Coquette (1929)

Director:

Sam Taylor

Writers:

George Abbott (play) and
Ann Preston Bridgers (play) ...

Release Date:

6 April 1929 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A flirtatious southern belle is compromised with one of her beaus.

Plot Keywords:

Southern Belle | Doctor | 1920s | Reputation | Murder

Awards:

Won Oscar.

Cast

Mary Pickford	...	Norma Besant
Johnny Mack Brown	...	Michael Jeffery (as John Mack Brown)
Matt Moore	...	Stanley 'Stan' Wentworth
John St. Polis	...	Dr. John M. Besant
William Janney	...	James 'Jimmy' Besant
Henry Kolker	...	Dist. Atty. Jasper Carter
George Irving	...	Robert 'Bob' Wentworth
Louise Beavers	...	Julia (the maid)

Runtime:

76 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (MovieTone)

Certification:

USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Pickford Corporation

Trivia:

Mary Pickford's first Talkie.

Movie Connections:

Edited into "The American Experience: Mary Pickford (#17.6)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

NOBODY KNOWS DE TROUBLE I'VE SEEN

Mary Pickford's great concern--that future generations would laugh openly at the outdated style of her old movies--is borne out in full fruition in this absolutely miserable film.

The irony is that the most obvious problem facing director Sam Taylor, that of convincing the audience that our heroine is not middle-aged society matron Mary Pickford, but the youthful and titular Norma Besant, is sufficiently disguised so that the camera and film technology available in 1929 do not betray that much of Mary's true appearance. Older actresses have pulled off such deceptions, to great success, in stage performances; unfortunately this, essentially "filmed play," never does raise itself cinematically above the credibility level of the rotten, arthritic showboat melodrama it is. Admittedly a 1929 talkie probably had to double as a silent movie in theatres yet unequipped for sound, but many silent movies were better than this. Mary Pickford's and co.'s performances are so overripe as to leave a modern audience in tears--from laughter. George Abbott, co-author of the original stage drama, would do far better in his book for the classic Rodgers and Hart musical Boys from Syracuse a few years hence, and as director for such memorable goodies as Damn Yankees and Pajama Game. The fact that Pickford won a Best Actress nod for this spleen-fest is one for the What Were They Thinking? file.