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"My Best Girl" is the downright American love story, with Mary Pickford (the America's Sweetheart) and Charles 'Buddy' Rogers (the America's Boyfriend) wooing each other on screen in 1927, and ten years after, they were married to each other - a union lasted 42 years for the rest of Pickford's lifetime through 1979. An enviable love story.

The (silent) film is directed by Sam Taylor (who collaborated on many a Harold Lloyd hilarious fun capers). On the DVD case, it has "Script: Hope Loring, with Mary Pickford and Charles "Buddy" Rogers." Charles Rogers, so handsome, young and charming, and quite an athletic runner. Director Taylor included familiar treatment with main characters standing in the stream of traffic, cars swishing by near-miss, not lacking in car chase or chasing after car scenario - but done in a most endearing way, especially the sequence between Pickford's Maggie Johnson riding at the back of a truck, while Rogers' Joe Grant repeatedly trying to catch up with her. Clearly two persons quite smitten with each other - so lovely together without a care in the world.

The DVD restored version (supervised by Keith Lawrence, 1999 Milestone Film & Video) has an outstanding symphonic score by David Michael Frank, performed by the Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic Zlin (Czechoslovakia), conducted by Bill Motzing. Simply love the music! It is so appealing and perfectly fitting to the fairy tale tempo of "My Best Girl": love at first sight, rags to riches, family strife and love obstacles, humor and dramatics, tears and joy all rolled into one. Mary Pickford is THE quintessential star, queen of the silent film era. She's so good at what she does, romantic comedy or tough drama (as in "Sparrows" 1926), and adept in physical moves, too. The introduction of the Shop Girl in the beginning: the juggling of the pots, that foot in the pan 'gag', the slips a-slipping thing, all delivered with such impeccable timing. Storyline progression played on mistaken assumptions, with timely humor and sweetness of the heart.

Don't let 'silent film' deter you: it's a lively piece, with lots of plot turns and dramatics, and the cast, besides the adorable pairing of Pickford and Rogers, the supporting roles from Pa Johnson and Ma Johnson, sister Liz and sleazy John Junior, down to the sidewalk 'crippled Pencil Peddler' (actually a critical small part in the love story of Maggie and Joe), are engaging as any talking pictures, maybe more so. The "Breaking Joe's Heart" segment - just watching how Mary Pickford played her scenes, running the gamut of emotions, is satisfying by itself.

Everything about this film is quality: the cinematography (the montage composition and angles following the couple, the multiple street scenes - sweet rainy or sad rainy), set design (that crate of a box where Joe and Maggie had their lunch seemed like Paradise till the camera pulled back and revealed wide) and sound (the punctuated cash registry bell, the entry of door bell rings matching pauses in the music) all contributed to "My Best Girl" being a not to be missed cinematic experience. Have a dose of fairy tale now and then. Check out the DVD, relax and enjoy it!

Watching a movie like My Best Girl is such an interesting experience because it shows that many of the tropes of modern romantic comedies have existed since the beginning. I was charmed by this plot just like I would be with any rom-com that came out today. It has a familiar story about a guy who is hiding the truth about who he really is, and in the process he falls in love with a girl who might not be someone he would choose in his normal life. The two main characters are likable and have some good chemistry. I actually found myself laughing out loud a number of times at their antics, and some of the mistaken identity stuff. I found it both humorous and familiar because there are TV shows and films that use some of these same ideas to this day. It worked so well that at times I didn't notice that this was a silent film, because I could get a sense of the dialogue just based on the body language of the characters. The final act of My Best Girl was satisfying, but there were certainly a few things I think they glossed over that made this a bit far-fetched. But in the spirit of a happy Hollywood ending, you have to let some of that stuff go. My ranking of this film might seem a bit harsh, because I definitely enjoyed My Best Girl. However, I just find myself generally leaning away from silent films when it comes to a rewatch, and rewatchability factors highly in many of my rankings. All that being said, this is a pleasant little rom-com that I am glad I've seen.

A spunky stock girl in a large department store falls in love with the handsome son of the owner, who is working there incognito. Their ripening romance is threatened, however, by the antics of their two families.

Wonderfully warm & witty, MY BEST GIRL was Mary Pickford's last silent film. In it she bids farewell to the flickering shadows which made her the world's most famous celebrity. Fortunately, as her silent swan song, it is a very good picture, with excellent production values and equal dollops of comedy & heartbreak. Mary's face, and especially her eyes, express her every mood. This was the face of the shrewd & powerful woman who in a significant measure had created the motion picture industry - and who so soon would be leaving it.

