Daddy Long Legs (1919): Mary Pickford

     In 1919, Mary Pickford was 27 years old, but due to her petite form and adaptable image, she was still able to play children. Daddy Long Legs (1919), directed by Marshall Neilan, falls into this category. Such films were not necessarily typical of her output, but they were fan-favorites and money makers, and Pickford was a savvy little businesswoman. Already, in 1916, she had negotiated a contract that gave her authority over the films in which she starred, and earned a whopping $500 a week. Entrepreneurial and adventurous in spirit, the same year Daddy Long Legs was released, Pickford founded United Artists with her husband Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin and D.W. Griffith.

      Found abandoned in a trash can as a baby, Jerusha Abbott (Mary Pickford) is sent to live in an orphanage, where she grows up... 

Mary Pickford: Daddy Long Legs. 1919

     Jerusha is smart and diligent, but has a propensity for mischief... 

Mary Pickford: Daddy Long Legs. 1919

     Based on her promising personality, an anonymous benefactor agrees to send Jerusha to College... 

Mary Pickford: Daddy Long Legs. 1919

     Not knowing his name, Jerusha calls him "Daddy Long Legs" and sends him letters regularly... 

Mary Pickford: Daddy Long Legs. 1919

     As she matures into a woman, however, Jerusha finds success and the desire for love... 

Mary Pickford: Daddy Long Legs. 1919

Mary Pickford: Daddy Long Legs. 1919

     and is still curious about her kind benefactor's identity...

Mary Pickford: Daddy Long Legs. 1919

"Daddy Long Legs" (1919)- full feature film

Tumbleweeds (1925): William S. Hart in His Final Epic Silent Western Film Land Rush

     Directed by King Baggot, Tumbleweeds (1925) was William S. Hart's final movie. It is also theorized that he did much of the directing himself as well. Ravaged with the onset of age and the cumulative effect of injuries sustained performing stunts over the years, he retired after filming. Immensely proud of his last work years later, in his epic farewell, Hart added an 8 minute introduction to the film upon it's re-release in 1939. The story concerns a drifting cowboy faced with the closing of the West and the Great Cherokee Strip Land Rush of 1893. William S. Hart is in fine form and the film is still entertaining 90 years later. Barbara Bedford co-stars as Hart's love interest.

William S. Hart: Tumbleweeds. 1925

William S. Hart: Tumbleweeds. 1925

Tumbleweeds. 1925

William S. Hart: Tumbleweeds. 1925

William S. Hart: Tumbleweeds. 1925

William S. Hart: Tumbleweeds. 1925

Tumbleweeds. 1925

William S. Hart: Tumbleweeds. 1925

Tumbleweeds. 1925

Tumbleweeds. 1925

William S. Hart: Tumbleweeds. 1925

"Tumbleweeds"- full feature film

Three Ages (1923): Buster Keaton, Love and History

     Written, produced, directed by and starring Buster Keaton, Three Ages (1923) was the first feature-length film in which he filled all the creative roles. The story tells three interwoven love stories in 3 different periods in history: The Stone Age, the Roman Empire and Modern Day. In some ways it is a satire of D.W. Griffith's 1916 film, Intolerance. The three stories are inter-linked, but would work as short films on their own. This was done intentionally as an insurance policy for the film studio. Although Buster Keaton had been successful with silent short films, he had not yet proven himself as a feature draw, and the studio wanted to be able to cut Three Ages into 3 short films if the full-feature flopped. It didn't. The comedic humor and stunts are great, with Keaton's daring physical abilities on full display. Wallace Beery and Margaret Leahy co-star.

Buster Keaton: Three Ages. 1923

Buster Keaton: Three Ages. 1923

Buster Keaton: Three Ages. 1923

Buster Keaton: Three Ages. 1923

Buster Keaton: Three Ages. 1923

Buster Keaton: Three Ages. 1923

Buster Keaton: Three Ages. 1923

Buster Keaton: Three Ages. 1923

Buster Keaton: Three Ages. 1923

Buster Keaton filming "Three Ages": Three Ages. 1923

Buster Keaton: Three Ages. 1923

"Three Ages"