn't. Samantha asks Nellie where she is from; Nellie says New York. Samantha says that her Uncle Gard lives there and Nellie says she and her father worked at a factory there but Da thought they would be better off in the country. Samantha starts to ask about Nellie's mother, and Nellie says she died last winter. Samantha asks if it would help to bring books for her to read and Nellie says she doesn't know how to read. Samantha offers to teach her to read. Nellie protests and Samantha says that she could bring sit-down work and that she could teach her then as it wouldn't be hard. That evening, as Samantha is working on a sampler and Grandmary on her work, Jessie brings in a package. Samantha asks Jessie how old she was when she started working as a maid. Jessie nervously does not answer her question. Grandmary then tells Samantha that she should not discuss personal matters with the servants. Samantha says they discuss things such as that in the kitchen. Grandmary says that this is not the kitchen; the secret to a happy household is that everyone should know their place. Samantha reluctantly says she understands. Grandmary asks if she is enjoying her needlepoint; Samantha says yes, and Grandmary says that she will then have no interest in the package that is addressed to her. Samantha rushes over, noting it is from Uncle Gard who is not due back for another three weeks, before opening it up to reveal a hand held stereopticon. She is instructed to put in the first slide which will show where he is—Paris, France. Samantha shows the stereopticon to Nellie the next day; Nellie is impressed. Samantha says that Uncle Gard is the best with presents and that he is going to take her to the Saint Louis World's Fair for a week in July where she will see fancy things and eat different foods. She says that Uncle Gard is the best person she knows. Nellie asks if he is better than her ma and da, and Samantha goes very quiet and walks back to the case for her stereopticon. Nellie asks if she said something wrong; Samantha suggests they start reading lessons. Nellie apologizes, and Samantha explains that both her parents died on the river in an accident. She offers to show their picture and opens her locket to show an image of her mother and father. Samantha wistfully says that her mother sang to her and she tries to remember her voice, but it slips away. She doesn't ask Grandmary because it hurts her too much to talk about her daughter's death, so Samantha keeps her parents close by wearing the locket. She then changes topics and says that she likes Nellie being there and that they will be good friends. Nellie says she's never had friends outside of her family and the two girls pledge to be friends forever before starting the reading lesson. The two girls are later shown walking by the river as Nellie practices reading, showing the passage of time and Nellie's improving literacy skills. Much later, Samantha is reading from her book while Nellie beats a rug and her sisters are winding yarn. Bridget tells Jenny to stop fidgeting, and Nellie walks over to guide them. As Nellie comes back, Samantha asks if Jenny talks and Nellie says she hasn't talked since their mother died. Nellie continues to beat the rug and Samantha, saying it looks like fun, asks if she can try. She hands her book to Nellie; she reads while Samantha beats the rug. Mr. O'Malley comes over coughing and asks if they're done with the rug, and Samantha apologizes and says that it's her fault for all the dust. Mr. O'Malley says there is no fault and asks if Nellie is done because Mrs. Ryland has an errand for her. As Nellie runs off, Mr. O'Malley thanks Samantha for her kindness towards his girls. Samantha says no thanks are needed as the girls are her friends. An automobile horn sounds and Samantha excitedly says that it's her Uncle Gard back from Europe. She makes hasty goodbyes and runs back to her house. Uncle Gard is pulling up in an automobile with a woman next to him. Samantha runs up for a hug. Gard asks if Samantha got his present; Samantha says it's lovely and Gard says he has an even bigger surprise for her. She asks what it is and he says that it won't be a surprise if she's told. Samantha asks for a ride in the car and Gard say that first he has someone he wants her to meet. As they come around the corner Samantha sees the lady that Gard helped out of the car and Gard greets her affectionately. He escorts her over and introduces her as Miss Pitt, whom Samantha met at Christmas. Cornelia requests she be called by her first name. Samantha greets her and then asks if they can go for a car ride. Gard says in a moment. Cornelia says that she heard that Sam likes to read. Samantha requests she be called by her full name. Cornelia correct herself and gives Samantha a copy of The Wizard of Oz as girls in New York City love the book. Samantha reluctantly accepts the gift. Gardner says they should head inside; Samantha protests for her car ride. Gardner say they should go inside and see Grandmary first. The three are escorted into the parlor by Mrs. Hawkins and Grandmary greets Gardner very warmly. Gardner introduces Cornelia and Grandmary tensely greets her, saying it's a pleasant surprise to see her. Cornelia returns the greeting and says that she was told that Gardner would say she was coming, but she can see he did not. Gardner says that he likes surprises. Grandmary says they will have time to catch up later and Mrs. Hawkins will show Cornelia to the guest room. Cornelia thanks her and leaves. Grandmary whispers that Gardner should warn her when guests are coming; Gardner smiles sheepishly and then hands the hatbox to Grandmary which has an elaborate hat inside. Gardner asks if Admiral Beemis has been to see Grandmary recently, and Grandmary dismisses Gard coyly. Gardner looks at Samantha and asks if they were going to do something. He pretends to not remember and Samantha excitedly drags him out of