Her co-star is young Charles 'Buddy' Rogers, who would score a huge success this same year of 1927 as the star of the epic WINGS, winner of the first Oscar for Best Picture. Here he displays the charm for which he became famous. Although 12 years younger than Mary in real life, he was a good knight to her lady in distress, protecting & loving her through her final silent film.

The rest of the cast is also very good: Lucian Littlefield as Pickford's tiny, ineffectual father; Sunshine Hart as her massive, emotional mother, a woman whose greatest delight is going to strangers' funerals; and Carmelita Geraghty as her flapper sister. Hobart Bosworth gives dignity to the role of Rogers' father. Comic Mack Swain appears as a harried judge. Movie mavens will recognize Nigel De Brulier in a poignant role as a crippled match seller.

The film has been restored and given an evocative new score. It will delight fans of Pickford & the silent cinema for years to come.

After MY BEST GIRL, Pickford made four talkies and even won an Academy Award, but she retired from the screen in 1933, very wealthy, her legend intact, and involved herself in various good works. Her divorce from Douglas Fairbanks came in 1936 and she married 'Buddy' Rogers in 1937, becoming, in truth, his best girl. For the next 42 years he cared for her, as age and alcohol took their toll on Little Mary. Pickford became increasingly secluded in Pickfair, rarely leaving the upper floors of her fabled mansion in her last years. She did not want her fans to see the old woman she had become. Surprisingly, she did make a TV appearance for a few moments in 1976 when she accepted an Honorary Oscar. Then it was back into the shadows. America's Sweetheart died in May of 1979 at the age of 87.

Never a great movie star, but a very well-loved gentleman, 'Buddy' Rogers involved himself with charities & various humanitarian causes. He died in 1999, at the age of 94.

Mary Pickford is as charming and funny as ever in this one. Her role gives her a chance to do what she did best, and it's a lot of fun to watch. 'Buddy' Rogers also makes his character likable and sympathetic, and the combination works very well. While the story is nothing really new - a poor girl working in a store falls in love with the rich owner's son - it's filmed with thoughtfulness, creativity, and plenty of humor.

Even if you don't like romantic comedies, it would be hard not to enjoy the scenes with Pickford and Rogers together. They are winsome, but usually avoid becoming overly cute. The scenario gives them just enough material to work with, and the settings and props are made to fit right in with the engaging characters. Their respective families - sources of difficulty and complications for them both, although ultimately they too are mostly sympathetic - are also nicely worked into the picture.

Pickford certainly had more challenging roles, but "My Best Girl" is one of her most enjoyable films to watch. It is (seemingly) effortlessly entertaining while also letting you into the lives of its characters, with a perfect balance of romance and comedy. Highly recommended.

Mary Pickford (as Maggie Johnson) is a lowly "5 & 10 cent" stockroom worker. One day, while covering a salesclerk's station, she encounters cute Charles "Buddy" Rogers (as Joe "Grant" Merrill). Ms. Pickford thinks Mr. Rogers is a customer; so, she tries to sell him on a Devil Doll - blowing it up for size! The two are mutually attracted; and, Rogers is happily assigned to be Pickford's stockroom ward. Pickford doesn't know it, but Rogers is actually millionaire store owner Hobart Bosworth (as Robert E. Merrill)'s son, posing as a "commoner" in order to earn some business sense. Moreover, Rogers is engaged to marry his societal equal, Avonne Taylor (as Millicent Rogers)…

This was Pickford's final silent film; and, in hindsight, she might have been wise to end her career right here, on top. "My Best Girl" is an indispensable film, one of several late 1920s films which show the silent film had achieved a considerable level of artistic sense. It's difficult to point out single pieces, since the entire film works so well; however, the rainy location scenes are notably exquisite. Director Sam Taylor and Pickford shine throughout. Dave Kesson, Charles Rosher, and Jack Schulze make outstanding contributions. This is one of Pickford's finest performances; and, she forms an extraordinary partnership with relative newcomer Rogers. Their scenes together are magical, rivaling the more rustic Lillian Gish/Robert "Bobby" Harron romances directed by D.W. Griffith.

Pickford and Rogers later took the chemistry evident on film to heart, and formed a more long-term partnership; their wedding and "newsreel" footage provide a lovely coda for "My Best Girl"...

Life imitates art.

