I have seen a ton of Mary Pickford's films. While this is a very good one and ranks among her better films, it's certainly not among her best--such "Daddy Long Legs", "Suds", "My Best Girl" or "Sparrows". I think for fans of her films and silents, it is a must-see.
This film is set in the hills of rural Kentucky. While in some ways it's very stereotypical of "hillbillies", it is more sensitive and less sensationalistic than some films set in these parts. Mary plays the daughter of a man who was murdered. Who did it and why is unknown, but in the meantime, she vows to one day find out who it is and get revenge. In the meantime, she lives with a violent mother who is being wooed by a man who is intent on taking her land. The plan is for him to marry her and then sell the land to a dishonest investor who plans on turning the mountainside into a coal mine. Eventually, however, the mine idea is stopped--and the mother, in the meantime, is married to the brute.
Since Mary isn't welcome there, she is adopted by the Colonel--a rich man who had been partners with the evil man who was going to mine the mountain. However, after his partner's death, he discovers the truth and tries to make it up to Mary by having her move from her shack to his mansion. She's quite happy there but her old boy from the hills is heartbroken--as he assumes she'll now marry the well-educated young man (a young John Gilbert) will marry Mary. Will Mary marry the sophisticated Gilbert? Will the murder ever be avenged? Tune in and see.
This is a rather well made film, but it does have a couple odd things. First, when the evil land speculator is running amok, it's the KKK (called "the riders") who come to stop him! Second, like many early films, the black man in the movie towards the end appears to be some white guy covered in burnt cork (a common way to create that lovely minstrel look that was so popular back .YUCK!). Still, despite these rather awful shortcomings, the film is very well made for a silent and is enjoyable. Very nice, but also a tad strange!
By the way, despite the box art looking rather bad, this Milestone release is exceptional. The prints are very good considering their age and an additional Pickford film is included on the DVD..."M'liss".
This film is set in the hills of rural Kentucky. While in some ways it's very stereotypical of "hillbillies", it is more sensitive and less sensationalistic than some films set in these parts. Mary plays the daughter of a man who was murdered. Who did it and why is unknown, but in the meantime, she vows to one day find out who it is and get revenge. In the meantime, she lives with a violent mother who is being wooed by a man who is intent on taking her land. The plan is for him to marry her and then sell the land to a dishonest investor who plans on turning the mountainside into a coal mine. Eventually, however, the mine idea is stopped--and the mother, in the meantime, is married to the brute.
Since Mary isn't welcome there, she is adopted by the Colonel--a rich man who had been partners with the evil man who was going to mine the mountain. However, after his partner's death, he discovers the truth and tries to make it up to Mary by having her move from her shack to his mansion. She's quite happy there but her old boy from the hills is heartbroken--as he assumes she'll now marry the well-educated young man (a young John Gilbert) will marry Mary. Will Mary marry the sophisticated Gilbert? Will the murder ever be avenged? Tune in and see.
This is a rather well made film, but it does have a couple odd things. First, when the evil land speculator is running amok, it's the KKK (called "the riders") who come to stop him! Second, like many early films, the black man in the movie towards the end appears to be some white guy covered in burnt cork (a common way to create that lovely minstrel look that was so popular back .YUCK!). Still, despite these rather awful shortcomings, the film is very well made for a silent and is enjoyable. Very nice, but also a tad strange!
By the way, despite the box art looking rather bad, this Milestone release is exceptional. The prints are very good considering their age and an additional Pickford film is included on the DVD..."M'liss".