the room, with Grandmary asking where they are going. He and Samantha go on the anticipated car ride. That evening over dinner the topic of the trip comes up, with a small discussion on Impressionism and Monet. Grandmary asks how the firm has managed without him as Gard has been gone for quite some time. He says they probably haven't noticed he was even gone and that Cornelia is the one making a name for herself, organizing suffrage meetings all over the city. Cornelia says that she does not think this is the time to discuss that. Grandmary says she sees no reason women should need to vote, as women of her time managed to influence society without needing to stand on a soapbox. Cornelia says that she thinks that if women are to follow the laws in the country, they should have a say in who those leaders are and that Samantha should have as much of a say as the boy next door. There is tense silence and the meal continues. Samantha asks what the other surprise was. Gardner says that he was going to wait but decides to announce it over dinner. Samantha asks if he is moving to Mount Bedford, and he says no. He announces that Cornelia has accepted his proposal of marriage. Cornelia says they had been discussing this for a year; while in Paris he got her parents' blessings. Grandmary tensely says that she is happy for the both of them and then prompts Samantha to do the same. Gardner says that since Cornelia's family lives abroad, they are hoping to have the wedding in Mount Bedford in the conservatory in July. Samantha and Grandmary are shocked and Grandmary says that it's rather soon to marry, as it's only May. Gardner says he doesn't want to wait as he has found the woman of his dreams. Cornelia asks if Samantha will be her bridesmaid. Grandmary points out she's quite young. Cornelia says her sister and niece will be the matron of honor and flower girl but she does not have a bridesmaid and asks again. Gardner asks Samantha to say yes. After looking at Grandmary who nods, Samantha gives a very reluctant yes.
Act Two
Samantha is on the lawn the next day, alone with the stereopticon. Gardner finds her, then sits down and says that he knows she's upset with him. Samantha says she doesn't want things to change anymore. Gardner says that Samantha has had more change than most ought to have but that Cornelia will be a good friend and that he is sure that if Lydia was still alive they would be close. He says that she is smiling down on them right now and that Samantha is like her mother in many ways, both in looks and mannerisms. He takes the stereopticon and looks through it, pointing out that Samantha was looking at the Saint Louis Exposition; he then remembers that he was going to take Samantha to it and will not be able to now. He asks what he can do to make it up. Samantha blames Cornelia and Gard disagrees. Samantha says that once Gard's married, he will have his own family and forget her. Gard says that Samantha is part of his family, and will always be his little girl. They hug fondly. Samantha is practicing the piano later in the parlor. Grandmary compliments her after she is done. Samantha asks if Grandmary like Cornelia. Grandmary hesitates, then says she certainly does as Cornelia is going to be part of the family now and that as much as they would like things to remain the same, they are going to change and it should be accepted with grace. Samantha and Nellie are reading in the hedges; Nellie is reading Peter Rabbit skillfully and finishes it. Samantha remarks on how quickly Nellie learned to read. Cornelia walks over with two plates of cake and Nellie says she should get back to work; Cornelia asks her to stay a moment so as to test which cake she should have. She asks them to take a bite and decide which is better, almond vanilla or lemon. Nellie says the lemon is a little better, and Cornelia asks her to taste again. Nellie and Samantha both choose lemon, and Cornelia says that it will be lemon then. She then says that she should just give the rest to the dog. Nellie says that cake's not good for dogs, and Samantha says they don't have a dog and suggests they take the cake to Nellie's sisters. Cornelia agrees and gives them the cakes. Samantha gives Cornelia a dirty look as she leaves and Nellie says that Cornelia's not so bad. Samantha does not respond. Later Samantha is shown being measured by a seamstress who asks Grandmary what she wore at her wedding; she describes a dress of Belgian lace with pearls, crystals, and a bow above the bustle. Samantha laughs at the bustle, and Grandmary says it was the height of fashion. Samantha says to talk about the veil, and Grandmary does so in fond tones. Samantha says that her mother wore it too. The seamstress returns with lavender satin, Samantha's favorite color. That evening, Samantha comes down the stairs and hears Gardner and Grandmary talking together. Gardner, wanting to make up his not taking Samantha to the fair, says that she should come and live with them. Grandmary says it will be impossible as they will be newly married and the last thing he needs is a child on his hands. Gardner says they should share the burden and it will only be a few months. Samantha listens, upset, as they keep speaking. That night she walks out in her nightgown, teary-eyed, and throws rocks to wake up Nellie. Nellie comes out with a lantern and Samantha tearfully says that she couldn't sleep because she kept hearing Grandmary and Gardner's voices in her head talking about sending her away to New York as she's a burden. Nellie says that Samantha's shaking from the cold and Samantha asks Nellie to come with her because she doesn't want to be by herself. They go to the boathouse, where Samantha has a secret hiding place filled with several beautiful things. Samantha explains that this was where the boat was kept, and when her parents died no one came there anymore. Samantha goes there to remember them. Nellie gets under the covers with Samantha and asks what Sam does out there. Samantha says she reads mostly, but sometimes makes wishes. It depends on her mood: sometimes she wishes for her parents to come back. Nellie says her da says there's no sense in wishing for what you can't have and better to wish for what you do, but she still misses her ma. Sam says that if she goes to New York she'll miss Nellie. Nellie says she can write every day and Sam says she can write back. Nellie points out a doll and asks her name; Samantha picks her up and says she is named after her mother, Lydia. She asks Nellie to keep the doll if she goes away, as she wouldn't trust her with anyone but her best friend. They look up at the stars and Samantha says the first star is the wishing one. They both wish on the same star and fall asleep.
