In some ways, this film starring Mae Busch reminded me a bit of some of Mary Pickford's films--such as "Daddy Long Legs" (which actually came after "Hoodoo Ann"). It's like that in that the main character is an older teenager who is worked like a dog at an orphanage and who eventually finds happiness through some nice benefactors--but otherwise, "Hoodoo Ann" is much more of a silly but sweet comedy.
The film begins in the orphanage where, oddly, Ann is treated a lot like Cinderella. However, instead of having two mean step-sisters and a step-mother, all the female residents (who look too old to be there as well as frolicking on a playground) and the matrons treat Ann like a sort of slave--making her do all the work. However, when there is a fire at the place, Ann rescues another girl and is a hero. In response, a nice old couple decide to adopt Ann and take her to live with them. There she meets a nice neighbor (Robert Herron) and they fall in love. There is a subplot involving a doll and a black lady who talks about 'hoodoo' (sort of like a voodoo curse) on Ann--but this really is pretty unimportant to the story.
Now towards the last half of the film, the movie takes a really weird shift--away from a sad tale to a funny film. Ann and her new boyfriend go to the cinema and see a film. As Ann is a bit backward, she takes the film way too seriously. She thinks it's all a bit too real and she also goes home and pretends to be an actress. In the process, she dresses up and plays with a gun she thinks isn't loaded--leading to funny circumstances that really improve the overall film. It's rather inconsequential and silly, but also satisfying--and I don't want to say more as it might give away too much.
Overall, Busch was a very pleasant actress with a nice flair for comedy and pathos--and helped to make the film worth seeing. I liked the film very much--but didn't love it. Incidentally, the film was written by D.W. Griffith but not directed by him.
