Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1917)

With her family in financial difficulties, Rebecca is sent to live with her two strict, unfeeling aunts, who do not appreciate the young girl's charm and energy. Rebecca must make new ... See full summary »

Director:

Marshall Neilan

Writers:

Frances Marion, Charlotte Thompson (play),

Stars:

Mary Pickford, Eugene O'Brien, Helen Jerome Eddy

Cast

Cast overview:
Mary Pickford	...	Rebecca Randall
Eugene O'Brien	...	Adam Ladd
Helen Jerome Eddy	...	Hannah Randall
Charles Ogle	...	Mr. Cobb
Marjorie Daw	...	Emma Jane Perkins
Mayme Kelso	...	Jane Sawyer
Jane Wolfe	...	Mrs. Randall (as Jane Wolff)
Josephine Crowell	...	Miranda Sawyer
Jack McDonald	...	Reverend Jonathan Smellie
Violet Wilkey	...	Minnie Smellie
F.A. Turner	...	Mr. Simpson (as Frank Turner)
Kate Toncray	...	Mrs. Simpson
Emily Gerdes	...	Clara Belle Simpson (as Emma Gordes)

Storyline

With her family in financial difficulties, Rebecca is sent to live with her two strict, unfeeling aunts, who do not appreciate the young girl's charm and energy. Rebecca must make new friends and must adjust to surroundings that are sometimes difficult. But she still finds time to think of numerous ways to help others in her new hometown.

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Plot Keywords:

female protagonist | based on novel | based on play | character name in title

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Taglines:

The end of Rebecca's circus career.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 September 1917 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Pleasanton, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mary Pickford Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

78 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The original Broadway production of "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" by Kate Douglas Wiggin and Charlotte Thompson opened at the Theater Republic on October 3, 1910 and ran for 216 performances.

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Connections

Version of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1978)

User Reviews

Mary Pickford is a Joy to Watch

This is an ideal role for Mary Pickford, and she is quite a joy to watch. Young, lively "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" is innocent but not naive; she is charming and warm, but at the same time more than capable of taking care of herself, too - thus the character has all the qualities that Pickford excelled at portraying on screen. It was probably a pretty easy role for her to play, but the result is a delightful little comic melodrama that gives you a good idea of why Pickford came to be so wildly popular in her time.

The story follows the old-fashioned novel fairly closely, beginning with Rebecca sent to live with her two stern, joyless aunts in a new town. Much of the story's appeal lies in the ways that Rebecca responds to her new acquaintances and surroundings, and this is something Pickford does extremely well. Whether sizing up a new girl at school, or simply responding to the decorations in her aunts' home, she is convincing, captivating, sympathetic, and often very funny. And as for comedy, the wonderful circus sequence alone would make the movie worth watching.

It's hard to find this film now, but it's well worth the trouble. Perhaps from a detached point of view, this might not be considered a great movie, since the plot is somewhat predictable and very old-fashioned. But it's a thoroughly pleasurable, thoughtful film, and one filled with fine moments.