The Little Foxes
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The Little Foxes is a 1941 film directed by William Wyler and starring Bette Davis. It was the film version of the play by Lillian Hellman, and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture in 1941.
The title comes from the Bible; chapter 2, verse 17 of the Song of Solomon reads: "Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes." This is a translation that should more properly have translated "little foxes" as "fruitbats", but it must be admitted that "take us the fruitbats" is not nearly so poetic.
Plot
In a post-Civil War southern community there is nothing more important than money and power to Regina Giddens (Davis). In fact, she will stop at nothing to have them. In order to join her equally ruthless brothers in a scheme that is sure to gain her wealth and power she uses her young, naïve daughter (Wright) to fetch her estranged, ailing husband who is living elsewhere. When she cannot convince her husband to give her the money, she sets forward a cunning plan; which escalates to the ultimate price once she realizes her brothers intend to swindle her as well.