My Best Girl (1927)

A department store's stock girl falls in love with a co-worker, the son of the store's manager; the feeling is mutual though he is engaged to a debutante and focusing on becoming successful without the influence of his father.

Director:

Sam Taylor

Writers:

Kathleen Norris (from the story by), Allen McNeil (screen play)

Stars:

Mary Pickford, Charles 'Buddy' Rogers, Sunshine Hart

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Mary Pickford	...	Maggie Johnson
Charles 'Buddy' Rogers	...	Joe Grant (as Charles Rogers)
Sunshine Hart	...	Ma Johnson
Lucien Littlefield	...	Pa Johnson
Carmelita Geraghty	...	Liz Johnson
Hobart Bosworth	...	Robert Merrill
Evelyn Hall	...	Esther Merrill
Avonne Taylor	...	Millicent Rogers
Mack Swain	...	The Judge
John Junior	...	Nick Powell

Storyline

Joe Merrill, son of the millionaire owner of a chain of 5 and 10 cent stores, poses as Joe Grant, and takes a job in the stockroom of one of his father's stores, to prove that he can be a success without his father's influence. There he meets stockroom girl Maggie Johnson, and they fall in love. This causes problems, because Mrs. Merrill had planned for her son to marry Millicent Rogers, a high society girl.

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Plot Keywords:

california | department store | party | shopgirl | courtship | 

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Taglines:

A throbbing story of young love set among geegaws of a Five and Ten cent store (Print Ad-Cody Enterprise, ((Cody, Wyo.)) 21 December 1927)

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Mary Pickford's last silent film, released just after The Jazz Singer (1927) with Al Jolson.

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Quotes

Maggie Johnson: I love you, Joe... but I can never, never marry you.
[pause]
Maggie Johnson: It's my family, Joe... they need me more than you do.
Pa Johnson: Like hell we do!

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Alternate Versions

The Mary Pickford Foundation copyrighted a restored version in 1998 with music composed by David Michael Frank and performed by Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic Zlin, Bill Motzing conducting. It was released on video by Milestone Films and runs 80 minutes.

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Connections

Featured in Mary Pickford: A Life on Film (1997)

User Reviews

Charming & Funny

Mary Pickford is as charming and funny as ever in this one. Her role gives her a chance to do what she did best, and it's a lot of fun to watch. 'Buddy' Rogers also makes his character likable and sympathetic, and the combination works very well. While the story is nothing really new - a poor girl working in a store falls in love with the rich owner's son - it's filmed with thoughtfulness, creativity, and plenty of humor.

Even if you don't like romantic comedies, it would be hard not to enjoy the scenes with Pickford and Rogers together. They are winsome, but usually avoid becoming overly cute. The scenario gives them just enough material to work with, and the settings and props are made to fit right in with the engaging characters. Their respective families - sources of difficulty and complications for them both, although ultimately they too are mostly sympathetic - are also nicely worked into the picture.

Pickford certainly had more challenging roles, but "My Best Girl" is one of her most enjoyable films to watch. It is (seemingly) effortlessly entertaining while also letting you into the lives of its characters, with a perfect balance of romance and comedy. Highly recommended.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

None English

Release Date:

31 October 1927 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Caixeirinha

Filming Locations:

The Lot - 1041 N. Formosa Avenue, West Hollywood, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$483,103 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mary Pickford Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min (1998)

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1