ZaSu Pitts Movies
According to her own account, actress ZaSu Pitts was given her curious cognomen because she was named for two aunts, Eliza and Susan. Born in Kansas, Pitts moved with her family to California, where at age 19 she began her film career. Her first starring role was as an ugly duckling who finds true love in 1919's Better Times. Her calculated vagueness and fluttery hand gestures earned Pitts comedy roles from the outset, but director Erich Von Stroheim saw dramatic potential in the young actress. He cast her as the grasping, money-mad wife in his masterpiece Greed (1924), and she rose to the occasion with a searing performance. Except for a couple of later collaborations with Von Stroheim, Pitts returned to predominately comic assignments after Greed. One exception was her portrayal of Lew Ayres' ailing mother in the Oscar-winning All Quiet on the Western Front (1930), a brilliant piece of work that unfortunately fell victim to the editors' scissors when a preview audience, conditioned to Pitts' comedy roles, broke out in loud laughter when she came onscreen (she was replaced by Beryl Mercer in the domestic version of All Quiet, though reportedly her scenes were retained for some European versions). Established as a top character comedian by the '30s (her oft-imitated catchphrase was "Oh, dear, oh my!"), Pitts co-starred with Thelma Todd in a series of Hal Roach two-reelers, was top-billed in such feature programmers as Out All Night (1933) and The Plot Thickens (1935), and showed up in select character roles in A-pictures. During the '40s and '50s, she toured in Ramshackle Inn, a play written especially for her by George Batson. From 1956 through 1960, Pitts played Elvira "Nugey" Nugent on the popular Gale Storm TV sitcom Oh, Susanna. ZaSu Pitts died in 1963, shortly after completing her final film appearance in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) and just a few days after her last TV guest assignment on Burke's Law. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1917
This first version of Frances Hodgson Burnett's frequently filmed children's classic A Little Princess starred 23-year-old Mary Pickford as the 10-year-old title character. When her wealthy father marches off to war, little Sarah (Pickford) is left in a girl's boarding school. News arrives that Sarah's daddy is killed and that her allowance has been cut off, whereupon the school's cruel and spiteful headmistress forces the diminutive heroine to go to work as a servant. All sorts of humiliations and disappointments are heaped upon the plucky girl before the inevitable happy ending. The film's high point is a spirited retelling of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, with Sarah acting as both narrator and central character. The popularity of The Little Princess encouraged Pickford to star in another adaptation of a Burnett novel, and the result was the 1921 box-office bonanza Little Lord Fauntleroy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1917
Douglas Fairbanks Sr. stars as Ned Thacker, who is born during a Kansas cyclone (coincidentally the same manner in which Fairbanks' real-life contemporary Buster Keaton came into the world!) and is thus imbued with the spirit of adventure. Having been virtually weaned on Alexandre Dumas' novel The Three Musketeers, Ned grows up dedicated to old-fashioned chivalry. Alas, his well-meaning efforts to emulate his Musketeer idols nearly always backfire in a hilariously disastrous fashion. Ultimately, however, he is afforded an opportunity to rescue heroine Dorothy Moran (Marjorie Daw) in a true D'Artagnan-like manner. Unfortunately, only the first three reels of A Modern Musketeer are known to exist. Happily, however, this fragment includes a delightful dream sequence in which Fairbanks imagines himself to be a 16th-century swashbuckler -- a fascinating (and arguably more enjoyable) precursor to his own 1921 screen version of The Three Musketeers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1917
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm was the first film version of the Kate Douglas Wiggin novel and play. Mary Pickford, 23 years old but looking at least ten years younger, stars as the spunky little girl who is left with her tight-lipped aunt Helen Jerome Eddy by her impoverished mother. It's an uphill battle, but Rebecca manages to spread a little sunshine around the staid New England community where her aunt resides. Her reward comes when she is "all grow'd up," at which time she falls in love with handsome Eugene O'Brien. Yes, we know that none of this happens in the 1938 Shirley Temple version. Remember, though, that Mary Pickford could play a little girl who grows up in the course of a single film, while Shirley was stuck at age 9, whether she liked it or not. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mary Pickford, Eugene O'Brien, (more)
- 1918
