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Reviews
Secrets (1933)
And with this last movie the history of film is told in full
This is an average movie as movies go and it is only the presence of the glorious Pickford and the fascinating Howard that makes it worth the while, not to mention of course the two scenes that everybody remembers, both of them by Pickford.
Others have mentioned here and elsewhere that this movie was also a vehicle for Pickford to make a statement to her estranged husband Douglas Fairbanks, and his reply in his 1934 movie is the stuff of Hollywood legend, as was their relationship.
This film is important for it being the last of Mary Pickford's many movies.
We are fortunate to have still available many of Pickford's movies, stories about her films and acting from contemporary media and colleagues and her own interviews then and later.
The extreme talent of Pickford is easily revealed by the fact that for twenty years the whole world was deeply in love with her (from China, to Russia to Australia), not just for what she was, a movie star, but for the person they thought she was through watching her movies. People were convinced that this acting Mary had to be the real Mary and that this acting Mary was a very special person indeed. It is testament to her skill that through silent films Mary could affect so many so deeply in such a way.
She was attractive, a little short and dumpy at times but never the stereotypical tall glamorous elegant type.
Mary was no fool, already a tough heavily traveled veteran of stage for 12 years by the time she came to film at the age of 17. A woman with her head screwed on tightly, deeply thoughtful and analytical and assertive. But equally as sweet and gentle and fun loving.
Mary came into early film, saw how it looked and very early transformed it into something entirely new. Her gift was not only knowing how to act and convey a message in silence but when to apply what techniques, and art in itself.
Her last movie Secrets gives a few looks at her skills though the movie itself was struggling with the new technology which badly affected its directing. Nevertheless, Mary was still the natural.
Pickford was the first and last of the greats, in fact the only real great. All learned their art from her template. She was being Chaplin before Chaplin got going, she was at times a Katherine & Audrey Hepburn, she was the sweet and gentle Lillian Gish.
Last of all she was one of the toughest businesswomen of the times, never intimidated. For two decades she was the heart of the nation.
Wilful Peggy (1910)
One of Griffith's and Mary's Concise little gems
Movies were turned out very quickly in this period to satisfy rapidly growing demand. To the horror of the theater industry people were going beyond just fascination with these moving pictures.
This short would have been seen as a little gem and also would have gotten people asking about that young woman who was so engaging and funny. I am not sure but I think in 1910 film actors were only just being identified for the first time. Previously they were anonymous.
This is a short story that has everything with lots of spirit and humor and exquisite acting. This was designed to be an overdone send up comedy, it never set about to take itself seriously. And Mary adjusts perfectly, getting the mood and actions right.
This is what set Mary apart from other actors of the period, she was versatile, thinking and always seeking to improve and invent. She regularly studied the results on film.
This film called for Mary to set aside polite subtlety and to 'ham' it up a bit - but it is certainly not ham acting.
These are the sort of movies that were absolutely loved at the time - a complete story that engages you every second from beginning to end.
For the times and in its genre this would have been rated a 10 out of 10. Even now it is watchable and enjoyable and worth an 8.
Kiki (1931)
Ups and Downs but one scene steals the whole movie
The dance scene is what most people take away from this movie and that certainly was a 10 out of 10 moment. I have watched it many times and it is up on Youtube.
The rest of the movie suffers from direction and script and the need to make Mary over act to fit the part. This was a stage play not really suitable for film without a change. The stage productions earlier success was grounded on deliberate stage over acting. So it is not surprising it didn't suit film that well. The film without Pickford would have been irritating, it is Pickford that saves it and makes it watchable.
But we should also remember that at this time studios were still struggling with Sound and this made direction and acting quite difficult.
Mary could have easily taken this onto the stage and had a big hit with it, she was a veteran stage actor.
If anything this movies shows Pickford to be versatile and willing to step out of the box.