Mary Pickford was made an Honorary Colonel to the 143rd Field Artillery, a role she took seriously. She made frequent visits to Camp Kearney near San Diego, where they were stationed. She would review the troops, blew a special silver whistle to start the camp football games, and made sure the boys had plenty of tobacco. She presented each one with a gold locket containing her picture, which were worn by the men in action in France. When the government asked her to make a propaganda picture, Mary asked Frances Marion to write the scenario for Johanna Enlists, and the soldiers from the 143rd would appear throughout the film, going about their duties. Mary and Colonel Ralph J. Faneuf, commander of the 143rd, appear together in the last shot of the film, giving a salute to the camera. This movie was made to be indirect propaganda , so subtle that not until the end, does the audience realize its intent. Near the end of the story, the soldiers receive their orders to go overseas, and Johanna ( Mary Pickford ) rallies the men, not to come back until they have won the war. Peppered with plenty of comedy, Mary plays freckled faced Johanna who lives with her parents and siblings on a farm. Feeling homely and lonely , one day Johanna prays for a beau , and miraculously a regiment of soldiers come marching down the road and camp on the family farm. The gawky farm girl sets out to beautify herself and soon two admiring soldiers fight for her attention. Wesley Barry is comical as Johanna's bratty brother ,Monte Blue and Douglas MacLean play the admiring soldiers along with a brief appearance of Wallace Beery as Colonel Fanner. Although not a classic Pickford film it is interesting , amusing and worth a look for silent film fans.
Review of Johanna Enlists
