Hello one and all!
Today the topic of discussion is Mary Pickford, a film star who had tremendous influence in the film industry, but nowadays isn't as appreciated as some of her contemporaries, such as Charlie Chaplin. Let me attempt to put that right here.
Mary Pickford: Queen of Film
On the 8th of April 1892 a girl called Gladys Smith was born in Toronto, Canada. The Smiths struggled to make a living, and when the alcoholic patriarch of the family died in an accident, the three children had to turn to acting to survive. Together with their mother, they toured the USA with acting troupes in what was a hard existence.
Gladys had ambitions for something greater though, which led her to Broadway in 1907, to star in The Warrens of Virginia, where the producer-director David Belasco helped her change her name to Mary Pickford. After the play's run ended she went to the Biograph film studio, and Pickford negotiated hard to receive a rather high salary, all so that she could support her family. This readiness to stand up for herself would be a feature of her career.
In 1919 Mary Pickford founded United Artists along with D.W. Griffith, Douglas Fairbanks and Charlie Chaplin. A year after after that she divorced her first husband and married the famous action film star Douglas Fairbanks, and thus the power couple of Hollywood was formed.
Her acting talent - the mannerisms and physicality of it - caught the imagination of the public, and catapulted her to stardom. This allowed her to become the highest thespian of her time. The ingenue role, which she perfected, appealed to a wide audience, and ensured that many of her films were lucrative ventures. Mary Pickford was also a founding member of the Academy of Motion Pictures in 1927, the only woman in the 36 board.
It was hard work to maintain the angelic person, and on some days she resorted to alcohol. This reliance would continue to grow in her later years.
The advent of sound in film in the late 1920's cued a decline in her career. A number of commercial failures led to a decline in her popularity, even though she did receive an Oscar for best actress, for her role in Coquette (1929). In 1933 Mary was in talks with Walt Disney over a possible live-action version of Alice in Wonderland, which may have given her career new momentum, but it never materialized beyond screen tests.
Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks divorced in 1936. By then she was already retired from acting, but continued to be involved in Hollywood, producing a number of films and contributing to philanthropy on a significant scale. Pickford married actor Charles “Buddy” Rogers in 1937, who she had met on the set of "My Best Girl" (1927). She would receive a Oscar for lifetime achievement in 1976, where she appeared visibly moved by the gesture and 1979 she died of complications from a cerebral hemorrhage.
Thank you for reading!
Today the topic of discussion is Mary Pickford, a film star who had tremendous influence in the film industry, but nowadays isn't as appreciated as some of her contemporaries, such as Charlie Chaplin. Let me attempt to put that right here.
Mary Pickford: Queen of Film
On the 8th of April 1892 a girl called Gladys Smith was born in Toronto, Canada. The Smiths struggled to make a living, and when the alcoholic patriarch of the family died in an accident, the three children had to turn to acting to survive. Together with their mother, they toured the USA with acting troupes in what was a hard existence.
Gladys had ambitions for something greater though, which led her to Broadway in 1907, to star in The Warrens of Virginia, where the producer-director David Belasco helped her change her name to Mary Pickford. After the play's run ended she went to the Biograph film studio, and Pickford negotiated hard to receive a rather high salary, all so that she could support her family. This readiness to stand up for herself would be a feature of her career.
 |
The New York Hat (1912), Mary Pickford's final film for
Biograph.
|
In 1911 Mary Pickford would marry Owen Moore. He was an
Irish actor, and by all accounts an alcoholic who emotionally abused his new
wife. Her fame had already started to grow though; in 1914 the film Tess of the
Storm Country was especially popular, and two years later she started to
oversee production of her own films. She wanted to ensure her movies were good
quality.
In 1919 Mary Pickford founded United Artists along with D.W. Griffith, Douglas Fairbanks and Charlie Chaplin. A year after after that she divorced her first husband and married the famous action film star Douglas Fairbanks, and thus the power couple of Hollywood was formed.
 |
| The founding celebrities of United Artists in 1919. From left to right: Mary Pickford, D.W. Griffith, Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks. |
Her acting talent - the mannerisms and physicality of it - caught the imagination of the public, and catapulted her to stardom. This allowed her to become the highest thespian of her time. The ingenue role, which she perfected, appealed to a wide audience, and ensured that many of her films were lucrative ventures. Mary Pickford was also a founding member of the Academy of Motion Pictures in 1927, the only woman in the 36 board.
 |
| Mary Pickford looks through a viewfinder on the set of Little Annie Rooney (1925). |
It was hard work to maintain the angelic person, and on some days she resorted to alcohol. This reliance would continue to grow in her later years.
The advent of sound in film in the late 1920's cued a decline in her career. A number of commercial failures led to a decline in her popularity, even though she did receive an Oscar for best actress, for her role in Coquette (1929). In 1933 Mary was in talks with Walt Disney over a possible live-action version of Alice in Wonderland, which may have given her career new momentum, but it never materialized beyond screen tests.
 |
| Mary Pickford as Alice with Mickey Mouse in a 1933 screen test for Alice in Wonderland. |
Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks divorced in 1936. By then she was already retired from acting, but continued to be involved in Hollywood, producing a number of films and contributing to philanthropy on a significant scale. Pickford married actor Charles “Buddy” Rogers in 1937, who she had met on the set of "My Best Girl" (1927). She would receive a Oscar for lifetime achievement in 1976, where she appeared visibly moved by the gesture and 1979 she died of complications from a cerebral hemorrhage.
Thank you for reading!
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