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Over her lifetime, Mary would come into contact with some of the greatest luminaries in film and society. This list includes not only actors and directors but those people who would become lifelong friends. Also included are links for finding the latest releases of Mary on home video.
alt.movies.silent
Mary Pickford Foundation
The Official homepage for Mary Pickford. Here you can browse both the Mary Pickford Library and the Pickford Foundation which oversees all of Mary's charitible interests while also raising funds to restore Mary's films, many of which have not been seen since their original premier.
Motion Picture & Televison Fund
Mary served as Vice President of this organization which she helped to create. The MPTF serves the entertainment industry with important healthcare facilities as well as fundraising activities. Donations and volunteers are welcomed.
United Artists
Formed in 1919 by Mary, Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin and D.W.Griffith. After her retirement from acting, Mary went on to produce several films for United Artists in the 1950's and 1960's.
Mary's Films on DVD and home video:
Milestone Films
Milestone Films has many of Mary's films available on both DVD and home video. Based in Harrington Park, N.J and operated by Dennis Doros.
TimeLine Films
TimeLine Films is a great resource for silent film documentaries, producing the seminal "Mary Pickford: A Life on Film" as well as other film studies on Scenarist Frances Marion (Without Lying Down), actresses Marion Davies and Clara Bow.
Grapevine Video
Grapevine Video has a good selection of some of Mary's early films beginning with her days at Biograph and including titles such as 1925's "Little Annie Rooney". All are on VHS tape with no DVD as of yet although Grapevine is selling some early silents in the newest DVD-RW format.
DVD Planet
DVD Planet probably has the best selection of Mary on DVD and its been my experience for them to have the least expensive price.
Unknown Video
Unknown Video is the only place on the web to rent silent films. A very nice selection, including dvd and vhs. Mary titles include Johanna Enlists, Pride of the Clan, The Little American, Pollyanna and My Best Girl on dvd/vhs. There is a minimum of 3 titles per request.
The*Filmography page also has links to order Mary's films through Amazon.com of which My Best Girl is an affiliated member.
Ebay
Ebay is a wonderful resource for silent films, books, historical photos etc..
D.W. Griffith
The Father of Motion Pictures. When Mary met Griffith at the Biograph Studios in 1909 film was looked upon as second-rate entertainment and actors were frowned upon. Decades later their groundbreaking films are the foundation for many of today's hollywood productions.
Marshall "Mickey" Neilan
Mary's favorite film director who would direct and occasionally act with her in such films as "Daddy Long Legs".
William Desmond Taylor
Taylor directed "How Could You Jean"(1918), "Johanna Enlists"(1918) and "Captain Kidd Jr."(1919) for Mary as well as 1917's "Tom Sawyer" for brother Jack. Unfortunately, Taylor is now known more for his sensationalized murder in 1922. Taylorology is the creation of Bruce Long.
Ernst Lubitsch
When Mary requested Lubitsch come to Hollywood in 1923 and direct her in "Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall" it was largely seen as an acknowledgement of european filmakers.
Mary's Contemporaries:
Douglas Fairbanks
The original swashbuckler. The first action hero. When Fairbanks and Mary met in 1915, sparks flew. They both admired each other with the greatest of affections. It is no understatement to say that, barring her immediate family, Fairbanks was the great love of Mary's life.
Charlie Chaplin
Without a doubt Chaplin was the world's funniest comedian. He didn't have to say a word to have you crying with laughter. Mary, Doug and Chaplin were often called the "Trio".
Frances Marion
Mary called Frances Marion "The pillar of my career". Marion was one of the earliest female scenarists, penning some of Mary's most famous films including 1917's "Poor Little Rich Girl". Marion was the first female to win an Oscar for the Screenplay of the 1931 film, "The Champ".
Lillian Gish
The Official homepage of Lillian Gish. Mary and Lillian, along with sister Dorothy, were childhood friends, and the Smith family(Mary was still Gladys Smith during that time)and the Gish's lived together for a time in New York.
Marion Davies
One of the most misunderstood actresses of the silent era. Mistress to William Randolph Hearst, Davies is often labelled a scatterbrain but her peformances tell a different story.
David Belasco
The famed Broadway director who cast Mary as "Betty" in his Broadway production of "The Warrens of Virginia". Thereafter, he always referred to Mary as "his" beloved Betty.
Silent Film Resources:
The Silents Majority
Quite possibly the best site on the web for silent film information. Maintained by Diane MacIntyre.
Sarah Baker's Olive Thomas page
Olive Thomas was a striking woman, a Ziegfield Follies dancer who attracted much attention with her obvious beauty and her marriage to Mary's brother Jack Pickford. Her untimely death remains a mystery. Some believe it was suicide, others an unfortunate accident. Sarah is active in the silent film community, organizing film festivals and raising awareness for film preservation. If you wish to contact her, click on the link and visit her page.
Newsgroups:
Community for Silent Film enthusiasts to get together and talk about their favorite silent subjects. Messages are posted from silent movie musicians, film distributors and film preservationists such as David Shepherd.
mybestgirl27@mybestgirl27.com
