Even for those of us who regularly take in pictures from the earliest years of cinema, it's incredible how much variety there sometimes is in the silent era in various ways. Some of the greatest movies ever made hail from the silent era; other movies are less substantial or remarkable. Some filmmakers were innovating and pushing the envelope, while others were happy to provide entertainment for audiences. Some stars remain titanic figures of the medium, countless others carry no significant name recognition decades later, and some had their careers effectively wiped from existence when vault fires or the ravages of time destroyed surviving prints before they could be preserved. With Mary Pickford starring and Frances Marion writing the screenplay, it's safe to say 'M'Liss' has some lasting star power to its name; less certain is that it's otherwise particularly noteworthy on its own merits. It's nothing super special per se, and even if one is especially enamored of the silent era, not necessarily something one must go out of their way to see. Be that as it may, this is very enjoyable by all means, and just light enough on its feet to fly fairly high in that less extraordinary space. In fact, all told, provided one is open to all that comes along with fare from the early twentieth century, I don't think there's much going wrong with this.
Some facets stand out more than others. Pickford is reliably charming, and for as versatile as she was it's never any wonder how she came to be such an icon. Other cast members may not carry like renown in perpetuity, but perform admirably nonetheless, and among other Theodore Roberts is a minor delight as the title character's father, Tully Marshall as the persnickety town judge, and Charles Ogle as stalwart friend Yuba. I actually quite admire Walter Stradling's cinematography - sharp and focused, and most specifically making exquisite use of natural light in any outdoor shots. While when all is said and done there's a dramatic bent to the narrative, Marion infused her screenplay with marvelous kernels of humor all throughout - in intertitles, in scene writing, and in the characters, above all impudent spitfire M'Liss. True, the storytelling is often kind of direct and bereft of nuance; the dramatic turn a little after the halfway mark is far less than convincing, and in turn, much of the plot that follows thereafter. I assume these qualities stem more from Bret Harte's original story, however, than from any failing on the part of a scribe as accomplished and celebrated as Marion. In any event, there are some swell details scattered here and there in the writing, and though the tale at large may be a bit of a blunt instrument, Marion very commendably enriched it as she could in every other way.
In addition to great cinematography, excellent acting, and Marion's capable writing, the feature is certainly also a fine credit to director Marshall Neilan, who ably captures the energy of any given moment. This applies to those more somber elements of the plot, yes, though it remains true that as Pickford commands the spotlight as the lovable hellion, any scene that allows her to embrace that vitality invariably comes off best of all. There are even slight airs here of adventure at some points. And 'M'Liss' is well made in all other regards, too: terrific filming locations, sets, costume design, and so on. With all this said, it bears mentioning that the title is unmistakably one of those that in some measure reflects antiquated values. It's never specified exactly how old the protagonist is, but even without observing Pickford to have regularly portrayed children, it's apparent this is another such instance - making it rather uncomfortable that schoolmaster Charles should show any interest in her except as a pupil. It's very welcome that M'Liss boldly repudiates and defies authority figures who bark religious mythology and rigid social mores (and legal norms), and townspeople who leap to conclusions; by the same token, it's evident that such audacity is intended in context more to be cutesy and comedic rather than outwardly laudable. The film is fun overall, but some odds and ends just don't add up, or are even uglier on the face of it than what they are supposed to be.
It's not perfect. Yet though the flick doesn't immediately make a striking impression, and has its troubles (at least in retrospect), ultimately there's much to appreciate in these seventy-three minutes, and it holds up much better than not. I had my doubts, but this really is a splendid classic. I can understand how silent pictures don't appeal to all comers; I'd have said the same myself, at one time. For those who are receptive to the early days of a developing medium, however, the strengths here well outshine the difficulties, and I'm pleased to give 'M'Liss' my solid recommendation.
