Baby Peggy: The Elephant in the Room

Filmmaker Vera Iwerebor's excellent documentary tells the strange and often tragic story of Diana Serra Cary, who is now in her 90s but became one of Hollywood's biggest stars—known as Baby Peggy—before the age of 10. Discovered as a mere toddler when her father, Jack, moved his family to Hollywood to work as a stuntman and horseman, Baby Peggy was on par with Jackie Coogan and Shirley Temple as a box-office draw, at one point making $1.5 million annually. During that time, she received no education or protection from existing child labor laws, and a jealous Jack publicly took credit for her success. And then, suddenly, as these stories often go, it was all over. Baby Peggy's studio contract was cancelled at the same time her management team—family members—stole all of her money, forcing her to go on the road as a breadwinner to perform multiple shows a day on the vaudeville circuit. The film delves into successive chapters in Baby Peggy's rollercoaster ride through success and failure, identifying the moment she finally began taking the reins of her life, rebooting her identity as “Diana” and finding happiness with her second husband and only child. Sharp, charming, and full of memories, Cary appears on camera throughout, speaking at film festivals where a few of her surviving movies screen before appreciative audiences. Viewers also learn about Cary's work as a Hollywood historian and author, as well as her advocacy of greater protection for child performers. Extras include three short films starring Baby Peggy, as well as the 1924 feature-length Captain January, and a music video. A wonderfully entertaining profile, this is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (T. Keogh)