Jack Pickford: In Mary's Shadow

The Mary Pickford Institute has been absolutely wonderful to me. And through them I found Elaina Archer who has made several wonderful documentaries (including the one that was one of my first posts on FTT: Why Be Good?). But one that surprised me was about Mary's brother Jack.

Made in 2001 In Mary's Shadow: The Jack Pickford Story has apparently slipped under the radar in recent years (click here for a clip. Quicktime required). In fairness Elaina tells me it was available only on VHS which might have something to do with that. However there is news that it will be on DVD soon, and of course when it is I will let you all know!

I'm a tad obsessed with the Pickford clan...mostly because they were so fascinating. Lottie may have been a subpar actress and Olive Thomas was trouble all the way...but their stories are what makes them so fascinating. Being an Olive fan I cant say I'm wild about Jack, though I don't subscribe to the murder theories (that is just insane). If there was ever an evenly matched couple in the history of the world it was Jack and Ollie: trouble defined.

Both Jack and Olive were very good actors, though particularly in Jack's case he found life (i.e. partying and ladies) much more exhilarating than acting. One gossip columnist noted how she was at a party sitting next to Rudolph Valentino sure any woman in America would kill to be in her place. Yet every woman at the party could care less...they were after Jack Pickford who was also in attendance.

Elaina's documentary on Jack is quite wonderful. If you look at his career sans his famous sister he was quite an active silent film actor. He made 28 shorts and over 40 features...many of which were very popular particular in the mid 1910s. Many of his films still exist including "Tom Sawyer" (in which Olive has a small bit in the choir during a church scene).

Mary loved Jack, and quite literally favored him. She herself theorized in her autobiography "Sunshine and Shadows" that had Jack not been a Pickford he would have gone on to a great acting career (more accurately if he hadn't been predisposed to alcoholism it probably would have helped greatly). In fact Mary loved him so much that the only way Kevin Brownlow could lure her out of her recluse state was to offer to show a film of Jack's. Despite all the years that passed Mary still thought her brother was one of the best actors of all time.

I think what is most amazing to me is just how many Jack fans there are out there. I never gave it much thought but through writing about Mary and Olive I've had many people write me, asking for more about Jack. I hope the discovery of Elaina's documentary will make them very happy.

It is a bit late notice but if anyone is in Malibu tomorrow (Sunday) The Malibu Friends of Music will be showing Elaina's documentary as well as Tom Sawyer. A little birdy told me both films will also be shown at The Rudolph Valentino Film Festival in May.