The Hoodlum

This film is a typical Mary Pickford vehicle from the middle phase of her career. Mary plays the spoiled granddaughter of ruthless industrialist Alexander Guthrie (Ralph Lewis) whom her father, sociologist John Burke (T. D. Crittenden), takes on a study- and book-writing trip to the slums of New York. There she has a change of heart... There are several things I liked about this picture, which Mary Pickford's own company produced and which she consequently strongly influenced. In particular the scenes in the slum - 'slum' not in the sense of shanty town but rather in that of cheap neighbourhood - are well done and historically highly interesting. They were evidently filmed on location and offer insights into how recent immigrants of diverse ethnic backgrounds and poor New Yorkers were living in the early 20th century. It is also very well-acted. Pickford is lively and at least in the latter part of the film charming, Lewis plays the industrialist with aplomb and Pickford's love interest Kenneth Harlan convinces as well. On the other hand: Pickford begins by playing a little girl. She acts in front of slightly oversized furniture so that she appears to be maybe 8 or 10 years old. In the space of what, according to the plot of the film, can only be a few months she turns into a teenager and finally into a young woman whose marriage we are witnessing. Strange. Also, her conversion from spoilt brat to understanding young woman is handled poorly. All that is necessary is her father telling her that in order to get on with the people in the slum she has to become one of them. Suddenly she dresses as if she had spent all her life in that neighbourhood, speaks the slang and generally gets on famously with kids and adults alike. Still, all in all this is an interesting and entertaining film. I am happy I watched it.

Mary Pickford's appeal as `America's Sweetheart' is very clear in this film. While many of her fellow actors use an excessively theatrical style, she is totally natural. She inhabits her character completely and, contrary to the stereotype of her films, that character is anything but sweet for most of the movie. In fact, much of the delight of watching her is in enjoying her bad behavior!

Another impressive facet of the film is the authentic-looking slum where Amy Burke (Pickford's character) spends most of her time. Although created at a Hollywood studio, the slum almost smells like old New York.

The film does employ some ethnic stereotypes common at the time – but the poor characters are generally treated with affection, while the rich are seen as uncaring and in need of enlightenment. Also, it seems notable that Amy associates with ALL the kids of the slum neighborhood, not just those of her own ethnic group.

THE HOODLUM is perhaps one of Mary Pickford's lesser known silent films, but it's a total delight. And she does not play "little Mary," in this one, but plays an older version of her famous and beloved character.

We first see Pickford as Amy Burke, a rich little terror who throws hysterical fits when she can't have her way. She's maybe 16-ish, in school, but she drives a car (a "white racer"). Her grandfather (Ralph Lewis) is planning a trip to Europe but she pitches a fit for some reason and decides to go live with her father on Craigen Street in New York City while he finishes up his sociological study for his book. Snooty Amy has a major culture shock as she adjusts to life in the slums.

So Pickford becomes one of the "gang," learns to fit in, and also learns through a neighbor (Kenneth Harlan) that her grandfather framed him and sent him to jail. Of course all wrongs are righted by the end of the film.

Pickford is hilarious as she shoots craps with loaded dice, runs from the police, dances a wild tango in an alley, and eventually settles the score between the wronged man (whom she marries) and her grandfather.

The film is great looking with a terrific "Craigen Street" set that includes tenement hallways and stairs, fire escapes, and alleys. The film is briskly directed by Sidney Franklin and boasts some beautiful title cards by Ferdinand Pinney Earle, who was the major title card artist of his time, and whose art sometimes resembles that of Edward Hopper.

But Mary Pickford is center stage here whether she's trashing her mansion bedroom, driving wildly down country roads, or dancing in an alley. Aggie Herring, Melvin Messinger, and Max Davidson (as Isaacs) co-star.

Bratty young Mary Pickford (as Amy Burke) lives a life filled with tantrums in her fancy Fifth Avenue mansion, while wealthy grandfather Ralph Lewis (as Alexander Guthrie) wheels and deals. At first, Ms. Pickford is thrilled when Mr. Lewis announces a trip to Europe. She wants to go shopping. For no particular reason, Pickford decides she doesn't want to travel. It could be a woman's prerogative, or Pickford may be missing writer daddy Dwight Crittendon (as John Burke), an apparent sociologist. When her father suddenly returns, Pickford moves with him to slummy Craigen Street, where he plans to work on a book.

So, Pickford goes from pampered rich girl to street hoodlum - it's a struggle, but Pickford's plucky.

Previously, one of Mr. Lewis' business endeavors required the jailing of an innocent man, arousing bachelor Kenneth Harlan (as John Graham). Mr. Harlan turns out to be one of Pickford's ghetto neighbors. Pickford thinks Harlan might make good husband material, unaware he is plotting against her grandfather, who canceled his trip to Europe and has also moved into the area. "The Hoodlum" is hospitable Pickford fare. Her "little girl" character is broadly played, and provides salvation. Some of the early sequences are not pieced together well; for example, Pickford's father should have returned before she declined the European trip.

And, the early running time plays more painful than funny (especially for animals), and out of place.

But, once the story moves to an artificially created poor side of town, the film becomes quite visually strong. Scene-stealing street kid Melvin "Buddie" Messinger (as Dish Lowry) looks like the template for an early Mickey Rooney. Pickford's director Sidney Franklin, photographer Charles Rosher, and editor Edward McDermott combine camera shots and coordinate personnel to marvelous effect; their screen is incredibly alive. Though this is not one of Pickford's strongest overall characterizations, she excels in several sequences; a highlight features her lost in a bluesy-tinted New York City rainstorm, without an umbrella.

******* The Hoodlum (8/31/19) Sidney Franklin ~ Mary Pickford, Ralph Lewis, Kenneth Harlan, Buddy Messinger

When I sat down to watch The Hoodlum quite frankly I was expecting a gangster film of sorts even though it starred Mary Pickford. It was not what I thought it would be given the title, but it was a chance for Mary to show off her considerable talent and appeal.

The Hoodlum finds Mary the granddaughter of Ralph Lewis a John D. Rockefeller like tycoon who gives her whatever she needs. The mansion she lives in looks very much modeled on the Rockefeller Estate in Pocantico Hills in Tarrytown, New York. She's spoiled and bored and after a tiff with granddad, goes to live with her father on Craigen Street in the middle of a slum in the inner city. But father who is writing a sociological urban treatise has precious little time for her also, so Mary learns the ways of Craigen Street very fast.

If Mary Pickford wasn't America's Sweetheart she might well have been called America's Imp from this film. In The Hoodlum she gets to show off her considerable comedic talents when fleeing from the law. The family chauffeur 'let' her drive the car and her speeding results in a hilarious car chase with the local law. And her second chase seen with a city cop after she cleans the clocks of the other kids in a crap game is worthy of anything Mack Sennett or Charlie Chaplin might have done in their films.

The Hoodlum is a different take on Mary Pickford and one her considerable legion of fans should not miss.