Act Three
The two girls are woken up by Eddie, who mocks that he found them. Sam says for him to go away and Eddie says he wants a nickel to not tell. Sam asks how much it would take to never see him again. He laughs meanly and runs out saying that he found them. Samantha and Nellie get up and head out of the boathouse. Outside Mrs. Ryland meanly lectures Nellie, calling her senseless and saying everyone was looking for her. She further says that her servants do not trespass onto others' property or sleep outside with the neighbor's children before turning to Grandmary and apologizing for Nellie's behavior. As she walks away, Samantha says it was all her fault as she woke Nellie up and asked her to spend the night with her. Mrs. Ryland says that regardless, she expects her help to behave well at all times. Grandmary says she thinks they meant no harm, and Mr. O'Malley steps in and asks forgiveness as Nellie is young and forgets her place. Nellie sobbingly apologizes to Grandmary, who says it's all right. Samantha runs over and hugs her tightly. Later, Gard comes into the boathouse and shows Grandmary Samantha's secret place with several of Lydia's things such as pictures and her journal. With this discovery, Grandmary agrees that Samantha taking a few months away would be good if Gardner and Cornelia can manage. Samantha, overhearing, runs off. Later on the lawn Grandmary says to Samantha that Gardner and Cornelia want to invite her to New York City and that it will be good for her; Grandmary will take the time to see her sister, Frances. Samantha apologizes for taking her mother's things to the boathouse and Grandmary say that she is not being punished. Samantha says she won't do it again. Grandmary explains that when people are gone sometimes all that is left is memories and she would be upset if Samantha didn't have a special place for her mother. Lydia did the same thing; she had a kitten named Mabel whom she loved and one day when Mabel didn't come home, she took Mabel's things and placed them in the boathouse the same way. She kisses Samantha on the forehead. There is a jump to Summer 1904 and the day of the wedding. Samantha comes downstairs in her bridesmaid dress and both she and Grandmary proclaim it lovely. The house is ready for the wedding, and Grandmary and Samantha go up to see Cornelia. Cornelia's sister, Beatrice, and niece, Agatha, are with Cornelia. Samantha and Grandmary say that Cornelia looks lovely. Grandmary offers Cornelia some jewelry that has been in the family for years to wear and as they discuss this, Jessie sets Cornelia's veil down. Agatha walks over, picks it up unnoticed, puts it on her head, and twirls around. The veil catches on an oil burner underneath a curling iron and alights; Agatha screams and the women all turn around. Cornelia flings water on the fire and yanks the veil off the flames, but it is ruined. Agatha sobs that she didn't mean to ruin it and Cornelia soothes her. Samantha then runs to the boathouse and take her mother's veil, which is stored in a box. She gathers it in her arms and runs back as Cornelia finishes dressing, then offers the veil to Cornelia to wear. Cornelia says she can't, but Grandmary insists and helps her put it on. The wedding and ceremony goes off with no further problems. At the reception, as Samantha is getting food and greeting people, she overhears two of Cornelia's friends, Katherine and Elizabeth, discussing the wedding and how Gardner is a "fine catch" for Cornelia. Elizabeth says that Cornelia has married well. Katherine says not so well, as she heard that his niece—-Samantha—-is coming to stay with them until Christmas; she further laments that Cornelia will be obligated to have a ready-made family only less than a month after being married. Samantha is upset at hearing this. As Gard and Cornelia leave for their honeymoon, Gardner takes Samantha and says that in a month they'll be back for her. Cornelia tosses the bouquet and Grandmary catches it before handing it off to another lady. Gardner further says that it was very generous of Samantha to lend her mother's veil to Cornelia, and Samantha says she did it for him; he says he knows. The two leave for their honeymoon. Later, Nellie calls for Samantha with a surprise. She has Eddie's money jar, as she watched him when he bullied the milkman and followed him to his hiding place in the well. Nellie wonders what they should do with it, and Samantha thinks of the perfect plan. In church, as the collection plate is being passed, Samantha dumps the whole jar into the plate, drawing attention from the other members including Eddie. Nellie, who is sitting in the back with her father and sisters, stifles laughter. Samantha looks at Eddie, who is furious. She then looks at Nellie and laughs. The month away is soon over, and Cornelia and Gard come to gather Samantha. She promises to write Nellie three times a day. Nellie asks Samantha not to forget her and Samantha promises that she'll be back before she knows it and they will spend untold amounts of Christmases together. Samantha promises that not even New York City will keep them apart.