Her strict upbringing is driving Genevra French (Dorothy Phillips) crazy, so when she gets her hand on a book called "How to Attract the Opposite Sex," she takes its advice to heart. She uses her newly found wiles on Lawrence Tabor (William Stowell) and gets him to marry her. Only after the wedding does she tell him she married him just to get away from her family, and that she intends to do exactly as she pleases. She becomes fascinated with parasite Jack Lanchome (Lon Chaney, in a role atypical for him -- at the time, he generally played gangsters) and manages to meet with him on several occasions. The last time is over supper at a disreputable cafe, and he assaults her. Lawrence arrives just as Genevra is fighting to escape Jack's grasp, and she begs Lawrence to take her home, promising that in the future she will behave herself. Later, Jack comes to Lawrence's office, but he refuses the check that Lawrence gives him, explaining that fooling Genevra was the first good thing he's done in his life. With that, he leaves for Paris, as he has joined the army. Genevra never finds out about her husband's secret. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- 1918
Good Night, Paul stars bubbly comedienne Constance Talmadge. This time around, Talmadge's character is happily married (her husband played by Norman Kerry), but still agrees to pose as the wife of a businessman (Harrison Ford -- no, not that Harrison Ford) to hoodwink the businessman's rich uncle (John Steppling). Unfortunately, uncle plans to extend his visit, forcing the two schemers to keep up the pretense. Comic jealousy motivates most of the action in the film's final reels, much to the delight of Talmadge's legion of fans. ZaSu Pitts makes a brief appearance in an uncredited role. Like virtually all of Constance Talmadge's starring vehicles, Good Night, Paul apparently no longer exists. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1918
In this witty comedy -- an adaptation of Cyril Harcourt's play -- Constance Talmadge plays a writer who runs a lonely hearts ad in order to get material for a novel she's working on. Her ad is answered by a large group of odd personalities. Not so odd is Harrison Ford, and he wins the novelist's heart. Zasu Pitts, whose career was just getting off the ground, has a small role of the maid Emily. With a broad sense of the ridiculous and very little subtlety, A Lady's Name is played purely for fun. It was the kind of movie in which Constance Talmadge excelled. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- 1918
Believing himself to be of noble blood, fisherman Captain Parmalee (Alfred Allen) tries to foist his daughter Sydney (Carmel Myers) off on High Society. Amused by Parmalee's pretensions, a wealthy dowager named Mrs. Green tells her friends that Sydney is a duchess. The ruse works so well that socialite Dick Bradley falls in love with Sydney. When Dick's mother learns the truth, she forbids the lovers to marry, but Mrs. Green comes to the rescue once more. Available today in only a severely abbreviated version, A Society Sensation would have been utterly forgotten had not the film featured Rudolph Valentino, as Dick Bradley, in his first important role. Carmel Myers, who remained a lifelong friend of Valentino, was so impressed by his gracious manners and eagerness to please that she deliberately allowed him to upstage her in several scenes and also cast him in her next picture, All Night, arranging for him to receive a $25 raise in the bargain (thereby elevating Valentino's salary to a princely $75 per week!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1918
Perhaps one of Mary Pickford's lesser works, this film was nevertheless a funny, extremely well-produced comedy about a socialite who, having lost her fortune, takes a job as a Swedish cook. She falls in love with a chauffeur (Casson Ferguson) who, lo and behold, is a slumming millionaire. Written by Pickford regular Frances Marion, How Could You, Jean? was based on a turn-of-the-century novel by Eleanor Hoyt Brainerd. Interestingly, in 1930 Norwegian writer Sigrid Boo penned a highly successful novel bearing almost the identical plot, Vi som går kjøkkenveien ("We Who Enter Through the Kitchen"). Boo's "original," which had already been filmed in Norway and Sweden, was turned into a star vehicle for Janet Gaynor by Fox in 1934 under the title Servants' Entrance. Apparently, the old Pickford comedy was already forgotten, and no copyright infringement suit was filed. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- 1919
Although a New Yorker by birth, silent screen actress Edith Storey had appeared in westerns as early as 1910 when she was engaged by Gaston Mèliés as the leading lady of his San Antonio-based Star Film Ranch. Storey's career was on the wane, however, when she played the dainty "Colonel Billy" in As the Sun Went Down, a rather commonplace western melodrama in which a romance with a handsome would-be crook (Lew Cody) is rudely interrupted by a blackmailer. A true screen pioneer who was one of the Vitagraph company's strongest assets in the mid 1910s, Storey retired in 1921. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- 1919
