Little Lord Fauntleroy

A poor little boy on a tough New York City street in the 1880's, his hair in girlish golden curls. This image is still the best-remembered element of Frances Hodgson Burnett's beloved novel Little Lord Fauntleroy. Many film versions of this story have been made over the years including a Russian version in 2003. No one, however, has topped the silent version starring Mary Pickford from 1921 and now Milestone Film and Video has released it on DVD as part of their Mary Pickford Collection. It is the jewel in the collection's crown, flawlessly presented and immensely entertaining. Little Lord Fauntleroy, the novel, was published in 1886 and was an immediate success. A rowdy son of the pavements is forced to wear his hair in long curls, a tribute to his late father's locks when he was a boy. He is unaware that his father was one of the sons of the Earl of Dorincourt, disowned when he married beneath him. However, when the Earl's other son dies, the Earl sends for the American lad who now must be groomed to be a member of the British aristocracy. Mary Pickford plays a dual role in the movie, both Cedric, the boy who becomes Lord Fauntleroy, and his mother. Naturally she would seem to be equipped for only one of those roles, but, despite having to strap down her bosom to play the child, does an excellent job with both. Pickford's movie was famous in its time for all the special effects necessary for Mary to play both roles within the same shot. Cameraman Charles Rosher handled the effects, mostly through split screen, but there are some effects that are startlingly impressive even in this age of CGI effects. Near the beginning of the film is a shot, analyzed by Kevin Brownlow in his excellent documentary Hollywood (1980), where Mary the child kisses Mary the adult on the cheek. Another effect that would escape all but the most observant is one where the child, stage right, talks to the mother at the center of the screen. Just when you think it is a standard split image, the child walks behind the mother to continue the conversation on the other side of the screen, all within one shot. Keeping track of the effects is difficult because the story is so involving. More than other Pickford titles, this is wonderfully entertaining in the classic 19th Century storytelling manner. The sets and locations are expensive and well-photographed and the performances are perfect, especially Claude Gillingwater as the hard-hearted Earl softened by his growing affection for his American grandson. This new DVD, produced by The Mary Pickford Institute and Timeline Films, is also beautifully presented. The print is very high quality for a movie now 86 years old and it has been paired with a new orchestral score by Nigel Holton that is one of the most lush and moving scores written for a silent film. Little Lord Fauntleroy should be a first choice for anyone wanting to rediscover the charm and vitality that made Mary Pickford one of the 20th Century's greatest stars. For more information about Little Lord Fauntleroy, visit Milestone Film & Video. To order Little Lord Fauntleroy, go to TCM Shopping. by Brian Cady