Fanchon, the Cricket
About Fanchon, the Cricket
Fanchon, played by Mary Pickford, lives in the woods with her grandmother, Old Fadette. The town suspects both of them of witchcraft. Fanchon saves Landry Barbeau from drowning, and they fall in love. She tells him to come back in a year. When he returns she will not marry while her grandmother is dying. After the old woman dies, Landry falls ill, and Fanchon nurses him back. They end together.
Cast & crew
More about Fanchon, the Cricket
James Kirkwood directed and shared the scenario with Frances Marion. Edward Wynard photographed the five-reel picture. Famous Players made it for Adolph Zukor and Daniel Frohman, and Paramount released it in the United States on May 10, 1915. It comes from George Sand's 1849 novel La Petite Fadette. IMP had filmed the story in 1912, directed by Herbert Brenon.
Themes
Background
Pickford was under contract to Zukor and Frohman at Famous Players when Paramount released this Sand adaptation.
Making
A nitrate duplicate found at the Cinémathèque française in 2012 filled gaps in the British Film Institute's incomplete nitrate. L'Immagine Ritrovata in Bologna restored it to 4K with the Mary Pickford Foundation. Missing English titles were translated back from the French titles on the dupe.
Look
Edward Wynard photographed the woods and village scenes.
Music
Silent on first release. Julian Ducatenzeiler and Andy Gladbach wrote a score for the 2018 reconstruction.
Preservation
For years only an incomplete nitrate at the British Film Institute was known. A nitrate duplicate found at the Cinémathèque française in 2012 was restored in 4K by L'Immagine Ritrovata with the Mary Pickford Foundation, and a new score was added for the 2018 reconstruction.
Notes
- It is the only film with all three Pickford siblings. Mary plays Fanchon, Lottie Pickford plays Madelon, and Jack Pickford plays a bully.
- Jack Standing plays Landry Barbeau. Gertrude Norman plays Old Fadette. Russell Bassett plays Landry's father.
- Milton Berle, Fred Astaire, and Adele Astaire are on cast lists. Fred Astaire later said he did not remember the work, and the three appearances have not been confirmed on screen.
- Astaire biographer Tim Satchell says it is the only film that includes both Fred and Adele Astaire.
Scenes
- Fanchon pulls Landry from the water.
- She refuses the wedding while her grandmother is dying, then nurses Landry through his own illness.
Influenced by
- La Petite Fadette by George Sand (1849)
Also available
- Wikimedia Commons (Fanchon the Cricket (1915).webm)
