"Editha's Burglar" written by Frances Hodgson Burnett and published as a companion piece to the same author's "A Little Princess"(1888). It told the story of Editha, a "strange, bookish child" who surprises a burglar, has a conversation with him, the upshot being he is so affected that he returns all the things he has stolen. It may have been credited with being adapted for the movie but it accounts for a two minute scene at the end of this Baby Peggy vehicle. Only Jackie Coogan was more popular as a child star in the 1920s than Baby Peggy who made almost 150 shorts at Century Studios before Universal snapped her up to appear in their prestigious "Jewel" productions.
"The Selfridge home in New York was like it's owner - proud and unfriendly" but unbeknownst to the family, the youngest daughter Margaret (Gladys Hulette from "Tolable David") has secretly married the man she loves. When Margaret is sent away for her health she returns with her baby but rather than reconciling her parents, the wedge is only deepened and Gary is forced from the house. He cannot be kept from his wife and child and steals back in the night to see them. The old father, knowing full well that the intruder is Gary, calls the police and has him arrested as a burglar.
This is a nice leisurely movie if a bit far fetched - 3 and a half years in prison just for trying to see his wife and child!! He is out now but Margaret has always been told that he "disappeared into the night"!! Her little girl, Peggy, is given every luxury but treated like a pariah - she is not allowed near her mother because her mother is "nervous", her only friends are the cook and the butler!! Taking a leaf out of another classic "The Prince and the Pauper", Peggy finds freedom when she joins some street kids who are willing to swap some freshly swiped bananas for her fancy, frilly dress. After a fruit cart fight turns into a neighbourhood free for all Peggy finds herself lost but makes the acquaintance of a nice man and his dog who takes her to the police station leaving his dog to look after her.
Baby Peggy is a real cutie but is not allowed to run away with the movie so her scenes are a big bonus, as when she is bathing the dog, or leaving a doll on her stool while she explores etc. She seemed to be a good little actress although, strangely, crying didn't seem to be her forte!! Meanwhile Gary is desperate and is persuaded by a fellow ex-con to help him with a robbery that will put them both on easy street. You guessed it - the house is the Selfridge home and little Peggy who just seems to be wandering around the house in the wee small hours (as you do), recognises the burglar as the "nice man" who was kind. There is more drama packed into the last 15 minutes than the entire movie. Still a much better movie than one of the reviewers suggests!!
"The Selfridge home in New York was like it's owner - proud and unfriendly" but unbeknownst to the family, the youngest daughter Margaret (Gladys Hulette from "Tolable David") has secretly married the man she loves. When Margaret is sent away for her health she returns with her baby but rather than reconciling her parents, the wedge is only deepened and Gary is forced from the house. He cannot be kept from his wife and child and steals back in the night to see them. The old father, knowing full well that the intruder is Gary, calls the police and has him arrested as a burglar.
This is a nice leisurely movie if a bit far fetched - 3 and a half years in prison just for trying to see his wife and child!! He is out now but Margaret has always been told that he "disappeared into the night"!! Her little girl, Peggy, is given every luxury but treated like a pariah - she is not allowed near her mother because her mother is "nervous", her only friends are the cook and the butler!! Taking a leaf out of another classic "The Prince and the Pauper", Peggy finds freedom when she joins some street kids who are willing to swap some freshly swiped bananas for her fancy, frilly dress. After a fruit cart fight turns into a neighbourhood free for all Peggy finds herself lost but makes the acquaintance of a nice man and his dog who takes her to the police station leaving his dog to look after her.
Baby Peggy is a real cutie but is not allowed to run away with the movie so her scenes are a big bonus, as when she is bathing the dog, or leaving a doll on her stool while she explores etc. She seemed to be a good little actress although, strangely, crying didn't seem to be her forte!! Meanwhile Gary is desperate and is persuaded by a fellow ex-con to help him with a robbery that will put them both on easy street. You guessed it - the house is the Selfridge home and little Peggy who just seems to be wandering around the house in the wee small hours (as you do), recognises the burglar as the "nice man" who was kind. There is more drama packed into the last 15 minutes than the entire movie. Still a much better movie than one of the reviewers suggests!!