Johanna Enlists

I like many, but not all, of Mary Pickford's films. This one is a keeper. I described it above as "fresh." Despite its more than a century age it still feels fresh and vital. I find this far more entertaining than most movie and TV comedies today. I know how important that Ms. Pickford's WWI support was to her. That makes this even more endearing. She's in nearly every scene. She carries the movie beautifully. If you want to see why Mary Pickford's title was "America's Sweetheart" this is a pretty good place to find your answer.

Minor Pickford film but still a treat as Mary plays Joahanna, a country girl who prays for a beau only to find an entire regiment of horse soldiers camping out in a field. They're en route to Europe but have to lay up because a young lieutenant is ill.

Well little freckle-faced Johanna attracts the attention of the lieutenant (Emory Johnson), the company adjutant (Douglas MacLean), and a sad-sack private (Monte Blue). The guys jockey for position while Johanna takes a crash course (via magazines) on beauty (taking a milk bath in a wooden tub) and grace (dancing around in sheets a la Ruth St. Denis.

Eventually the private strikes the lieutenant and there is a court martial just before the regiment pulls out. But the officers seem more interested in which guy Johanna will choose (especially after the charges are dropped).

Lots of nice little touches and bits of comedy. Pickford is of course wonderful and adds a few surprises like the silhouette of her stripping and a scene of her in the bath. The guys are all solid. Wallace Beery has a small part as an officer, and that Wesley Barry as the freckly little brother.

The film was directed by William Desmond Taylor (the famous murder victim) and based on a story called "The Mobilization of Johanna" by Rupert Hughes. Frances Marion did the screenplay.

The organ music is uncredited but sounded familiar. My DVD has an alternative ending!

Frustrated teenage hillbilly Mary Pickford prays for a man and gets 1000 of them when a troop of hunky soldiers makes camp opposite her family's homestead in this lightweight comedy. For once, Pickford is playing a girl who has reached the age of consent instead of the overly cute 12-year-olds for which she was so popular at this point in her career. And while her natural radiance prevents Pickford from achieving the plainness for which she is aiming in the film's opening scene, ill-fated director William Desmond Taylor convincingly transforms her from gawky ingenue to desirable woman.

Constantly threatened with a "larruping" if she steps out of line, "Johanna" (Mary Pickford) lives with her ma (Anne Schaefer) and pa (Fred Huntley) on their farm in the middle of nowhere. She's bored and a bit hormonal and so imagine her delight when an whole army regiment turns up nearby to do some training. Instantly, she proves to be a bit of an hit and takes a bit of a shine to "Pte. Vibbard" (Monty Blue) but it's not that simple. "Lieut. Le Roy" (Emory Johnson) takes an interest in her and, well she's not so keen on him. What now ensues sees a bit of a struggle emerge between the two soldiers vying for position - seemingly regardless of her fairly obvious choice. Aside from Pickford owing the screen and Schaefer enthusiastically dishing out her beatings, this is all a rather unremarkable drama that disappointingly peters out. It even borders on the propagandist as it heads towards a distinctly "let's get the germ out of Germany" conclusion. On that score, there are two to pick from so stick around after the credits. As a story about a young person devoid of company and excitement it works fine, but there's not enough action and the comedy is just too predictable to make it stick in the mind.

Freckle-faced country girl Mary Pickford (as Johanna Ransallar) is going through that "coming of age" stage; trouble is, on her shabby farm, there are no men to get "boy crazy" over. The married handyman is sent off at the butt of father Fred Huntley (as Paw Ransallar)'s rifle; leaving Ms. Pickford no one to pine for. Desperate, Pickford asks the Lord, "…send me a beau!" Then, an entire regimen of young men arrive; they are Great War soldiers, who encamp by the Ransallar farm. The ailing "beautifulest", Emory Johnson (as Frank Le Roy), is sent to recuperate in Pickford's bed. When Pickford prays, the Lord doesn't mess around, obviously. With so many men, Pickford is naturally attracted to others, including Monte Blue and Douglas MacLean. Who will Pickford choose?

"Johanna Enlists" is a near-miss Pickford classic; the star is as delightful as ever, suffering through her "growing pains". William Desmond Taylor, Charles Rosher, and Wilfred Buckland create some wonderful images. Precocious freckle-faced little brother Wesley Barry (as Jake Ransallar) is excellent throughout. Wallace Beery (as Colonel Roberts) appears briefly. The adaptation never really engages, however, after the regimen arrives. The trial is not very captivating; and, there is no real romantic relationship shown between Pickford and any of the men. The "alternate ending" is better; unfortunately, the left intact "Colonel Mary Pickford…" scene punctuates the film absurdly.

******* Johanna Enlists (9/15/18) William Desmond Taylor ~ Mary Pickford, Wesley Barry, Emory Johnson