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We know what you're thinking. Yes, we do. "Mary Pickford was an ACTRESS, and this is Filmmaker Friday. HAVE YOU TAKEN LEAVE OF YOUR SENSES???" To which we would say...
But that's beside the point. Our point is, Mary Pickford was so much more than "just an actress". Mary was a shrewd businesswoman who not only starred in movies (that she made), but had her own company and negotiated lucrative deals for herself. How could we not call her a filmmaker??
1892 - 1979
Mary (originally named Gladys Smith) was born in Toronto. Her father passed away when she was young, and she was raised by a single mother, along with her 2 siblings Jack and Lottie. The 3 siblings were child actors on the stage, as a way to earn money for the family. Mary got the most work, and ended up by herself in touring shows as a teen. It was during these times of travel that she learned the art of negotiation for her career.
Mary pursued Broadway mogul David Belasco for work. Naturally, being a highly successful producer, Mr. Belasco was impossible to get an audition with - but one day, Mary threw a royal fit in his office, demanding to see him or she wouldn't leave! She got the audition, and Mr. Belasco was impressed - but he insisted that she change her name. Gladys Smith became Mary Pickford, and she got a role in his next show!
Mary (far left) with her sister Lottie and brother Jack (all became silent film actors!)
There was always an immense pressure on Mary to provide for her family, as most of their income was coming from her acting career. Needless to say, Mary was relentless about always having work - and in the theatre's off-season, she got into film acting. Mary wasn't too interested in film, as it was considered "beneath" stage acting. A serious actor wouldn't touch it! Well, her mother Charlotte thought differently, and talked her daughter into it. Sometimes, mother knows best!
Mary was first hired by filmmaker D.W. Griffith, who was impressed with her talent but said she was "too little and too fat". Are. You. Kidding. Me?! Nevertheless, he hired her as an extra, and she quickly got bigger roles. Her skills of negotiating got her pay doubled in her first year! This. Is hustle! It was during her early years in film that she eloped with actor Owen Moore, much to Charlotte's disapproval. Girrrrrl....
A magazine endorsement for Pompeian Beauty Products (1922)
Mary soon got picked up by Adolph Zukor's company, Famous Players. The two hit it off beautifully, with Mary referring to him as "Papa" and Adolph treating her as a daughter. She was paid $500 per week, which is what most Americans were making in a whole year! Mary soon became known as "The Most Popular Girl in the World", and was frequently seen in product advertisements as well as film.
In 1915, Mary reviewed Famous Players' books, and saw that her films were making much more than all of the others - yet Mary wasn't getting a percentage of the profits. C'mon, Adolph... Well, with the help of Charlotte the following year, the 2 women re-negotiated a new contract for Mary with Famous Players that included: her own production unit with authority and creative control over her films, 50/50 shared profits with Adolph, $10,000 per week and a negotiation fee! Well played, ladies.
Goofing off with her best friend Charlie Chaplin (far left, sans moustache) and her future husband, Douglas Fairbanks
Around this time, Mary's husband became abusive and his drinking was out of control. They were married but separated for a long time. She ended up falling for a handsome actor named Douglas Fairbanks, who was also married at the time. They both wanted to divorce their current spouses and marry each other, but were concerned about the public's reaction and the effects on their careers. Remember, divorce was a dirty word in those days. So for several years, "mum" was the word and they saw each other privately.
United Artists' founders: Mary, D.W., Charlie & Douglas
Well, First National Pictures saw a good thing with Mary, and lured her over to them with an even BIGGER deal than she had with Adolph. After discussing it with him, they parted ways on good terms. Then *oh yes, THEN* Adolph tried to take over First National! See, Adolph had a thing for destroying his competition... Well, Mary had seen enough power playing among studios and decided to make a bold move by starting her own company, where artists truly had control over their films. To heck with "the man"! She, along with Douglas, Charlie Chaplin and D.W., founded United Artists in 1919. Each of them put up $100,000 to start up, and in later years United Artists gained Sam Goldwyn, Jesse L. Lasky, and Rudolph Valentino, just to name a few!
Behind the camera...
...and in front of the camera! "Little Annie Rooney" (1925)
The following year, Douglas gave Mary an ultimatum: "marry me or we're done!" Yes, we're paraphrasing. So, Mary officially divorced Owen and married Douglas a few weeks later. The negative reaction that she feared never happened! After honeymooning in Europe (and being mobbed by crazed fans), they returned to California and built an estate in Beverly Hills, known as Pickfair. Mary continued making successful films, choosing stories in which she played the little girl heroine. She is said to have enjoyed this, as she didn't have much of a childhood herself. However, that started getting old... around the time Mary turned 30. Thirty. Is. Serious. Business, folks.
Her new "thirty-something" image (sans the long curls, which she hated). The public was not on board.
Posing with her Oscar for "Coquette" (1929)
Mary transitioned to sound films and even got an Oscar for her first talkie "Coquette", in which she sported a new, short haircut and an adult character - a whole new image! Unfortunately, audiences were NOT happy about it, and the press was anything but kind about her "growing up", basically calling her a has-been. Good grief, she can't play a little girl forever, people! Mary retired from film acting in 1933, and tried (unsuccessfully) to perform in other venues before withdrawing from the public eye. She and Douglas divorced in 1936, and she soon married actor Charles "Buddy" Rogers (of "Wings" fame). She continued running United Artists until 1956, when she sold her shares in the company. In 1976, she was awarded an honorary Oscar, and sadly passed away in 1979, survived by her husband Buddy.
Although Mary was QUITE an accomplished actress, she was quite a remarkable woman behind the camera as well! View one of her hits, "Little Annie Rooney", below!
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