Stella Maris (1918)

Stella Maris is a beautiful, crippled girl, who is cared for by a rich family. They shield her from the harsh realities of the world, so that she has no idea of the cruel things that some ... See full summary »

Director:

Marshall Neilan

Writers:

William J. Locke (from the novel by), Frances Marion (photoplay)

Stars:

Mary Pickford, Ida Waterman, Herbert Standing

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Mary Pickford	...	Miss Stella Maris / Unity Blake
Ida Waterman	...	Lady Eleanor Blount - aka Aunt Julia
Herbert Standing	...	Sir Oliver Blount
Conway Tearle	...	John Risca - also Spelled Riska
Marcia Manon	...	Louisa Risca - also Spelled Louise Riska
Josephine Crowell	...	Aunt Gladys Linden

Storyline

Stella Maris is a beautiful, crippled girl, who is cared for by a rich family. They shield her from the harsh realities of the world, so that she has no idea of the cruel things that some people do. Unity Blake is a poor orphan all too familiar with the harsh realities of the real world. These two young women both fall in love with John, love which is complicated by the fact that he is still married to (though separated from) a bad wife.

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Plot Keywords:

orphan | paralysis | starvation | adoption | invalid | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

USA

Release Date:

21 January 1918 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Busch Gardens - S. Grove Avenue, Pasadena, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Pickford Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min 84 min (alternate)

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When John Riska returns to his house one night, Unity offers him a 'Sally Lun' (sic). A 'Sally Lunn' is a type of bread, from Bath in the English West Country. The recipe is said to have come to the area courtesy of a French immigrant in the 17th century. It can be served sliced horizontally and toasted, with sweet or savoury toppings such as plain or flavoured butters, jam and clotted cream.

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Quotes

[first title card]
intertitle: Stella Maris, paralyzed from childhood, has been tenderly shielded from all the sordidness and misery of life. So she dwells serenly within a dream-world created by those who love her, unaware of sorrow, poverty, or death.

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Connections

Version of Stella Maris (1953)

User Reviews

Fine Silent Melodrama With Outstanding Dual Performance By Mary Pickford

This is a fine old silent melodrama with an outstanding dual performance by Mary Pickford, certainly one of her greatest accomplishments. The story itself is quite good, and the rest of the cast is solid as well, but it is Pickford who holds your attention from start to finish with a wonderful portrayal of two very different characters.

Both of her characters are wonderful creations, and Pickford's portrayals bring both of them to life convincingly and memorably. Stella and Unity have vastly different appearances, life experiences, and personalities, and Pickford even gives them distinctive mannerisms and expressions. This allows the story to bring them together seamlessly in a plot that itself offers good, thoughtful drama and some good comic moments as well. You quickly come to care for both Stella and Unity in different ways, and feel for them as they learn some often difficult lessons about life.

While probably little-known today, "Stella Maris" is a terrific movie, one of the best of its era. If you enjoy silent films, you'll probably find it well worth the trouble to track down.