PamelaShort Review of The Pride of the Clan

The Pride of the Clan (1917)

" Mary Has Close Call During Production Of The Pride Of The Clan "

[8/10 · 29 August 2013]

I have just read that this beautifully and skillfully filmed movie is now being restored. The dark and faded print I have viewed, absolutely does not give justice to the film, as it would have looked when first shown in 1917. Mary Pickford was never the most reliable judge of her own movies, and she dismissed this film as a failure. It is anything but, as reviews at the time were favourable, noting the outstanding artistic atmosphere, that permeates throughout the entire film. Maurice Tourneur and his crew, brought a striking sense of composition and lighting to this picture, that was clearly 10 years ahead of its time. The films screenplay has plenty of action and allows Mary Pickford to completely demonstrate her unique versatility as the feisty and courageous Scottish girl. Perhaps Mary's feelings about this film were influenced by the memory of an incident that occurred during the production of the "Pride Of The Clan" that could of cost her, her life. At the climax of the film, Mary is in a sinking boat. As the others in the cast were already lowered into a dingy, Mary recalls in her autobiography, she remembered she had left her makeup kit in the cabin and went back for it. She writes: The odd thing about it is that no one noticed me heading back into the boat... Midway to the cabin a voice stopped me. I heard it say very clearly, "Don't you go there!" I rushed back just as Mr.Tourneur was about to step over the edge. We were now in water up to our knees. Startled to find me still aboard, he grasped my hand and helped me into the lifeboat. When this enjoyable and fascinating Mary Pickford film is restored and released, I will definitely watch it again and encourage others to take a look.