Mary Pickford

Originally airing on the great PBS series The American Experience, this profile of Mary Pickford--the most popular star of the silent film era (along with Charlie Chaplin)--is sure to appeal to both film buffs and those curious about the history of Hollywood. In keeping with the high standards of the series, writer-director Sue Williams provides a comprehensive overview of the stellar career of "America's Sweetheart," as Pickford was known for her wholesome screen persona. From impoverished childhood and early success on stage (under the aegis of impresario David Belasco) to her pioneering career at the Biograph studio with director D.W. Griffith and her meteoric rise as the world's highest-paid actress at Paramount Pictures (run by mogul Adolph Zukor), viewers will see how Pickford (in close partnership with her mother) was a savvy and aggressive negotiator who also pioneered the art of acting for the camera. In addition, Pickford founded United Artists with Chaplin, Griffith, and her second husband, the dashing Douglas Fairbanks, with whom she shared the legendary Beverly Hills estate known as "Pickfair," where Hollywood royalty gathered for lavish parties and functions. Less well known, however, is Pickford's struggle as her fame declined, and her subsequent withdrawal into solitude, alcoholism, and despair. No survey of early cinema would be complete without a study of Pickford's career, and this profile--which combines abundant film clips, still photos, and interviews with prominent film historians--fits the bill nicely. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (J. Shannon)