The Little Match Girl is an American television film that is based on the 1845 short story of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen. This adaptation reset Anderson's story within 1920s New England, and premiered on NBC on December 21 , 1987. The film was developed as a starring vehicle for Keshia Knight Pulliam who plays the title character. Directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, the work used a screenplay created by Maryedith Burrell. The film used music by composer John Morris, special effects by Dave Gauthier, and cinematography by Kenneth MacMillan. It was produced by Robert Hargrove and had a running time of 96 minutes.