1921 was last time Pickford made three movies in one year, reflecting the meticulous care she took in producing her brand of films. Her earlier May 1921 "Through The Back Door" has Pickford's brother Jack listed as co-director. Jack had just experienced the tragic accidental death of his wife, Olive Thomas, and became greatly depressed. To lift his spirits, Mary felt if he were busy in assisting directing "Through The Back Door," he would get out of his funk. But by all accounts people involved say he did next to nothing to deserve credit as a co-director to Alfred Green. Jack was also listed as co-director in "Little Lord Fauntleroy," also with Green, but it was another two years before he resumed his acting career in a self-produced film, 1923's 'Garrison's Finish."
Pickford's strong forte as a producer was always selecting stories that were sentimental yet tailor-made to her on-screen personality. Sometimes it didn't hurt the plot consisted of a younger version of the adult protagonist, which is exactly what happens in "Through The Back Door." The narrative has the actress as a 10-year-old daughter to a Belgian widowed mother, whose new marriage to a rich man, a child-hater, has Pickford left with a maid while the couple relocate to America. Several years later, during World War One, the now-adult Pickford immigrates to America. Not letting on whom she is, Mary becomes a house maid to her mother. Things get interesting when she gets wind of an embezzlement plan to fleece her mother and hubby.
