The dance scene is what most people take away from this movie and that certainly was a 10 out of 10 moment. I have watched it many times and it is up on Youtube.
The rest of the movie suffers from direction and script and the need to make Mary over act to fit the part. This was a stage play not really suitable for film without a change. The stage productions earlier success was grounded on deliberate stage over acting. So it is not surprising it didn't suit film that well. The film without Pickford would have been irritating, it is Pickford that saves it and makes it watchable.
But we should also remember that at this time studios were still struggling with Sound and this made direction and acting quite difficult.
Mary could have easily taken this onto the stage and had a big hit with it, she was a veteran stage actor.
If anything this movies shows Pickford to be versatile and willing to step out of the box.
The rest of the movie suffers from direction and script and the need to make Mary over act to fit the part. This was a stage play not really suitable for film without a change. The stage productions earlier success was grounded on deliberate stage over acting. So it is not surprising it didn't suit film that well. The film without Pickford would have been irritating, it is Pickford that saves it and makes it watchable.
But we should also remember that at this time studios were still struggling with Sound and this made direction and acting quite difficult.
Mary could have easily taken this onto the stage and had a big hit with it, she was a veteran stage actor.
If anything this movies shows Pickford to be versatile and willing to step out of the box.