The Little Princess (1939)
It's 1899 and the British as engaged in the Boer War. Captain Reginald Crewe (Ian Hunter) is must leave for service. Before leaving he puts his young daughter Sara Crewe (Shirley Temple) into a prestigious private school. The school is run by a Miss Minchin (Mary Nash) who immediatelly give Sara the royal treatment that the daughter of such a prominent figure deserves. But things don't work out quite as good for Sara. She receives a note telling her that her father has been killed in the war. Now penniless, Sara is made a servant at the school by the suddenly evil Miss Minchin. But is her father really dead, or has a terrible mistake been committed?