Little Lord Fauntleroy

 ((Fri. (14), 5-7 p.m., Disney))

By TONY SCOTT

Filmed at Eastnor Castle, Herefordshire, England, by BBC. Executive producer, Anna Home; producer, Richard Callanan; director, Andrew Morgan; writer, Julian Fellowes; based on novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett; camera, Colin Munn; editors, Malcolm Banthorpe , Nick Pitt; production designer, Robert Foster; art director, Rachel Heady; costume designer, Maggie Chappelhow; sound, Bill Dodkin; music, Michael Omer. #Cast: George Baker, Michael Benz, Betsy Brantley, John Castle, Bernice Stegers, Helen Lindsay, David Healy, Truan Munro, Martin Hall, Stephen Critchlow, Jenny McCracken, Jacki Webb, Christopher Bowen, Adrian Cairns, Charlotte Ruthven, Carley Dashey, Bernadette Short, Virginia Beare, Trilby James, Paula Jacobs, Andrew Robertson, Dan Russell, J.S. Rafaeli, Elizabeth Chambers, Christine Lohr, Amber Taylor, Bob Sessions, Adrian Fletcher, William Harwood. Little Lord Fauntleroy, ne Cedric Erroll, pops up again, though the 1980 Ricky Schroder version remains the best go-round of Frances Hodgson Burnett's 1886 children's novel since Freddie Bartholomew won the world in the 1936 David O. Selznick pic. Current edition looks plush, plays superficial, lacks heart. Too much of the vidpic revels in stilted lingo, artificial tone and unexplored territories, such as why 11-year-old, refined, 1879 New Yorker Cedric is such a popular fellow, since he's distinctly odd. He's in thick with street shoeshiner Dick, and happily exchanges distracting anti-Republican sentiments with grocer friend Hobbs. These are his only friends aside from Mamma Dearest, who's far too close to him.
 

When the summons comes from England announcing his title, he and widowed Mamma Dearest sail off. Most incredible moment: Cedric knocking down a large street bully with one blow.

Cedric and Mamma hit England, but she doesn't stay at the castlewith the crabby Earl of Dorincourt. Though his daughter-in-law, she's never before met her late husband's father, who hates Americans; she stays in a separate house while Cedric shifts into the castle without her and softens the earl's heart.

Writer Julian Fellowes brings on phony Lady Fauntleroy, who claims to be the mother of the real Lord Fauntleroy; she gives the mushy proceedings some starch.

Directed by Andrew Morgan with little sense of conviction, the telefilm strains to be credible. Scenes such as Dearest telling brave little soldier Cedric that they'll be parted when they hit grandpa's place, or Cedric first seeing his pony, are omitted, and it's never clear why everyone likes precious Cedric.

American actor Michael Benz, all but done in with his just-so hair mop, his bad makeup and succession of outfits, makes Cedric too good to be anything but annoying. George Baker, harrumphing as the earl, does what he can with the stock role. John Castle handily handles his role as no-nonsense lawyer Havisham, and Betsy Brantley, bravely limning Dearest, avoids being cloying.

Helen Lindsay contributes a dose of freshness as the earl's peppery sister. And English actress Bernice Stegers, playing formidable Lady Fauntleroy, comes on like a welcome summer soaking. She may be overplaying, but by the time she enters, "Fauntleroy" could use a good splash.

Designer Robert Foster banks on overstuffed, smothering areas inside Herefordshire's historic Eastnor Castle to look elegant; truth is, they're not photogenic. The paintings' flat lighting causes reflections, and someone should have concealed the occasional electric light bulbs, since they weren't around in 1879. Colin Munn's camera otherwise splendidly catches the TV film's artifices, and editors Malcolm Banthorpe and Nick Pitt are on target. Foster's crisp New York streets, constructed for the vidpic in the castle's kitchen-garden area, are charmingly stylish; aside from Cedric's clothes, Maggie Chappelhow has run up good costume designs.

Michael Omer supplies a lush cushion of melodies to support the drama, which feels as though Andrew Lloyd Webber might take a whack at it for the stage. It's to be hoped not. Edward Viner appeared in the first silent film of "Fauntleroy" in 1914, followed by Mary Pickford, playing both Cedric and Dearest. It needs a rest.