********** My Best Girl (10/31/27) Sam Taylor ~ Mary Pickford, Charles 'Buddy' Rogers, Lucien Littlefield, Hobart Bosworth

Wow, what a wonderful little film! While I have a VERY hard time giving movies a rating of 10, this one sure came close. No, on second thought, it is about the best example of the genre in silent form, so it merits a 10. For its day, it's an absolutely great romantic comedy that is sure to even get the curmudgeons out there to smile! And, the best part about it is that film is not overly sentimental or sappy--it just exudes quality and craftsmanship.

Mary Pickford stars as a sweet and simple girl who works as a stock girl for a 5 and 10 cent store. A new employee (Buddy Rogers--the future husband of Ms. Pickford in real life) is hired and it's her job to train him. Unknown to her and the other employees, the young man is actually the son of the owner of this large chain of stores--in other words, he's loaded! But, his father is a practical man and wants him to try to work his way up the company ladder and find out about it from the inside.

At the same time, the boy is already engaged to a rich society girl that the boy's mom has picked out for him. However, over time, Mary's sweetness wins him over--all during which she has no idea who he really is.

Instead of telling you more (and thus spoiling the film), I want to point out just why the film excels. While very romantic and even a tad melodramatic at times, the film keeps a pretty light mood as well--striking a wonderful balance. The production values are absolutely top-notch--excellent direction, acting and cinematography--with the exception of one small scene in the end as the car races to the ship--it did look pretty cheesy. But this can certainly be forgiven because the film is also written so well and really draws you in to caring about the young couple. This film is about as good as it gets for a Mary Pickford film, though I also greatly enjoyed her films DADDY LONG LEGS and SUDS.

PS--The video by Milestone was great. The print was nearly perfect, the music excellent and after the movie was over, they included home movies of Mary's real-life marriage to Buddy Rogers in 1937--a wonderful addition to this great film.

This along with Stella Maris are my two most favourite Pickford films. I've seen this film about 4 times as issued by Image Entertainment. The Image Entertainment version has a beautiful and uplifting musical score that matches the movie perfectly.

Mary and Buddy are perfect together and theirs is the romance that all of us wish to have at least once in our lifetime. It makes you laugh, it makes you cry.

I also loved the performances of Lucien Littlefield who plays Mary's father, Sunshine Hart who plays her mother and the fiery and exotic Carmelita Geraghty who plays her jazz-loving, hot-tempered flapper sister.

The ending is funny. We see Mary's rag-tag family ready to make the boat on time where she will be married to her sweetheart.

One of the best and funniest silents ever! Also, check out Harold Lloyd's Girl Shy (1924). That's another funny romantic film too.

Beautiful romantic comedy starring the great Mary Pickford, alongside her future husband Buddy Rogers. As a silent it is one of the best, a perfect example of the art of silent cinema, and as a film, it transcends all time and languages, the perfect love story.

You've seen it all before. Mary Pickford's final silent film is the usual 20's chick flick in which shopgirl Mary catches the eye of the owner's son (working incognito, of course), millionaires and judges have hearts of gold (including a remarkably dapper Mack Swain), she shows that she can't be bought by gratuitously pretending to be heartless & mercenary (not too succesfully, naturally) and there's a final, hectic chase as unbelievable as anything else in the rest of the film.

Backed by a slick production and a solid supporting cast (Lucien Littlefield - who plays Mary's father - was two years her junior), you've seen it all before; and the handful of talkies Mary was to make marked a decisive but unprofitable attempt to diversify after which she soon retired to marry leading man Charles 'Buddy' Rogers in 1937 with whom she lived happily ever after at Pickfair.

My Best Girl is Mary Pickford's last silent film...the last big go around for America's Sweetheart. In this film, she goes back to her roots...she plays someone her own age. Unlike the gothic Sparrows, or the poor low class lady in Suds, Mary comes off as striking and fills the screen with her beauty and charm. She plays a stock girl in a large department store, who falls in love with the owner's son, which at first she doesn't realize. She has to deal with her strange family, where they all look to her for leadership. The owner's son (Buddy Rogers, whom Mary later really marries) must deal with his parents and other girlfriend when he too returns her love. What's charming about this picture, is when I watched it late at night recently, is to notice how much the world has really changed since 1927. Remember when a family actually owned a department store instead of faceless boards of directors and changing CEOs? And how the cash registers rang up 5 cents for a total purchase? How the department stores has sales people every few feet to help you? How the street was filled with cars that now can only be found in museums? How innocent the dating was reflected in film...kissing was like...going all the way! It is also interesting to notice how the rich were shown on film in the 1920s. I'll bet most people in the audience could only dream of homes like those shown. And that all the actors and actresses you see are now gone, their image lives on in film..which is a moment captured in time forever.

