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The Little American

  • 19171917
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 20m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
686
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Mary Pickford in The Little American (1917)
  • Drama
  • Romance
  • War
A young American has her ship torpedoed by a German U-boat but makes it back to ancestral home in France, where she witnesses German brutality firsthand.A young American has her ship torpedoed by a German U-boat but makes it back to ancestral home in France, where she witnesses German brutality firsthand.A young American has her ship torpedoed by a German U-boat but makes it back to ancestral home in France, where she witnesses German brutality firsthand.
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
686
YOUR RATING
  • Directors
    • Cecil B. DeMille(uncredited)
    • Joseph Levering(uncredited)
  • Writers
    • Jeanie Macpherson(by)
    • Cecil B. DeMille(uncredited)
    • Clarence J. Harris(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Mary Pickford
    • Jack Holt
    • Raymond Hatton
Top credits
  • Directors
    • Cecil B. DeMille(uncredited)
    • Joseph Levering(uncredited)
  • Writers
    • Jeanie Macpherson(by)
    • Cecil B. DeMille(uncredited)
    • Clarence J. Harris(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Mary Pickford
    • Jack Holt
    • Raymond Hatton
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 13User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos30

    Edythe Chapman and Mary Pickford in The Little American (1917)
    Jack Holt and Mary Pickford in The Little American (1917)
    Jack Holt and Mary Pickford in The Little American (1917)
    Walter Long and Mary Pickford in The Little American (1917)
    Mary Pickford in The Little American (1917)
    Jack Holt and Mary Pickford in The Little American (1917)
    The Little American (1917)
    The Little American (1917)
    The Little American (1917)
    The Little American (1917)
    The Little American (1917)
    The Little American (1917)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Mary Pickford
    Mary Pickford
    • Angela Mooreas Angela Moore
    Jack Holt
    Jack Holt
    • Karl von Austreimas Karl von Austreim
    Raymond Hatton
    Raymond Hatton
    • Count Jules de Destinas Count Jules de Destin
    Hobart Bosworth
    Hobart Bosworth
    • German Colonelas German Colonel
    Walter Long
    Walter Long
    • German Captainas German Captain
    James Neill
    James Neill
    • Sen. John Mooreas Sen. John Moore
    Ben Alexander
    Ben Alexander
    • Bobby Mooreas Bobby Moore
    Guy Oliver
    Guy Oliver
    • Frederick von Austreimas Frederick von Austreim
    Edythe Chapman
    Edythe Chapman
    • Mrs. von Austreimas Mrs. von Austreim
    Lillian Leighton
    Lillian Leighton
    • Angela's Great Auntas Angela's Great Aunt
    DeWitt Jennings
    DeWitt Jennings
    • English Barristeras English Barrister
    Wallace Beery
    Wallace Beery
    • German Soldieras German Soldier
    • (uncredited)
    Olive Corbett
    • Nurseas Nurse
    • (uncredited)
    Lucile Dorrington
    • Nurseas Nurse
    • (uncredited)
    Clarence Geldert
    Clarence Geldert
    • Submarine Commander U-Boat 21as Submarine Commander U-Boat 21
    • (uncredited)
    Carl Gerard
    Carl Gerard
    • Reverendas Reverend
    • (uncredited)
    Robert Gordon
    • Wounded Soldieras Wounded Soldier
    • (uncredited)
    Gordon Griffith
    Gordon Griffith
    • Childas Child
    • (uncredited)
    • Directors
      • Cecil B. DeMille(uncredited)
      • Joseph Levering(uncredited)
    • Writers
      • Jeanie Macpherson(by) (screenplay)
      • Cecil B. DeMille(uncredited)
      • Clarence J. Harris(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    German-American Karl and French-American Jules are in love with Angela when each returns to his country as war breaks out. She sails for France and while there is nearly raped by Karl as the Germans invade. She is later arrested for sending secret messages to Jules but Karl defends her. Both are saved from execution by the arrival of the French forces and Count Jules —Ed Stephan <stephan@cc.wwu.edu>
    • war propaganda
    • military uniform
    • u boat
    • prussian
    • ocean liner
    • 25 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • The Screen's Greatest Patriotic Message (Print Ad-Daily Republican, ((Cape Girardeau, Mo.)) 6 November 1917)
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Romance
      • War
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Film debut of Ramon Novarro.
    • Goofs
      When Angela is returning to her bedroom after taking of the German commander's boots, the shot of her approaching the door is shown twice.
    • Quotes

      Count Jules De Destin: Since you are determined to stay, Mademoiselle, you may render France a great service.

    • Alternate versions
      The George Eastman House version in their Motion Picture Study Collection has an uncredited piano score and runs 76 minutes.
    • Connections
      Featured in The House That Shadows Built (1931)

    User reviews13

    Review
    Top review
    5/10
    Strategic château
    According to his autobiography The Little American is the film that Cecil B. DeMille wanted to make with Mary Pickford. Both were strong supporters of the Allied cause in World War I. But Adolph Zukor wanted a box office draw with a western so A Romance Of The Redwoods was done first. DeMille envisioned The Little American as part of his contribution to the propaganda war effort. And Pickford was well known for her bond tours with her husband Douglas Fairbanks.

    The Little American has Mary Pickford a daughter of the a US Senator and being courted by two men, German-American Jack Holt who receives orders to return to the Fatherland for an officer's commission in the newly declared war and French diplomat Raymond Hatton similarly ordered home. Pickford's family has a château in France and she travels there to be a nurse. But her ocean liner is torpedoed like the Lusitania and she eventually gets there.

    But as it turns out the château is in German occupied territory and she's asked to do a little espionage. And who do you think is among the Germans occupying, none other than Holt.

    As this was a film that DeMille himself labels a contribution to the war effort a lot of it can be dismissed. Pickford was her heroic best as The Little American. Some aspects of the real life Edith Cavell story are incorporated here with a lot more happy ending.

    As for the German atrocities. They'd have to wait until the next war when Hollywood couldn't make up what they did in real life.
    helpful•1
    1
    • bkoganbing
    • Jun 12, 2014

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 12, 1917 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Маленькая американка
    • Filming locations
      • 2000 De Mille Drive Los Feliz, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Mary Pickford Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $166,949 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 20 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Silent
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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