Fanchon, the Cricket

Due to the fact that I'd never watched "Fanchon the Cricket" (1915) with Mary Pickford, I remembered that I had bought the Blu-Ray/DVD set last year - so - I watched it last night. Based on the magnificent 19th century (1849) French novel La Petite Fadette, a superior read even now and very much still in print (new translation by Gretchen van Slyke available from Penn State University Press), written by Amartine-Lucile-Aurora Dupin who went under the nom de plume George Sand, the book was rather drastically changed by director James Kirkwood and scenarist Frances Marion into the film that remains. Considered when released "an adult fairy tale", that's the best way to accept it. Gorgeously photographed by cinematographer Edward Wynard, the recently released Flicker Alley combo Blu-Ray/DVD is still stunningly beautiful, with wonderfully toned and frequently tinted frames that draw the viewer into the scene with the players. The blue-toned shots of the rock cliffs in particular are geologically spellbinding and photographically stunning. Scenes filmed among leafy foliage somehow capture the rural essence of the mise-en-scene in an inviting way, and the people in these shots look like works of art. However, there's a lack of creativity in set-up shots and variety - in this case, I think the director's overseeing, not the cinematographer's fault necessarily - especially a huge lack of any sort of close-up shots - except for Mary. Director James Kirkwood is obviously not a director of much artistic creativity, though he tells the story - as written - in a nice perfunctory way that suits Mary Pickford's rambunctious waif characterization. We can figure from the beginning that she'll change the tide that's against her from the outset. It's strictly my opinion, but what struck me most about the minus parts of the movie is the editing: it's eccentric. Too much time spent on some scenes and not enough on others. But, one thing that struck me immediately about this film more than many other Mary Pickford films struck Kevin Brownlow the same way, for he wrote for the book Mary Pickford Rediscovered in 1999, "She is extraordinarily beautiful; the first close-up of her face among the glistening leaves comes as almost physical shock."

In the book the waif becomes rather wealthy through an inheritance after her grandmother's death. Here, the fairy tale telling has the poor girl remain always in the rural existence, and poor, until...well, I'll not give the full elements of the plot. As I said, it's an adult fairy tale.

When Mary died in 1979 she thought this film was lost, and, as it had always been a fine memory for her, that was obviously a disappointment. Now found - from two sources - this is a wonderful addition to the Pickford canon. Also in the cast besides Mary are her sister Lottie, her brother Jack, Jack Standing, Gertrude Norman, Russell Bassett, Dick Lee, Alexander Gaden, and others.

A rare screening of this obscure Mary Pickford title was one of the most anticipated events from the 2014 Cinefest in Syracuse, N.Y., but, as is so often the case, rarity doesn't equate with quality. The film, lamely directed by James Kirkwood, lacks technique. Kirkwood keeps the actors grouped in tight bunches, more like a faithful sheepdog than a movie director, reflecting none of the dynamic energy of films from the same period produced under the auspices of D.W. Griffith, Cecil B. DeMille and Thomas Ince. The lovely and entrancing Pickford is always worth watching, but her role here doesn't provide enough dramatic weight, and nothing she does lingers in the memory except for a lively scrap with her real-life brother, Jack Pickford, who plays a bratty villager. Mary's rather homely sister, Lottie, also has a role, making this picture perhaps the only extant example of all three Pickford siblings appearing in the same film.

Fanchon (Mary Pickford) is a wild girl living in the woods with her grandmother Fadet. The villagers suspect Fadet of being a witch. Fanchon is carefree and likes to prank the locals. She doesn't mind getting into fights with the boys. She falls in love with a villager but his father disapproves. There is family history.

This is a presumed lost film until it was recently discovered and recovered. It has silent star Mary Pickford and her siblings. There are unconfirmed rumors of other future stars. Pickford is great. On the other hand, I really don't like these older actors trying to play lovesick teenagers. On top of that, I don't like the folk rock music that is playing with the film. It sounds way too modern and clashes with the film. Nevertheless, this is fascinating and a definite must for any Pickford fans.

This was considered a lost movie when Mary Pickford died. A copy turned up in the Cinematheque Francaise, as they so often do, and in cooperation with the Mary Pickford Foundation, the BFI, Flicker Alley.... oh, the usual suspects, it has been preserved, restored somewhat and made available on a Blu-Ray/dvd set. I looked at the dvd version. It's a handsome offering, with only a few imperfection on the print, and a handsome toning to the affair: golden for daylight, blue for night, red for interiors.

It's based on a novel and written for the screen by director James Kirkwood and Frances Marion. Mary is Fanchon, a poor girl of a French village. Her grandmother is supposed to be a witch, but Mary is a free spirit, running around in rags. She takes a shine to Jack Standing, but all of the young villagers despise her; she beats up real-life brother Jack Pickford, sticks her tongue out at real-life sister Lottie, saves Standing from drowning and finds his idiot brother and has a grand time romping around the wild in the Delaware Water Gap for the first half of the movie. Then, as so often happens, the plot eventuates.

It's the second Pickford vehicle that Frances Marion had a hand in writing (I don't count THE NEW YORK HAT), and Pickford gets a lot out of the 'waif' role. The two women would have a fruitful collaboration, and Marion would direct a movie or two for America's sweetheart. Still, things slow down in the second half, and Standing is pretty much a stiff all the way through. Costume design is partially to blame. With his knee pants, wide-brimmed hat and collar, he winds up looking like Grady Sutton; he performs his role with the lack of brio that Sutton put into his comic nullities.... but Standing is simply a nullity.

Still, it's always good when a long-lost feature of Miss Pickford shows up. I'm glad I saw it.

In spite of the one star review over on Allmovieguide, I really enjoyed this long-lost Mary Pickford classic.

I saw an airiing on TCM for their Silent Sunday Night feature where the host explained the movie was long considered lost and in fact was still lost at the time of Mary Pickford's death in the '90's. Tragic as it was the only film she starred in with her two siblings.

The plot is quite simple, and is described as an adult fairy tale which I think is accurate. Nothing much comes of Fanchon and her grandmother supposedly dabbling in witchcraft.

For a film that has been restored, I thought it looked quite nice and the print was far better than some others I have seen from the silent era. I like the color changes to represent times of day. The last shot is great.

I, for one, enjoyed the music. Sure, it is way more contemporary sounding than what would have accompanied the movie at the time but I thought the soundtrack did a good job of making it more enjoyable for the modern viewer. I guess I am in the minority here judging by the other reviews.

In short, Mary Pickford is still lovely. The story is simple, but it looks pretty nice and never wore out it's welcome. I'd recommend for anyone interested in Mary Pickford or the silent film era.