Mary Pickford Rediscovered is a wonderful book, for it allows the reader to follow Pickford's career in films both through the text and through the large number of pictures which bring this writing to life. The main body of the book comprises Kevin Brownlow's film-by-film analysis. His description of these films is fair and even-handed. He is obviously a fan of Pickford, but does not allow this to cloud his judgement. His commentary includes criticisms when these are just, but this means that when he does praise a particular film there is a sense that the film has real merit.

Brownlow's balanced opinions contrast rather with those of Robert Cushman, who provides a long introduction to the book. In his justified desire to raise Mary Pickford to the position she deserves in film history, Cushman, at times, goes rather over-the-top in his admiration. But this is a minor criticism for the introduction is, on the whole, thought provoking and informative.

It is to be hoped that more of Pickford's films might soon be available for viewers to see at home. This book makes the reader long to see the films which are described, so that the magnificent still photographs might move. In this way Mary Pickford could be really rediscovered.

This is the latest book by the leading historian on silent cinema, Kevin Brownlow. Like all of his other works, it is outstanding. Mary Pickford is thought of mostly as the grown up woman who played little girl roles in films that are unwatchable today. However, this is not true. Pickford was an actress of considerable range, not to mention the fact she was a very shrewd businesswoman. She was and is one of the key figures in the history of film. Brownlow, more than any other writer, puts Pickford's career in perspective, and he spends the majority of the book providing detailed commentary about her films. Furthermore, there are many superb stills from her films in this book.

This book is for all lovers of film and should spark renewed interest in Pickford's life and films.

If you've browsed around to find this title, you probably know something about silent films, films in general, or Mary Pickford-and, make no mistake, you are going to love this book. If none of the above applies to you-yet-you are still going to love it! Mary Pickford was an actress of amazing charm and subtlety, very different from the image most of us have of her today, and even without a copy of one of her films nearby(you're going to want to seek them out), the photographs show it, and the wonderful text by Kevin Brownlow supports it. Put this one on your coffee table, and see how many of your friends are suddenly converted to an interest in silent films!

This book tells you everything you need to know regarding how to live your life - and it tells it in such a friendly and charming, non-threatening way that even if you do not begin immediatley to practice the ideas Mary sents forth, it will make you feel good just having read it. And to think that it is written by a famous movie star and Douglas Fairbanks' wife is all the more reason to be amazed by the wisdom and great thoughts that are set down so clearly and simply in this small little book

This book was conceived as an after-dinner conversation at Mrs.Pickford's home in the 30's. The guests were so excited about Ms. Pickford's philosophy, that they urged her to put it in a book. And what a book it is!!! Find it, read, it and use the workable, practical ideas in it to enrich your faith. Even if you have no faith, the book is a priceless guide to overcoming negative thinking. In the tradition of Dr. Norman Vincent Peale (in fact he quotes from it many times in his writings!) The part about failure and a new day, is worth the whole book alone!! A definite gem of a little book!

This is a charming privately published book from 1969 that may well have inspired Kevin Brownlow's recent look at Mary Pickford's features. This one is page after page of reproduced photos and production data from her earliest Biograph shorts from 1908-1912. You can still get a first edition of this title! Very professionally produced though not heavy in data other than photo reproductions and general information on these shorts, nevertheless any Pickford or silent movie buff will treasure this work. It is about 160 pages and loaded with photos you will not find elsewhere. Some of the photo reproduction is not the best as these were taken from the paper print films from the Library of Congress but this book is an invaluable source of silent movie information. (Also of note is the author's claim that Lillian Gish actually made her film debut in an 1909 Pickford short instead of 1912 as is commonly believed. I think the lady in the 1909 is not Lillian although there is a stunning resemblence.)

This book is ideal for anyone who knows absolutely nothing about Mary Pickford. If you've read each and every book about Mary Pickford and/or Douglas Fairbanks then this book is familiar ground and still a pleasure to read.

There are dry spaces and not a lot of surprises. As I said before, if you know next to nothing about Mary Pickford you'll find this a fascinating read. I was pleased to read more about her brother, Jack, and sister, Lottie, then I'd read in other books. It wasn't all negative which is something I've noticed in some bios--the negative is what is the most fascinating.

This book was written with a heavy hand in places but despite the fact that it was old territory for me, I could not put it down once I started. It was detailed beyond belief.

My suggestion is this: If you had any doubts about this book as an investement, it's a good one! It contains the entire life of a woman who was the cornerstone to an industry. The heartbreaking part is that no one, it seems, in Hollywood now seems to care much about the history or the preservation of her legacy. The films are there, but the places are long gone because there is no room in most of Los Angeles for the past.

Although I've read several books on Mary Pickford, I was still glued to my seat as I read this fascinating biography. This book really concentrates on her relationships with her husbands Owen Moore; Douglas Fairbanks, Sr.; and Buddy Rogers. It is also thorough in covering her family of Charlotte, Jack, and Lottie. My only disappointment was that the not much of the actual making of her films was covered in-depth. The book has a perfect title, as she was probably the most powerful person in Hollywood from about 1915 until the coming of sound.

This was one of the very best biographies I have ever read. So much information has been lost about the silent days of cinema, about the places and famous people that were so much apart of that exciting time. Read it for the history, the glimpses of immortals (Chaplin, Griffith, Fairbanks) and for the beginnings of the language of film itself. The author rationalizes Mary's behavior a bit too much, but still manages to paint a portrait of a young working woman with a strong "Stage Mother" and a shrewd (and unfashionable for a woman) business sense. We don't get too much of a sense of who Mary really was from the book, but the author did the best she could, I believe, considering that little "Gladys Mary Smith" had started working in pictures over 80 years ago. And while you may not walk away from the book feeling that you have any better of an idea of who Pickford was, you will have had a finely detailed look into her fascinating world. An incredible read.