Specialty CollectionGenre: SILENT FEATURE FILMS
Description: SILENT FILM. IN EARLY 1925, PRODUCER MARY PICKFORD FACED A PROBLEM WITH MARY PICKFORD, THE ACTRESS: THE PUBLIC DID NOT WANT TO SEE THEIR "LITTLE MARY" IN COSTUME EPICS (DOROTHY VERNON OF HADDON HALL) OR ROMANTIC DRAMAS (ROSITA); THEY WANTED MARY TO PLAY LITTLE GIRL ROLES. RELUCTANTLY, PRODUCER MARY GAVE IN AND STARTED THINKING OF WHAT HER NEXT VEHICLE WOULD BE. ON A WHIM, SHE CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF PLAYING AN IRISH CHARACTER AND, WITH THAT IN MIND, SHE AND A GROUP OF GAG WRITERS CAME UP WITH THE STORY AND SCRIPT. MARY PLAYS ANNIE, THE DAUGHTER OF A WIDOWED NEW YORK CITY POLICEMAN. THEIR LIFE TOGETHER IS ONE OF COMPANIONSHIP, FUN AND HAPPINESS. ONE DAY, WHILE WAITING FOR HER FATHER TO SHOW UP FOR DINNER (IT'S HIS BIRTHDAY), HIS FELLOW POLICE OFFICERS ARRIVE INSTEAD, INFORMING ANNIE THAT HER FATHER DIED A HERO'S DEATH IN A GUN BATTLE WITH A GROUP OF THUGS. HOW ANNIE OVERCOMES HER GRIEF AND FACES UP TO LIFE IS ABLY PRESENTED BY THE REMARKABLE MISS PICKFORD. THE FILM WAS WELL RECEIVED BY THE PUBLIC, GROSSING WELL OVER ONE MILLION DOLLARS IN ITS INITIAL DOMESTIC RELEASE. STARRING MARY PICKFORD, WILLIAM HAINES ADAPTATION BY HOPE LORING & LOUIS D. LIGHTON FROM A STORY BY CATHERINE HENNESSEY PHOTOGRAPHED BY CHARLES ROSHER & HAL MOHR DIRECTED BY WILLIAM BEAUDINE.
