Mary Pickford: Country Girl
Minor Pickford film but still a treat as Mary plays Joahanna, a country girl who prays for a beau only to find an entire regiment of horse soldiers camping out in a field. They're en route to Europe but have to lay up because a young lieutenant is ill.
Well little freckle-faced Johanna attracts the attention of the lieutenant (Emory Johnson), the company adjutant (Douglas MacLean), and a sad-sack private (Monte Blue). The guys jockey for position while Johanna takes a crash course (via magazines) on beauty (taking a milk bath in a wooden tub) and grace (dancing around in sheets a la Ruth St. Denis.
Eventually the private strikes the lieutenant and there is a court martial just before the regiment pulls out. But the officers seem more interested in which guy Johanna will choose (especially after the charges are dropped).
Lots of nice little touches and bits of comedy. Pickford is of course wonderful and adds a few surprises like the silhouette of her stripping and a scene of her in the bath. The guys are all solid. Wallace Beery has a small part as an officer, and that Wesley Barry as the freckly little brother.
The film was directed by William Desmond Taylor (the famous murder victim) and based on a story called "The Mobilization of Johanna" by Rupert Hughes. Frances Marion did the screenplay.
The organ music is uncredited but sounded familiar. My DVD has an alternative ending!
Well little freckle-faced Johanna attracts the attention of the lieutenant (Emory Johnson), the company adjutant (Douglas MacLean), and a sad-sack private (Monte Blue). The guys jockey for position while Johanna takes a crash course (via magazines) on beauty (taking a milk bath in a wooden tub) and grace (dancing around in sheets a la Ruth St. Denis.
Eventually the private strikes the lieutenant and there is a court martial just before the regiment pulls out. But the officers seem more interested in which guy Johanna will choose (especially after the charges are dropped).
Lots of nice little touches and bits of comedy. Pickford is of course wonderful and adds a few surprises like the silhouette of her stripping and a scene of her in the bath. The guys are all solid. Wallace Beery has a small part as an officer, and that Wesley Barry as the freckly little brother.
The film was directed by William Desmond Taylor (the famous murder victim) and based on a story called "The Mobilization of Johanna" by Rupert Hughes. Frances Marion did the screenplay.
The organ music is uncredited but sounded familiar. My DVD has an alternative ending!
- drednm
- Jan 14, 2008