tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924668268143757716.post3345149705948442813..comments2024-01-24T15:33:58.720-05:00Comments on A<br> Mythical<br> Monkey<br> writes<br> about<br> the<br> movies: Mary Pickford's Amarilly Of Clothes-Line Alley (1918)Mythical Monkeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11330587602682498820noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924668268143757716.post-30554026639212307432012-06-04T14:21:09.858-04:002012-06-04T14:21:09.858-04:00The first reason I liked her was she was Canadian ...The first reason I liked her was she was Canadian and one of the first female superstars of Hollywood. <br /><br />Then I saw her movies and understood the appeal. I still find it difficult to believe the public could convince themselves she was a young girl in movies when in actuality she was almost 30 in some roles.theduckthiefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17255259957279220797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924668268143757716.post-37023182279158047982012-06-04T09:54:27.648-04:002012-06-04T09:54:27.648-04:00Oh, sorry. Neilan. It was a long weekend for me,...Oh, sorry. Neilan. It was a long weekend for me, too -- a <i>good</i> weekend, but a long weekend.<br /><br />I would say <i>Stella Maris</i> is definitely his best. Then I'd look at <i>Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm</i>, which is very typical, and either <i>Daddy-Long-Legs</i> or <i>Amarilly of Clothes-Line Alley</i>.<br /><br />I'm not a fan of <i>The Little Princess</i> (although the AFI Silver showed it recently with live accompaniment) -- Pickford is trying to play 9 instead of 14, and the camera effects make her look like some sort of garden gnome instead of a child.<br /><br /><i>Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall</i> I have not seen but would like to -- according to Robert Osborne, that's the one where Neilan's alcoholism had become so acute that Pickford directed the entire movie while Neilan watched in bemused silence.<br /><br />It was a short career and his best work is his early work.Mythical Monkeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11330587602682498820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924668268143757716.post-79067186983524116092012-06-03T23:30:04.810-04:002012-06-03T23:30:04.810-04:00MM,
I was wanting your favorite of Neilan's w...MM, <br />I was wanting your favorite of Neilan's work, not necessarily with Pickford. : )<br />I'm guessing you're as exhausted as I am. Blaming my fatigue on the NBA Playoffs and too much sun.<br /><br />PagePagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15063277863578004836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924668268143757716.post-65714827542086936762012-06-03T22:11:44.674-04:002012-06-03T22:11:44.674-04:00Thanks, Page. I like doing blog-a-thongs, and fee...Thanks, Page. I like doing blog-a-thongs, and feel guilty when I don't participate in ones run by my fellow blog pals. I've been overwhelmed with non-blogging projects recently and have missed some good ones. I think things should settle down soon and I can pick up the pace again.<br /><br />Well, maybe.<br /><br />Three Mary Pickford movies. Hmm. <i>Sparrows</i> and <i>Stella Maris</i> are probably my two favorite showcases of her serious acting chops, with the latter featuring her in a double role so convincing you could miss the fact she's playing both major parts. I'd go with one of those two for a Pickford drama.<br /><br /><i>The Poor Little Rich Girl</i> is probably the most quintessential Pickford movie, and it was a groundbreaking combination of comedy and drama. There's your best bet for Pickford playing a little girl.<br /><br />And <i>My Best Girl</i> was one of her last silents, a very accessible comedy where she plays a shopgirl rather than a little girl.<br /><br />I know she won an Oscar for the sound picture <i>Coquette</i> but I think that award was more a result of intense lobbying (the first campaign in Oscar history) than great acting. I don't think <i>A Little Princess</i> works, although plenty of people do. <i>Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm</i> is very typical but not as good as <i>The Poor Little Rich Girl</i> from the same year.<br /><br />I really like Mary Pickford. I hope I've steered you in a direction that will lead you to like her, too!Mythical Monkeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11330587602682498820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924668268143757716.post-18300519163815767932012-06-03T21:56:16.496-04:002012-06-03T21:56:16.496-04:00MM,
I have to admit that I would have been very d...MM, <br />I have to admit that I would have been very disappointed if you hadn't participated in the Pickford Blogathon since you're my favorite blogger on all things silent film! <br /><br />Now that I've gotten that out of the way, this was a highly enjoyable and informative review.<br /><br />I mentioned on another review that before I really became a die hard Mary Pickford fan I was a bit annoyed that she kept playing a kid at her age but when you have a formula that works, an adoring audience then why mess with it. (You've obviously touched upon that here as well)<br /><br />Interesting about Neilan and the mutual admiration he and Mary had for one another although it would be expected. I'm not as familiar with his work as you are so I'll do myself a favor and change that. What three of his films would you recommend I start with?<br /><br />Thanks for providing yet another stellar review here MM. Very fitting for the talented Mary Pickford.<br />PagePagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15063277863578004836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924668268143757716.post-75462274547937965602012-06-02T03:36:36.301-04:002012-06-02T03:36:36.301-04:00I like this film because she plays an independent ...I like this film because she plays an independent confident young woman who has no problem finding work and isn't ashamed of who her family is and where she came from. I think that's why this film might have been really popular. It wasn't very often you found positive female role-models perhaps in 1918 so it was refreshing. This also makes this film very appealing to a modern audience as well, it has that timeless quality.McSkillzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14777410731884074615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924668268143757716.post-45412160801019543992012-06-02T01:28:58.940-04:002012-06-02T01:28:58.940-04:00"She has something," Neilan said, "..."She has something," Neilan said, "that irrespective of looks or age or anything else, will live on. She has personality."--quotes like that make me believe that there were plenty of people who felt that the films they made in the early days would somehow endure, even if only in memory. I love this movie because Mary gets to be a least a little more adult, and it suits her. The scene after she is fired from her job and marches defiantly into the shadows is one of my favorites. It's a clear example of the way Chaplin influenced her. Very compelling post. Thanks for contributing!KChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17587905976811500791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924668268143757716.post-81084313009269056962012-06-01T20:14:24.612-04:002012-06-01T20:14:24.612-04:00This is one Mary Pickford film that I have always ...This is one Mary Pickford film that I have always wanted to see. Neilan was her favorite director and they understood one another perfectly. Mary was such a great artist - I am glad we are honoring her.FlickChickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351624749230610755noreply@blogger.com