The movies intersperses plots and scenes from Meet Samantha, Samantha Learns a Lesson, Samantha Saves the Wedding, and Changes for Samantha.
•Mount Bedford is more of a rural area rather than a small town; Samantha's house is very large with lots of land and on the banks of the Hudson River.
•In the movie, it is implied that Samantha's parents died in a boating accident on the river near the house rather than at Piney Point.
•Samantha wears her locket on a chain, not on a brooch pinned to the front of her dress.
•Samantha meets Nellie in the springtime and not the summer; furthermore, she gets no prior knowledge of her arrival from Eddie Ryland and only learns of her and her family on the day they arrive.
•Miss Crampton's Academy for Girls is located in New York City; Samantha does not attend the school before she moves there to live with Gardner and Cornelia and instead attends Mount Bedford School.
•Gardner and Cornelia's wedding is held at the Mount Bedford home in the conservatory instead of at Cornelia's parents' home (they are said to be living overseas in Paris), so it is a much easier task for Samantha to get her mother's veil as a replacement and she gets it with no help from Gardner. The wedding is held in the summer at the end of July instead of the spring and Samantha is the only bridesmaid; Cornelia's sister is a matron of honor and her niece the flower girl.
•Samantha's eyes are blue (as AnnaSophia Robb's are) instead of brown.
•Nellie's entire family works for the Rylands, not just Nellie, and the family only works for the Rylands; the van Sickles are not included. Nellie is sent away from the Rylands with her sisters after her father's death rather than alone for being an inadequate maid.
•Nellie and her sisters never attend school formally; Nellie is taught to read by Samantha directly and is completely illiterate before Samantha starts to teach her.
•Cornelia does not hide her suffragette leanings from Grandmary as in the books, and both she and Gardner are upfront about Cornelia's political views.
•Jenny is a selective mute who stopped speaking after her mother died and remained so until being adopted by Gardner and Cornelia.
•Jessie is a common maid for the family, and a different black woman is the seamstress. Since there is no Jessie to clean her up, the hole in Samantha's stocking from falling out of the tree is addressed by Grandmary in the parlor.
•Eddie's money jar is anachronistically filled with modern-day coinage.
•The calendar written on the chalkboard in Samantha's classroom mentions September 1904 starting on a Tuesday. September 1, 1904 fell on a Thursday.
The movie premiered on television on November 23, 2004, on the WB Channel.
The DVD and VHS tape were released on November 30, 2004; early editions came with a locket matching Samantha's worn in the movie. The movie could be ordered from American Girl with a bonus copy of Lights, Camera, Samantha!. Retail cost for this set was $19.95 for the DVD and $14.95 for the VHS. A deluxe DVD edition of the movie was released on Nove...
A movie based on the character Samantha Parkington and her stories set in 1904. Follow Samantha as she befriends the new servants, Nellie and her sisters, and helps them with their problems.
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Kindhearted Samantha Parkington's world starts to change the day Nellie O'Malley walks into her life. Nellie, her father, and her two little sisters have moved in next door to be servants for the Ryland family.
Nov 23, 2004 · A family drama TV movie based on the American Girl doll series. Samantha Parkington befriends Nellie O'Malley, a servant girl, and faces adventure and danger with her.
