New documentary on Pickford

MARY PICKFORD: MUSE OF THE MOVIES is a 13-year project about the Canadian-born star's career and narrated by

Michael YORK, well-known British actor  http://www.michaelyork.net/

of theater, films and T.V. the actor will attend the screening at Pordenone.  THE PORDENONE INTERNATIONAL SILENT FILM FESTIVAL, Pordenone, Italy ( October 04 - October 11 )

Called in Italian “The Le Giornati Cinema Muto”, is the world’s foremost exhibition venue for silent-era films held annually in the small Italian town of Pordenone about 40 miles outside Venice.

The Pordenone Film Festival is a showcase for rediscovered and restored silent films as well as sound films which cover the era. Every feature is selected for its high photographic quality and its careful reproduction of the color tinted prints, and stunning “black and whites”. This year’s 27th Pordenone International Film Festival is a dedicated tribute to the Life and Films of Silent Film Actress and Movie Pioneer, Mary Pickford. The Library of Congress has recently restored Pickford’s 1926 Silent Classic SPARROWS which will be shown at the opening night gala accompanied by a “live” full orchestra. Highlighting this year’s Festival is the European Premiere of the Earthlight/White Castle production “Mary Pickford, The Muse of the Movies” This documentary will be shown in the large Verdi Theater along with an appearance by the film’s narrator Michael York.

Mary Pickford: MUSE OF THE MOVIES

‘Mary Pickford, The Muse of the Movies’ traces the life and work of this legendary silent film star, movie pioneer, and keen businesswoman. Pickford’s life (1892-1979) also parallels an even larger story, telling of the “birth of the cinema” itself. Pickford co-created United Artists Studios, spearheaded the founding of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, as well as established the Motion Picture Retirement Home. Mary, known as “America’s Sweetheart” was the first actress to earn one million dollars, and only star to ever receive a 50% profit share of her movies. She was the first actor, male or female, to have her name placed on the Cinema’s marquee along with the film’s title, and she was the first to win an Oscar for Best Actress in a “sound” motion picture for her performance in the 1929 film “Coquette”. In 1976, Mary was presented with her second Academy Award for her humanitarian work.

In this documentary, through restored vintage audio recordings, Pickford narrates her own story along with actor Michael York. Classic film clips, rare home movies, and cameo interviews with Adolph Zukor (founder of Paramount Studios), famed aviator Amelia Earhart, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Lillian Gish, Buddy Rogers (Pickford’s last husband), as well as the only interview ever given by Pickford’s daughter, Roxanne Rogers Monroe, give the viewer an in depth look into the early world of the American cinema.

MARY PICKFORD: THE MUSE OF THE MOVIES (USA, 2008)

Production: Earthlight, White Castle Productions, in collaboration with The Mary Pickford Foundation, Museum of Modern Art New York, George Eastman House, Library of Congress, International Documentary Association, Caroline Victoria Coldicutt Foundation for the Arts; p: Elizabeth Wood Coldicutt, Nicholas Eliopoulos. d/ed: Nicholas Eliopoulos; ph (interviews): M.David Mullens, Joe Mustacchi; narration written by: Janelle Balnicke, spoken by: Michael York; with original voice of Mary Pickford; mus: David Michael Frank. Titles/graphics: Adrienne Humphreys. With Mary Pickford, Charles Buddy Rogers, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Lillian Gish, Amelia Earhart, Charles Chaplin, D.W. Griffith, Adolph Zukor, Roxanne Monroe (Mary Pickford’s daughter), Walt Disney, Lionel Barrymore, Mack Sennett. Digibeta, 24fps, 102’.

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