Sparrows

I've blown my nose through many a verifiable 'tear-jerker' but this was my first 'silent' sniffling:

"Sparrows" (1926) was directed by William Beaudine. Winifred Dunn wrote the story.

It was a drama about the very evil Mr. Grimes. He stole and kept poor orphans as "slave labor" on his farm. It's location was deep in a swamp in a southern U.S. state (one with alligators). They were used as his work force to keep the farm work done. Young Molly was the oldest and lovingly cared for the children.

One day Grimes and his crooked cronies kidnapped the small daughter of a wealthy man. (The word 'wealthy' tells you why.) Molly added little Doris to her heart and care. Then she learned that the police were closing in on finding the baby. Grimes had ordered her thrown into the swamp. The children grouped around Molly to save the little one. There was a daring rescue and escape. Molly took all the children with her through the swamp. (Take about edge of the seat and a box of tissues.) Did they make it out? Was there a happily-ever-after ending? I hope you'll get to find out. (I've seen this on Turner Classic Movies twice. It's wee worth your time.)

Cast:

Mary Pickford played Molly; Roy Stewart played Dennis Wayne ;Mary Louise Miller was Doris Wayne (the baby); Gustave von Seyffertitz was Mr. Grimes.

This was Mary Pickford's last film in which she played a young girl. Her fans had trouble letting her grow into adult parts. Since she was already involved in United Artists (founded with Douglas Fairbanks, D.W. Griffith, and Charles Chaplin) she turned to producing. Although she did try directing once: "Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall" (1924)

"Make them laugh, make them cry, and back to laughter. What do people want to go to the theatre for? An emotional exercise... I am a servant of the people. I have never forgotten that." A Quote from Mary Pickford.

"I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts." Will Rogers

An introduction explains: "The Devil's share in the world's creation was a certain swampland, a masterpiece of horror; and the Lord, appreciating a good job, let it stand." The Devil's swampland is where Mary Pickford (as Molly) lives, with some orphans and a baby. Ms. Pickford has managed to avoid being thrown in the swamp, over the years, and has assumed the role of "Mother" to the young children. They are kept, as "baby farm" slaves, by wicked Gustav von Seyffertitz (as Mr. Grimes). Mr. von Seyffertitz, Charlotte Mineau (as Mrs. Grimes) and Spec O'Donnell (as son Ambrose) make a frightfully wicked family.

Pickford employs too many of the girlish pouts and lip-twisting grimaces to make this one of her best characterizations; playing "Molly" as a young woman of indeterminate age would have been fine (something Pickford would do in her next film, the extraordinary "My Best Girl"). Otherwise, the Pickford persona works. As might be expected, the production is first class. Harry Oliver's swampy set is magnificent. The direction of William Beaudine and photography of Charles Rosher, Hal Mohr, and Karl Struss likewise superb. The too long conclusion is noticeably anti-climatic.

The special effects and editing are still convincing viewers that Pickford and the children were in some kind of danger during the "alligator-infested swamp escape" sequence. In Booten Herndon's "Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks" (1977) Mr. Mohr explains, "There wasn't an alligator within ten miles of Miss Pickford. Do people think we were crazy? I shot that scene myself… It was hard work for all of us, but the only thing those alligators came close to biting was a chunk of horsemeat." Fewer people questioned Pickford's meeting with Jesus Christ, in an earlier scene.

******** Sparrows (5/14/26) William Beaudine ~ Mary Pickford, Gustav von Seyffertitz, Charlotte Mineau, Spec O'Donnell

According to the film history book on United Artists, Sparrows did not quite as well as expected. I suspect the reason is because Mary Pickford at 33 was getting a little long in the tooth to be believable as an orphan waif. Soon enough her golden curls were shorn and she would finally be taking grown up roles at the end of the silent era.

Sparrows takes a lot from Uncle Tom's Cabin without the racial component. Mary is the oldest of several orphan kids who work just like slaves on the farm of the Simon Legree character Gustav Von Syefertitz who played many villainous roles in silents and his wife Charlotte Mineau who aids and abets her husband's villainy.

Von Seyfertitz is up for all kinds of villainy so when some kidnappers want to stash a baby, rich Roy Stewart's baby he's willing for a cut of the ransom. Later when Stewart agrees to pay the kidnappers come back, but by that time Mary is leading her charges through the swamp to escape as she and the kids have had enough.

Most of the film is a white version of Uncle Tom's Cabin, but the ending is out of David Copperfield.

Sparrows is a great example of the art of Mary Pickford and what her appeal was to the movie-going public. She personified goodness and innocence on the screen despite three marriages. Instead of an icy Ohio River, Mary gets to take her brood through the Louisiana swamps with the ever present danger of alligators. I'm sure for 1926 audiences it must have been quite thrilling.

It will still thrill audiences of a new century.

Excellent popcorn movie that serves as a perfect introduction to silent cinema or to Mary Pickford, who at age 34, and still looking youthful, gives a top-notch performance in her final juvenile role. Pickford stars as Molly, ingenious caregiver to a band of orphans held captive on the bayou farm of evil Mr. Grimes - played with steely menace by Von Seyffertitz. The film's title is a reference to Matthew 6:26, a Bible verse Molly teaches her children when they complain about their situation. The film's religious symbolism goes even further, when one of Molly's youngest dies and Christ appears to carry the child home. Grimes strikes a deal with kidnappers to keep the infant daughter of a wealthy young widower until the ransom money can be collected. He assigns the baby to Molly after the death of her "sparrow". When one of the orphans escapes, Grimes plots to dispose of the whole group in the alligator-infested bayou. When Molly learns of Grimes' plan, she plots a daring escape with her band.

An all around excellent film, and a strong influence on many kids adventure films such as vastly inferior big-budget blockbusters like Goonies or Spy Kids.

This is an excellent melodrama, with a fine performance by Mary Pickford and much more besides. The settings, characters, and photography create an interesting and memorable world in which the adventures of Molly (Pickford) and the orphans take place, in a story with plenty of drama and suspense.

Molly was an ideal role for Pickford, who could make such a character appealing and very sympathetic without going overboard. Though most of the film is quite serious, she also makes good use of the occasional comic moments. The settings in the swamp and on the farm run by the vile Grimes are nicely conceived and created. The sets are filled with careful atmospheric detail, and the photography is excellent. The Grimes family are very good villains, and Gustav von Seyffertitz gives a fine portrayal of the nasty farmer.

There is plenty of action and there are some fine scenes, leading up to an excellent suspense sequence in the swamp, with plenty of thrills and excitement. The only thing that keeps it from being a nearly perfect film is that the last part does drag on just a bit, becoming rather anticlimactic, and it would have been an even better movie if it were maybe 5-10 minutes shorter. But that doesn't change the fact that overall it's great fun to watch.

If you are a fan of silent melodramas, make sure to see "Sparrows" if you get the chance.