My Best Girl (1927)

Director:

Sam Taylor

Writers:

Kathleen Norris (story)
Hope Loring (adaptation)

Release Date:

31 October 1927 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

Have you seen it yet?

Plot:

Joe Merrill, son of the millionaire owner of a chain of 5 and 10 cent stores, poses as Joe Grant, and...

Plot Keywords:

Department Store | Arrest | California | Shopgirl | Engagement

Cast

Mary Pickford	...	Maggie Johnson
Charles 'Buddy' Rogers	...	Joseph 'Joe' Grant (as Charles Rogers)
Sunshine Hart	...	Ma Johnson
Lucien Littlefield	...	Pa Johnson
Carmelita Geraghty	...	Elizabeth 'Liz' Johnson
Hobart Bosworth	...	Robert E. Merrill
Evelyn Hall	...	Esther Merrill
Avonne Taylor	...	Millicent Rogers
Mack Swain	...	The Judge
John Junior	...	Nick Powell

Runtime:

80 min (1998 version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Certification:

Spain:T | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Samuel Goldwyn/Warner Hollywood Studios - 1041 N. Formosa Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Mary Pickford Company

Trivia:

Mary Pickford's last silent film, released just after The Jazz Singer (1927) with Al Jolson.

Quotes:

Maggie Johnson: He’s a swell actor - his uncle knows Lon Chaney!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The American Experience: Mary Pickford (#17.6)" (2005)

Charming & Funny

Mary Pickford is as charming and funny as ever in this one. Her role gives her a chance to do what she did best, and it's a lot of fun to watch. 'Buddy' Rogers also makes his character likable and sympathetic, and the combination works very well. While the story is nothing really new - a poor girl working in a store falls in love with the rich owner's son - it's filmed with thoughtfulness, creativity, and plenty of humor.

Even if you don't like romantic comedies, it would be hard not to enjoy the scenes with Pickford and Rogers together. They are winsome, but usually avoid becoming overly cute. The scenario gives them just enough material to work with, and the settings and props are made to fit right in with the engaging characters. Their respective families - sources of difficulty and complications for them both, although ultimately they too are mostly sympathetic - are also nicely worked into the picture.

Pickford certainly had more challenging roles, but "My Best Girl" is one of her most enjoyable films to watch. It is (seemingly) effortlessly entertaining while also letting you into the lives of its characters, with a perfect balance of romance and comedy. Highly recommended.