Even though this drama was made early in King Vidor's directing career, his sense of humanity -- one of the defining qualities of his films -- was already very much evident. J. Martin Trent (Alfred Allen), owner of the Trent Iron Works, does not believe that business and sentiment mix. His son, Donald (Charles Meredith), begins to question this during the World War. He goes to fight in France, as does one of the company's workers, Jimmy (David Butler). The two men become friends, and Jimmy saves Donald's life. The two soldiers return home to their sweethearts -- Katherine Boone (Florence Vidor) for Donald and Jennie Jones (ZaSu Pitts) for Jimmy. Jimmy returns to his old job at the Works, while Donald insists that he learn the business by starting at the bottom. He feels a strong sense of duty to his fellowmen, but then his father dies suddenly and his ideals are put to the test. Under pressure, he becomes as hard and callous as his father, and Katherine refuses to marry him. Instead, she helps Caleb Fairman (Thomas Jefferson) keep his newspaper running. The Beacon has an uplifting theme for the people, and finally one of its stories reaches Donald. He once again takes up his ideals and renews his friendship with Jimmy. The two couples then work together for the good of humanity. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- 1919
Ethel Clayton stars in this society drama based on a story by Cosmo Hamilton. Marcel Middleton (Clayton) is spoiled by her parents (James Neill and Jane Wolfe), who struggle to give her every material advantage. After visiting her school chum, Noel Parkton (Winifred Greenwood) in New York, she becomes enamored of society life and luxury. She spends her father's money on gambling and expensive gowns and gives little back in return. Then her parents die in an accident and Marcel is left on her own with only a couple thousand dollars to hold her over. She ignores the desperation of her situation in favor of the social whirl. Subsequently, her debts to Madame Ribout (Mayme Kelso), the dress designer, finally catch up with her and she is forced to work for her as a model. This becomes especially embarrassing for Marcel when she has to model lingerie in front of a fashionable group of people. Cleveland Buchanan (Lew Cody), a wealthy and cynical man, offers to pay her debts and he is surprised when she turns him down. Marcel decides she prefers hard work to being indebted to someone like Buchanan. She rooms with Katie, a poor girl (ZaSu Pitts), and takes care of her invalid kid brother. Buchanan admires her spirit and it inspires him to immerse himself in good works. He sends word through Katie that Marcel can call on him if she ever has an emergency. That time comes and it helps to unite them. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- 1919
Director King Vidor would always take the slightest excuse to champion the common man (or woman), and that he does with this slight little film. Country girl Dorothy Perkins (Florence Vidor, the director's wife) goes to the big city and lands young millionaire Monte Rhodes (Charles Meredith). Monte is quite fond of his family tree, so he is horrified when Dorothy's relatives, with their homespun ways, come to visit. When he gives his wife a hard time about being "common," she promptly leaves him and goes home, where she is warmly welcomed. While she is gone, Monte comes to appreciate her simple ways and asks her forgiveness. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- 1919
Comic actress ZaSu Pitts got her first really big break when she starred in this King Vidor-directed feature. Ezra Scroggs (Jack McDonald) is a shiftless gambler who has let his hotel, the Lakeview, fall on hard times. Finally his daughter Nancy (Pitts)) gets fed up seeing all the business go to his rival, Si Whittaker (William Devaull) at the Majestic, and she decides to do something about it. She takes the old Lakeview jalopy to the station and grabs a potential guest who introduces himself as Peter (David Butler). When he explains that he's supposed to be on a special diet, Nancy poo-poos this with a Christian Science quote. He finds the meal he's served so delicious that he brags about it all over town and the Lakeview is once again in the money. What Peter doesn't tell Nancy before he leaves is that he has fallen for her. Ezra's bad habits continue and he gambles away his fortune and the hotel. He drowns during a drunken spree and Nancy receives six thousand dollars insurance money. She takes the funds and goes to finishing school. Since all the girls are getting letters from their sweethearts, she makes one up, using the name of a famous baseball player. One of the girls becomes suspicious and takes her to a box party at the next game where the ballplayer will appear. It turns out that he is Peter, and he and Nancy are happily reunited. Vidor used the Christian Science reference only because his investors insisted on it -- they wanted to repeat the success of Turn in the Road, Vidor's prior film with them, which had a Christian Science theme. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- 1920
Sally (ZaSu Pitts) is a poor girl living on the east side of New York who runs away to become a dancing girl for an organ grinder, Antonio (Edward Delavanti). They roam the country, making a few cents here and there, but the organ grinder dies, and Sally finds that her only friend is a farm hand, Billy (Tom Gallery). Carnsworth, a rich banker (Jack Pratt), is trying to track down his child, who has been missing for 19 years, and he believes that Sally is her. So he takes the girl home and she lives in luxury until she discovers that Carnsworth's real child is Billy. So Billy takes his rightful place in the Carnsworth home, but Sally joins as daughter-in-law. This was an early starring vehicle for ZaSu Pitts, but her unconventional looks and fine comic timing were already drawing attention. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- 1920