The girl with the golden curl's finest romantic comedy. As Maggie, Mary Pickford, plays a shop girl who falls in-love with the owner's son, Joe (Charles "Buddy" Rogers). This is a sweet rags-to-riches fairy tale of sorts, set in 1920's New York. The cast is so charming. The story gives a nice glimpse of city life during the silent era.

Like to learn more about Mary Pickford and Buddy Rogers? I recommend: Mary Pickford - A Life on Film (1998) Mary Pickford (2005) PBS Home Video

Like Mary Pickford in romantic comedies? I recommend: Daddy Long Legs(1919)

Like to watch more Charles "Buddy" Rogers? I recommend: Wings (1927)

This movie is for any movie fan and especially someone who wants to see their first silent movie. This is a very enjoyable story that is easy to follow and the acting is wonderful. The silent screen's legendary Mary Pickford gives an outstanding performance.

"My Best Girl" is a wonderfully sweet, tender love story that never lays the treacle on too thick, and brings in great comedy moments just in the nick of time. Mary is at her best; the cinematography is excellent; the screenplay is funny and endearing--how could you not love this film? Curl up with your sweetheart and watch this one night--it's an absolute gem.

There is a bittersweet quality to "My Best Girl" which has nothing to do with the on-screen action. This was Pickford's last silent film, and as such heralds the end of an era. Though she would continue with her career until 1933, sound and its early limitations really knocked her off her exalted pedestal.

It is also the film in which she co-starred with Buddy Rogers who became her husband for over forty years. (In the process she had to divorce Douglas Fairbanks, and anyone who cares even vaguely about silent film will have certain pangs of regret about that.)

In itself it is a beautifully constructed, engaging romance. Unusual for a Pickford feature, it tends to outstay its welcome towards the end, where Mary's histrionics are laid on a little thick. Buddy I find irritatingly enthusiastic - can't the man just laugh without slapping his knees?

But let's not nit pick. "My Best Girl" is a totally engaging piece of fluff; not up to the standards that Mary set in "Sparrows" and "Stella Maris", but still amongst her most accessible features today. See it if you can with the Gaylord Carter organ track.

"My Best Girl" is a sweet and sentimental romantic silent film, starring Mary Pickford as a poor shopgirl, and her then future husband Charles "Buddy" Rogers, as the secret son and heir to the 5 and 10 Cent Store in which they both work.

It was nice to see Mary playing an adult role for a change, and one feels for the burdens her character has to go through, being the oppressed daughter of such a silly, blundering, selfish family. Buddy's character is a bit tough to take; he's too much of a "pretty boy" through most of the film, romancing the girl under false pretenses, dallying with her affections, but he redeems himself in the end.

The DVD version has a nice symphonic music track (refreshing in comparison to the boring organ scores on so many old Mary films) and this film is tinted, plus it has some darling home movies included from Mary and Buddy's wedding and honeymoon 10 years after the making of the film.

If you enjoy Mary Pickford on film don't forget to plop this one in your DVD player sometime soon. It was her last truly silent film and therefore something special.

...make this one of them. Some excellent performances by Mary Pickford and other colorful supporting characters around make this an enjoyable watch. Very, very funny. I saw it as distributed by "Milestone," and the music track was fantastic as well.

This a simply wonderful movie and would be in any era. Nobody will fail to be drawn into this movie.

Buddy Rogers is perfect, Mary Pickford perfect. There was real life sparks between these two, no doubt due to the deterioration of her marriage to Fairbanks, another extraordinary tragedy in itself for those who know the finer details of the final split.

Despite real world pressures and relationship anxieties Mary produced this classic movie. And in fact Mary's movies were getting better and better and she becoming an even greater actress if such a thing were possible.

This movie and others demonstrated the Silent era ended too soon, there were still many great movies and performances to be had.

This is a must movie to collect and watch from time to time and proves that a Silent movie can be as effective and enjoyable as a modern day movie.

