POLLYANNA is a charming piece of nostalgia, an era of innocence and gentleness in America that was already fading away when this film was made in 1920. The movie was one of the blockbuster hits of Mary Pickford's career but it's reputation in later decades was slammed even by Mary and screenwriter Frances Marion, I presume because they didn't want the public to think all Pickford films were sticky sentimental, affected and coy as this one was presumed to be as "Pollyanna" became something of a buzz word for those emotions in a more jaded era. That's a shame because the movie holds up very nicely and still has loads of charm and quite a bit of good humor.
Pollyanna's widowed father is dying and after his death she is sent off to live with her stern old maid of aunt, Aunt Polly (Katherine Griffith). Pollyanna's sweet nature gets on Auntie's nerves (inspired by her father, Pollyanna always looks on the bright side of things and finds a reason to be "glad" about every situation) and her rambunctiousness only makes it worse. Pollyanna charms everyone else in town however particularly orphan boy Jimmy (Howard Ralston) who becomes something of a boyfriend.
This movie runs under an hour and frankly could stand for at least another fifteen minutes. There are a number of supporting characters in this film that come in that aren't fully developed (ie: John Pendleton, the rich man who was once in love with Pollyanna's mother or Dr. Chelton, who was Aunt Polly's beau in her youth) but the movie is so expertly done one can hardly complain. Mary Pickford is absolutely sensational in this movie, always appealing, often funny and moving. She was 27 at the time this was made but utterly believable as a twelve-year-old. Matching her performance is splendid work done by young Howard Ralston (then 15 but looking a few years younger) as Jimmy and the excellent character actress Katherine Griffith as cross Aunt Polly (who, having to have something good to say about her, Pollyanna comes up with "I'm glad she's not twins!"). Miss Griffith passed away just one year after the movie was made and Howard Ralston made only a handful of films after this, all apparently in minor roles and most of them lost now. This movie is a testament to their talent as much as it is Mary's. If you are open to spending a hour in old-fashioned sentiment, you could hardly find a better vehicle than POLLYANNA.
Pollyanna's widowed father is dying and after his death she is sent off to live with her stern old maid of aunt, Aunt Polly (Katherine Griffith). Pollyanna's sweet nature gets on Auntie's nerves (inspired by her father, Pollyanna always looks on the bright side of things and finds a reason to be "glad" about every situation) and her rambunctiousness only makes it worse. Pollyanna charms everyone else in town however particularly orphan boy Jimmy (Howard Ralston) who becomes something of a boyfriend.
This movie runs under an hour and frankly could stand for at least another fifteen minutes. There are a number of supporting characters in this film that come in that aren't fully developed (ie: John Pendleton, the rich man who was once in love with Pollyanna's mother or Dr. Chelton, who was Aunt Polly's beau in her youth) but the movie is so expertly done one can hardly complain. Mary Pickford is absolutely sensational in this movie, always appealing, often funny and moving. She was 27 at the time this was made but utterly believable as a twelve-year-old. Matching her performance is splendid work done by young Howard Ralston (then 15 but looking a few years younger) as Jimmy and the excellent character actress Katherine Griffith as cross Aunt Polly (who, having to have something good to say about her, Pollyanna comes up with "I'm glad she's not twins!"). Miss Griffith passed away just one year after the movie was made and Howard Ralston made only a handful of films after this, all apparently in minor roles and most of them lost now. This movie is a testament to their talent as much as it is Mary's. If you are open to spending a hour in old-fashioned sentiment, you could hardly find a better vehicle than POLLYANNA.