I'm working on a review of the classic Mary Pickford film Stella Maris, which if I work well this week, will be up by Friday. But the whole point of the review is to encourage you to see the movie, so why not cut out the middle man?
In terms of its narrative, Stella Maris has both feet planted firmly in the Charles Dickens tradition, with a rich girl (Pickford) crossing paths with a poor one (an unrecognizable Pickford in a dual role). Great, melodramatic stuff.Whoever uploaded this to YouTube very cleverly left off the soundtrack. That's how they get you, in case you didn't know—the movie itself is in the public domain, but the soundtrack isn't and so the studio can reassert control of the movie through the music rights. That's why It's A Wonderful Life isn't on television twenty-eight hours a day during the Christmas season anymore—the film itself is in the public domain, but the score isn't.
Which is a real problem for a talkie, but a silent movie, well, I just provide my own soundtrack, probably Oscar Peterson's Night Train, which is what I've been listening to lately.
This is one of my favorite Pickford movies as well. There are some fantastic moments of suspense. It is one of a few flicks that helped me to appreciate Mary Pickford.
ReplyDeleteI haven't listened to Night Train in years! Playing it now, though, thanks to you and The ‘Tubes. No time to watch Mary now but I am psyched.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my favorite Pickford movies as well.
ReplyDeleteI would say The Poor Little Rich Girl or Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm would be more representative of Mary Pickford, but for me, she never made a better picture than Stella Maris.
I haven't listened to Night Train in years! Playing it now, though, thanks to you and The ‘Tubes.
ReplyDeleteSee, this blog is good for something!