Johanna Enlists (1918)

A young girl, stifling on her father's backwoods farm, is reinvigorated by the arrival of an army regiment, come to train in the area.

Director:

William Desmond Taylor

Writers:

Rupert Hughes (story), Frances Marion

Stars:

Mary Pickford, Anne Schaefer, Fred Huntley

Cast

Cast overview:
Mary Pickford	...	Johanna Renssaller
Anne Schaefer	...	Ma Renssaller
Fred Huntley	...	Pa Renssaller
Monte Blue	...	Pvt. Vibbard
Douglas MacLean	...	Capt. Archie van Renssaller
Emory Johnson	...	Lt. Frank Le Roy
John Steppling	...	Maj. Wappington
Wallace Beery	...	Col. Fanner
Wesley Barry	...	Johanna's Brother
June Prentis	...	Twin, Johanna's Sister
Jean Prentis	...	Twin, Johanna's Sister

Storyline

A young girl, stifling on her father's backwoods farm, is reinvigorated by the arrival of an army regiment, come to train in the area.

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Plot Keywords:

world war one | female protagonist | character name in title

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 September 1918 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mobilizing of Johanna

Company Credits

Production Co:

Pickford Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

72 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in Without Lying Down: Frances Marion and the Power of Women in Hollywood (2000)

User Reviews

Mary Pickford: Country Girl

Minor Pickford film but still a treat as Mary plays Joahanna, a country girl who prays for a beau only to find an entire regiment of horse soldiers camping out in a field. They're en route to Europe but have to lay up because a young lieutenant is ill.

Well little freckle-faced Johanna attracts the attention of the lieutenant (Emory Johnson), the company adjutant (Douglas MacLean), and a sad-sack private (Monte Blue). The guys jockey for position while Johanna takes a crash course (via magazines) on beauty (taking a milk bath in a wooden tub) and grace (dancing around in sheets a la Ruth St. Denis.

Eventually the private strikes the lieutenant and there is a court martial just before the regiment pulls out. But the officers seem more interested in which guy Johanna will choose (especially after the charges are dropped).

Lots of nice little touches and bits of comedy. Pickford is of course wonderful and adds a few surprises like the silhouette of her stripping and a scene of her in the bath. The guys are all solid. Wallace Beery has a small part as an officer, and that Wesley Barry as the freckly little brother.

The film was directed by William Desmond Taylor (the famous murder victim) and based on a story called "The Mobilization of Johanna" by Rupert Hughes. Frances Marion did the screenplay.

The organ music is uncredited but sounded familiar. My DVD has an alternative ending!