My Best Girl (1927) : Brief Review -

Here's your one-stop destination for the fountainhead of all romantic-comedy-dramas cliches. Almost 100 years old and has been influencing movies-100 years from now, and it will still be influencing movies. That's what Sam Taylor's My Best Girl is! It might just be the origin of all those romantic comedy and family drama theories you have been seeing for a century. You must be familiar with the story of a rich boy falling in love with a poor girl, or vice versa. The boy is engaged but finds his true love in this poor girl, who is very honest and loyal. He does not reveal his original identity or that he is very rich, because that might take that girl away from him. He wants her to love him as a common, hardworking man. However, as every story has it, this one too has confrontations that are inevitable. The girl learns about his belt and then about his engagement, only to force herself out of his life. She then pretends to be a gold digger so that the boy can be married to a girl of his status as per his parents' wishes, but you know, true love never loses. That entire 15-minute segment when Mary Pickford pretends to be a red-hot girl and a gold digger is so emotional and intelligent that even non-romantic people will get senti there. The father is too smart, so he just pretends to be bad to test the girl's honesty and self-respect. The boy won't believe in whatever the girl says because he has known her inside out during that period of their relationship. That's what true love is. Talking about the comedy, we all know what Sam Taylor has done with Harold Lloyd, so be relaxed. This man knew how to make you laugh and how to create cliches for decades. Mary Pickford has outdone herself in this classic rom-com, while Charles "Buddy" Rogers has made solid chemistry with her. As a whole, Sam Taylor had a tailor-made classic rom-com in his kitty, but it's his touch that makes it highly entertaining and timeless. A perfect timeless classic in the "post-"Sunrise" (1927) era.

RATING - 8/10*

By - #samthebestest.

021: My Best Girl (1927) - released 10/31/1927, viewed 8/25/05.

Gertrude Ederle becomes the first English woman to swim the English Channel. The New York Yankees assembly known as Murderer's Row finish a four-game sweep against the Pirates. The first flight of Pan-American Airways takes off.

BIRTHS: Roger Moore, George C. Scott.

DOUG: 1927 nears its conclusion as United Artists releases the film My Best Girl starring Mary Pickford and (her future husband) Charles 'Buddy' Rogers. I could be wrong, but I'm afraid that we've passed over Mary Pickford's best stuff. The good news is that we got to catch her last silent film, and a good film it is, albeit rather average. Between the two, this would seem to be a more typical vehicle for her. And hey, the DVD comes with a lovely set of home movies showing Ms. Pickford getting married to her leading man, Charles 'Buddy' Rogers, in 1941. Isn't that sweet? It seems hard to really find a couple of films that capture Mary Pickford; maybe we could try watching several of them at once. Buddy Rogers also starred in WINGS the same year; yet another reason why that film must be released on DVD!

KEVIN: Now we come to Mary Pickford's final silent film My Best Girl, a nice clean-cut straight forward romantic comedy. I liked this movie well enough, it had plenty of fun little moments in it, but over all it was a very average and uninteresting piece. Like Sparrows, there were times when this film seemed to be begging to have sound as the title cards started piling up.

Last film viewed: College (1927). Last film chronologically: The Jazz Singer (1927). Next film viewed: The Circus (1928). Next film chronologically: Sunrise (1927).

The Movie Odyssey is an exhaustive, chronological project where we watch as many milestone films as possible, starting with D.W. Griffith's Intolerance in 1916 and working our way through, year by year, one film at a time. We also write a short review for each and every film. In this project, we hope to gain a deeper understanding of the time period, the films of the era, and each film in context, while at the same time just watching a lot of great movies, most of which we never would have watched otherwise.

Mary Pickford plays Maggie Johnson, a stock girl working in a 5 and 10 cent store who falls in love with a new employee (Joe Grant, played by Buddy Rogers). What she does not know is that Joe is really the son of the millionaire owner of the store: He has been sent by his dad to learn the business from the ground up, with no patronage. There must have been a strong demand for films with this kind of sujet. 1927 saw another one coming out: 'It', where Clara Bow played the female lead. Like 'My Best Girl', 'It' is a romantic comedy: equally good, but the humour is broader and character development is less subte. Pickford in 'My Best Girl' is enchanting - sweet, funny, down to earth, sensible and pretty -, and the chemistry between her and Rogers is obvious. No wonder the two of them ended up a married couple. Maggie's family (a collection of individuals where she appears as the white sheep) is hilarious: her parents (Sunshine Hart and Lucien Littlefield) just as well as her flapper of a sister (Carmelita Geraghty) with her penchant for dubious admirers. The direction is spot on. If there is a silent picture that you can enjoy today just as audiences did almost a hundred years ago, it is this film.