When you think of silent movie stars, people like Buster Keaton, Greta Garbo, and Charlie Chaplin often jump to mind. Often lost in the shuffle is actress Marion Davies. Often overlooked, her work (especially in comedies) has been recently reexamined, and earned her a spot as one of the genre’s sparkling humorists.
Her talent is on full display in 1925’s Zander the Great. She plays Mamie, an orphan girl subjected to almost over-the-top abuse at an orphanage. She soon finds herself under the care of the gentle Mrs. Caldwell (Hedda Hopper). She has an infant son Alexander (who Mamie calls Zander, hence the title). Mr. Caldwell is nowhere to be seen, and every day Mrs. Caldwell waits for a letter telling of his whereabouts. Years pass and Mrs. Caldwell passes away.
Things come to a head when, following her death, the orphanage Mamie once stayed in wants Zander. Acting as his sister (although not in the eyes of the law) the two soon embark on a journey (along with Zander’s two rabbits) to find Zander’s father in Arizona. They come across bootleggers, including Dan (Harrison Ford. No, not that Harrison Ford) who pretends to be their father to avoid the law. Who doesn’t love mistaken identity?
Davies shines, and her acting arsenal is on full display (a memorable bit involves the original two bunnies becoming…a lot more bunnies, and Davies commands the screen as she tries to deal with all the animals). With this film, a re-evaluation of her career is certainly in order. The film would work best in a library screening of forgotten silent films, and for those students studying early modern film in cinema studies classes.