Pollyanna

Plot

Young Pollyanna Whittier is orphaned when her missionary parents die in the tropics, and she is sent to live with her wealthy but stern Aunt Polly Harrington in the small New England town of Beldingsville. Upon arrival, Pollyanna discovers her aunt rules the household with an iron fist and the townspeople are equally dour and pessimistic. Armed with her father's teachings of the 'glad game' - finding something to be glad about in every situation - Pollyanna begins to transform the community through her infectious optimism. She befriends the reclusive Mr. Pendleton, helps the impoverished Snow family, and eventually breaks through her aunt's emotional armor. When Pollyanna is tragically injured in a fall and loses the use of her legs, the entire town, now transformed by her influence, rallies around her, demonstrating how one child's unwavering positivity can change an entire community.

Historical Background

Released in 1920, Pollyanna emerged during a period of significant social change in America, following World War I and during the early stages of the Roaring Twenties. The film's emphasis on optimism and community healing resonated deeply with a nation recovering from war and the 1918 flu pandemic. The story's focus on a child's ability to transform adult society reflected contemporary progressive era beliefs in the purity and wisdom of childhood. The film also represented the height of Mary Pickford's power in Hollywood - she was not only the biggest female star but also a savvy businesswoman who co-founded United Artists the previous year. The New England setting evoked nostalgia for a simpler, pre-industrial America that many viewers longed for amid rapid modernization and social change.

Making Of

The production was a labor of love for Mary Pickford, who had long wanted to adapt Porter's beloved novel. She worked closely with director Paul Powell to ensure the film captured the book's spirit while making it cinematically engaging. The casting was particularly important - Pickford personally selected Katherine Griffith to play Aunt Polly, wanting an actress who could convincingly portray both sternness and eventual warmth. The famous 'glad game' scenes were rehearsed extensively to make them feel natural rather than preachy. The film's climax, involving Pollyanna's accident, was shot using innovative camera techniques for the time, including low angles to emphasize the child's vulnerability. Pickford's attention to detail extended to the costumes - she wore specially designed dresses that made her appear younger, with shorter hemlines and youthful fabrics despite the film's period setting.

Visual Style

The cinematography by Charles Rosher and William Marshall employed innovative techniques for the time, including soft focus lighting during emotional scenes to enhance the film's sentimental tone. The camera work was notably mobile for 1920, with several tracking shots that followed Pollyanna through the town, creating a sense of her energy and movement. The New England setting was captured through carefully composed exterior shots that emphasized the town's quaint charm while subtly suggesting its emotional coldness before Pollyanna's arrival. Interior scenes used lighting to reflect emotional states, with Aunt Polly's house initially shot in harsh, angular light that gradually softens as the characters transform. The film's climax featured dramatic low-angle shots that emphasized Pollyanna's vulnerability and the community's concern.

Innovations

Pollyanna featured several technical innovations for its time, including sophisticated matte paintings to create the illusion of the complete New England town. The film employed early forms of makeup techniques to help Mary Pickford appear convincingly child-like, including special lighting and camera filters. The accident sequence utilized innovative editing techniques, cross-cutting between Pollyanna's fall and the reactions of various townspeople to build suspense and emotional impact. The production also pioneered the use of detailed continuity scripts to maintain consistency across the film's many location and studio shots. The intertitles were unusually sophisticated for the period, using different fonts and artistic treatments to match the emotional tone of each scene.

Music

As a silent film, Pollyanna would have been accompanied by live musical performance in theaters. The original score was composed by William Axt and David Mendoza, who created a lush, romantic orchestral score that emphasized the film's emotional journey. The main theme, 'Pollyanna's Theme', became popular in its own right and was published as sheet music for home performance. Different theaters would adapt the score based on their orchestra size, with larger venues presenting more elaborate arrangements. The music prominently featured strings and woodwinds to convey innocence and hope, with brass instruments used sparingly for dramatic moments. The score's influence extended beyond the film, with several of its themes being adapted for use in other Pickford productions.

Memorable Scenes

• The opening sequence where Pollyanna arrives at the train station with her meager belongings, immediately establishing her optimistic character despite her orphan status
• The scene where Pollyanna teaches the 'glad game' to the grumpy townspeople, showing her infectious enthusiasm spreading through the community
• The emotional climax where Pollyanna falls from the window and the entire town rushes to help, demonstrating how she has transformed everyone
• The final scene where Aunt Polly finally breaks down emotionally and embraces Pollyanna, representing the complete healing of the family
• The sequence where Pollyanna visits the reclusive Mr. Pendleton and gradually breaks through his isolation, showcasing her ability to reach the most hardened hearts

What Critics Said

Contemporary critics universally praised Pollyanna, with Variety calling it 'a picture that will live forever in the hearts of those who see it' and The New York Times declaring it 'Mary Pickford's finest work to date'. Critics particularly lauded Pickford's performance, noting her ability to convincingly portray childhood innocence while conveying complex emotions. Modern critics and film historians continue to appreciate the film as a masterpiece of silent cinema, with the American Film Institute including it in their list of most inspiring films. The film is often cited as a prime example of how silent cinema could convey deep emotional content without dialogue, relying on visual storytelling and nuanced performances.

What Audiences Thought

Audiences in 1920 embraced Pollyanna with extraordinary enthusiasm, packing theaters for months and generating tremendous word-of-mouth buzz. Many viewers reported being deeply moved to tears, and newspapers carried stories about audience reactions, including accounts of people who claimed the film changed their outlook on life. The film's message of optimism particularly resonated with post-war audiences seeking hope and healing. Children especially loved the film, with many adopting the 'glad game' in their own lives. The movie's success was international as well, with reports of packed theaters across Europe and even in Japan, where Pickford was enormously popular. Contemporary audience polls consistently ranked it among the year's favorite films, and it remained popular through re-releases throughout the 1920s.

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