The Poor Little Rich Girl (1917)
In the National Film Registry
•
1h 3m
A servant's mistake leads to a crisis that forces the parents to reevaluate their priorities.
The Poor Little Rich Girl (1917), a silent film directed by Maurice Tourneur, is an experiment in film's portrayal of childhood and ability to convey social commentary.
While the core story — a lonely rich girl yearning for connection — is familiar, the film's approach is unconventional. Gwendolyn, the protagonist, is played by Mary Pickford, a major silent film star known for portraying youthful characters.
Here, Pickford sheds her usual childlike facade and embodies a genuine, complex child. The film doesn't shy away from portraying her loneliness and frustration with her distant parents.
Social commentary is woven into the narrative. The grandeur of the wealthy home is contrasted with Gwendolyn's isolation. The film critiques the emptiness of materialism and the societal pressures that neglect children's emotional needs. This social critique delivered through a seemingly simple story elevates The Poor Little Rich Girl's significance.
Though not radically experimental in its techniques, The Poor Little Rich Girl's portrayal of childhood and its social commentary nudge the boundaries of silent cinema. It paves the way for future films that would explore these themes with greater depth and complexity.
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