Poor Little Peppina (1916)

A little girl is kidnapped by the Mafia in revenge for her father's help in capturing one of the mobsters. She is presumed dead, but in reality is spirited away to Italy, where she is ... See full summary »

Director:

Sidney Olcott

Writer:

Kate Jordan (story)

Stars:

Mary Pickford, Eugene O'Brien, Antonio Maiori

Cast

Cast overview:
Mary Pickford	...	Peppina
Eugene O'Brien	...	Hugh Carroll
Antonio Maiori	...	Soldo
Ernest Torti	...	Pietro
Edwin Mordant	...	Robert Torrens
Jack Pickford	...	Beppo
Edith Shayne	...	Mrs. Torrens
Cesare Gravina	...	Villato
William T. Carleton	...	Detective Chief
N. Cervi	...	Dominica
Mrs. A. Maiori	...	Bianca
Francesca Guerra	...	The Stoker

Storyline

A little girl is kidnapped by the Mafia in revenge for her father's help in capturing one of the mobsters. She is presumed dead, but in reality is spirited away to Italy, where she is raised as the daughter of a kindly couple. When she is betrothed to the cruel padrone, she disguises herself as a boy and stows away to America, where she finds herself once again in the clutches of the mobster who originally kidnapped her. But this time luck and her own pluck are with her, and the tables are soon turned.

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Plot Keywords:

italy | mafia | gender disguise | kidnapping | stowaway | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 March 1916 (USA)

Also Known As:

Little Peppina

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mary Pickford Company

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in Mary Pickford: A Life on Film (1997)

User Reviews

Interesting Film

Poor Little Peppina is the story of a little girl who is kidnapped in the middle of the night by an escaped convict and his mafia. Her parents are led to believe that their daughter drowned with the convict who kidnapped her and are devastated. However, the girl was really sent to live in another home as Peppina, their daughter.

Years later, Peppina refuses to marry a disgusting old man that has paid for her hand in marriage, so she dresses as a boy and escapes.

For a 1916 film, this one has a surprisingly good plot filled with twists and turns. The photography is more advanced than one might expect; the film is not entirely shot far away from the actors.

Mary Pickford is good in her role, but her part is not very typical. Instead of being able to show off her vibrant personality, Pickford is restrained in the film, but effectively so.

Jack Pickford, Mary's brother, has a small part as her "brother" in the film, one of the few times the two were in a film together. In their scenes together, they seem genuinely close, but his character fades away near the end.

Most of the actors use elaborate stage gestures throughout the film, but this is appropriate since the characters are supposed to be Italian.

Overall, this is an engaging film.