When Mrs. Lawrence (Fanny Midgeley) becomes ill and needs a hospital stay, her daughter Betty gets a job as a stenographer for Ichabod Bogrum (Edwin Stevens). Bogrum is a loan shark who, unbeknownst to Betty, runs an extremely shady business. In addition, he intends to get his hands on the Lawrences' property the first chance he gets. Luckily, Betty has met Jim Carrington (Henry Woodward), who owns the estate next door, and he helps keep her out of Bogrum's clutches. The crook's schemes are foiled, and Betty wins herself a sweetheart. This film marked the first time that Zasu Pitts was featured in a starring role. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- 1921
This comedy, which was based on a stage play, got high marks from Moving Picture World, but would undoubtedly not be welcomed today -- "Among the amusing features," notes the trade paper, "is an amateur circus and the formation of a miniature Ku Klux Klan." The street urchins who are busy playing miniature Klansmen are found by Patsy, a tomboy (ZaSu Pitts who, even though she was in her early twenties, somehow manages to play a credible young adolescent). Dressed as a boy, Patsy ran away from an orphanage and has been traveling around the country. The kids initiate her into their gang and eventually she takes over as their leader. Patsy also finds an adult supporter in Pops, an inventor (John McFarlane). Swindlers are trying to trick Pops out of his land, but Patsy comes to his aid, along with reuniting him with his long-lost daughter, Margaret (Marjorie Daw). ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- ZaSu Pitts, Wallace Beery, (more)
- 1922
This farce from Paramount was loosely adapted from the play The Open Door by Oscar Blumenthal and Gustave Kadelberg. Arthur Haviland (T. Roy Barnes) and Margaret Saxby (Lila Lee) elope on the very day that her parents (Lillian Leighton and Tully Marshall) are celebrating their silver wedding anniversary. All the couples at the anniversary party have had arguments, a fact which they are desperately trying to cover up. It turns out that Arthur and Margaret have been married by the deputy at the county clerk's office because the regular clerk always goes hunting in November -- and the deputy was never properly sworn in. This not only means that the newlyweds' marriage is illegal, but that the other couples at the Saxby's party -- all of whom were married in November -- might not have valid marriages, either. The men all decide to take this to heart, but come to the realization that freedom is not all it's cracked up to be. Meanwhile, a search party is sent out to bring back Arthur and Margaret before they scandalize their parents. As in all good farces, everything turns out well in the end. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- T. Roy Barnes, Lois Wilson, (more)
- 1922
Dramatic actress Ethel Clayton never reached the same lofty heights of stardom as Clara Kimball Young or Pauline Frederick, but she was a solid second-string player. She overcomes mediocre material in this society meller. Singer Anna Woodstock (Clayton) loses her voice, but a visit to a hypnotist, Dr. Joseph Kasimir (Bertram Grassby), brings it back. What Anna doesn't realize is that her illness was purely psychosomatic and Kasimir is a swindler. However, her fiancé, Christopher Armstrong (Vernon Steel), is aware of this and as district attorney is gathering enough evidence to prosecute him. Although Armstrong insists that Anna stay away from Kasimir, she visits him before she sails from Europe. Kasimir hypnotizes her and tries to kidnap her, but Jennie Dunn (ZaSu Pitts), a waif who Anna has befriended, comes to her rescue. Kasimir is found murdered that night, and Jennie is accused of the crime. Anna rushes home from Europe to testify on her behalf, but she only succeeds in implicating herself. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- 1922
This lighthearted film was based upon the play The Impostor by Leonard Merrick and Michael Morton. After the death of her parents, Mary Fenton (Agnes Ayers) discovers that her inheritance adds up to nothing. She can't even afford to stay in a cheap boarding house and finds herself homeless. After searching for work and having no luck, she is about to faint from hunger when she mistakes Charlie Owen (Robert Schable) for an acquaintance. A gossipy friend of Owen's discovers innocent Mary in a compromising position, and her only way out is to pretend that she is a wealthy heiress. She winds up staying with Loftus Walford and his wife (Edward Martindel and Sylvia Ashton). They try to fix her up with their son, Blake (Tom Gallery), but he hesitates because of her supposed fortune. Mary finds herself in even more trouble when she is implicated in a jewel robbery, but her innocence is eventually established. When he discovers that she is actually poor, Blake is eager to wed Mary. ZaSu Pitts was playing leads in films by 1922; she probably shows up in a supporting role here merely because she was married to leading man Tom Gallery. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Agnes Ayres, Tom Gallery, (more)
