I have never seen a post-WWI or post-WWII film begin like this one. Pickford begins with a cute little promo to STILL buy war bonds in order to pay for the war even though it has ended. I am surprised that in the restored version of this film that they included this and it's a nice touch.
This is apparently the second film produced by Mary Pickford and its title is a bit odd--sounding less sweet than the usual Pickford film! And, in many ways, Mary plays someone who, uncharacteristically, is NOT sweet but a real spoiled rich brat--though in keeping with her usual roles she does play a young girl (despite being awfully old for such a part at 27). She lives with her grandfather, who is a cut-throat industrialist. He spoils her rotten and seems quite content to have raised a little monster.
One day, Mary's father returns from abroad. Apparently he's some sort of sociologist and likes studying and writing about the poor. He offers his daughter a chance to come live with him in the slums of New York and she accepts, as she longs for her father's attention. However, the jerky grandfather feels betrayed and disowns her! Nice guy, huh?! Once in the slums, Mary is STILL a snob and has no interest in the people around her. But, eventually, in an almost magically fast transformation, Mary not only reaches out to the poor around her but becomes one of them--a real ragamuffin. Eventually, when the grandfather learns about her, he is at furious. What happens next you'll just have to see for yourself in this well-acted and fun film. But, like many of Mary's films, it is low on the believability scale, so please just sit back and enjoy without questioning how ridiculous some of the film becomes. It's still a fine old fashioned melodrama. Not among her best, but still a very good effort--plus the plot is a bit unusual for a nice change of pace.
By the way, how DID they make the cat do all those acrobatics? I sure hope the cat wasn't harmed to make it do that!!
This is apparently the second film produced by Mary Pickford and its title is a bit odd--sounding less sweet than the usual Pickford film! And, in many ways, Mary plays someone who, uncharacteristically, is NOT sweet but a real spoiled rich brat--though in keeping with her usual roles she does play a young girl (despite being awfully old for such a part at 27). She lives with her grandfather, who is a cut-throat industrialist. He spoils her rotten and seems quite content to have raised a little monster.
One day, Mary's father returns from abroad. Apparently he's some sort of sociologist and likes studying and writing about the poor. He offers his daughter a chance to come live with him in the slums of New York and she accepts, as she longs for her father's attention. However, the jerky grandfather feels betrayed and disowns her! Nice guy, huh?! Once in the slums, Mary is STILL a snob and has no interest in the people around her. But, eventually, in an almost magically fast transformation, Mary not only reaches out to the poor around her but becomes one of them--a real ragamuffin. Eventually, when the grandfather learns about her, he is at furious. What happens next you'll just have to see for yourself in this well-acted and fun film. But, like many of Mary's films, it is low on the believability scale, so please just sit back and enjoy without questioning how ridiculous some of the film becomes. It's still a fine old fashioned melodrama. Not among her best, but still a very good effort--plus the plot is a bit unusual for a nice change of pace.
By the way, how DID they make the cat do all those acrobatics? I sure hope the cat wasn't harmed to make it do that!!