Mary Pickford: A Life on Film

This documentary on Mary Pickford is one of the best documentaries ever produced about a film star - period. Anyone who wants to know how brilliant this woman was about the art of filmmaking needs to view this film. The best thing about this visual recording of the life of "America's Sweetheart" is that it is honest, unbiased, and objective. We are able to learn all sides of Mary Pickford - some flattering, some not-so-flattering. Yet one realizes how passionate she was about the art of filmmaking - especially when it was in its infancy. But one can only truly appreciate Mary Pickford, the Artist, by viewing the clips of her films from this documentary. SHE was the actor who invented acting specifically for the motion picture camera. When you view clips of her films, you will be able to understand why. This documentary also explains how savvy she was as businesswoman, who demanded and received every penny she was worth. Yet, she cared about everyone who worked in the industry. As a director, I've had the privilege to direct several projects with the Motion Picture & Television Fund - an organization which provides care and living arrangements for retired artists who once work in the entertainment industry. This organization was created by Mary Pickford, along with other generous and caring people. Mary Pickford was a brilliant person, who had clear visions in every aspect of her professional life. She was a woman of film - who was way ahead of her time.

This is an excellent biographical documentary on Mary Pickford (Gladys Smith.) Much more than just a biography of one of the most powerful women in the film industry or in the world for that matter, this presentation depicts the interworking of the film industry of the time.

We see previously unreleased film portions from Mary's personal archive. We also get to watch the highlights of many marvelous films without sitting through the complete viewing. Who would have suspected "The Taming of the Shrew?" Some of the films you will want for your own collection.

The presentation does go in chronological order and even though we bounce back and forth from diffident presenters as Whoopi Goldberg, and Charles "Buddy" Rogers you do not feel that you are being bombarded with sound bites.

This biography of the great Mary Pickford was very well-crafted and worth seeing--particularly if you are a fan of her films or silents in general. As I am both, the documentary was a natural.

One thing that often sets one biographical documentary apart from others is truthfulness. Some biographies gloss over the subject's foibles or sins, others do nothing but focus on the salacious and wicked--this film is nice because it gives the 'warts and all' view of Pickford but also elevates her and praises her contributions. This makes for a film that is interesting, truthful and real. Years ago, I saw a biography about Dean Martin and it never even mentioned his first wife--like she never even existed. These sorts of omissions are not a problem with this film.

While this is not among the very, very best films about the lives and films of silent stars (mostly because it was only about an hour and half long), it is top-notch. Nice film clips, interviews and a competent narration by Whoopie Goldberg (an odd choice...but it worked fine) make this a quality film.

For a perfect or near-perfect film about silent stars, try watching "Buster Keaton: A Hard Act to Follow". Unlike the Pickford biography, this one is three hours long!! It allows for an examination of his life but also a very detailed analysis of his art--something I might have liked more in the Pickford film--though this is NOT being critical. I just like LOTS of information about actors I have loved.

Mary Pickford: A Life on Film (1999)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

Very good documentary that covers Pickford's life from early childhood to her work with D.W. Griffith and to becoming the first movie star. Others topics include her marriage to Douglas Fairbanks and her eventual fall from the movies. The documentary is good because it doesn't sugar coat certain matters. What I found most weird about Pickford is that she bought the rights to all of her films so that she could destroy them. She was worried people would laugh at her and in this paranoia, she bought the rights but thankfully she didn't destroy them. Hosted by Whoopi with interviews by Leonard Maltin, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Janet Leigh and others.