Pollyanna
Pollyanna

Movie spotlight

Pollyanna

1920
Movie
58 min
English

When Pollyanna is orphaned, she's sent to live with her crotchety Aunt Polly. Pollyanna discovers that many of the people in her aunt's New England hometown are as ill-tempered as her aunt. But Pollyanna's incurable optimism - exemplified by her "glad game", in which she looks for the bright side of every situation - brings a change to the staid old community.

Insights

IMDb7.2/10
Director: Paul PowellGenres: Drama, Family, Comedy

Plot Summary

Orphaned Pollyanna Whittier is sent to live with her wealthy and stern aunt in a somber New England town. Despite the strict rules and the aunt's cold demeanor, Pollyanna's irrepressible optimism and her "glad game" begin to transform the lives of everyone she meets. Her infectious joy challenges the town's rigid ways, bringing light and hope to even the most jaded hearts.

Critical Reception

Pollyanna was a massive critical and commercial success, solidifying Mary Pickford's status as "America's Sweetheart." Critics lauded Pickford's performance and the film's heartwarming message. It became one of the highest-grossing films of its era and is often cited as a classic of silent cinema.

What Reviewers Say

  • Mary Pickford delivers a captivating and iconic performance.

  • The film's optimistic message resonated deeply with audiences.

  • A touching and sentimental story that became a landmark of silent cinema.

Google audience: Audience reception for this classic film is overwhelmingly positive, with viewers frequently praising Mary Pickford's performance and the enduring, uplifting message of the story.

Fun Fact

The term "Pollyannaish," meaning excessively cheerful and optimistic, originated from the character in this novel and subsequent film.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
Peter McGinn

Peter McGinn

It seems unfair to even review a movie like this. After all, I didn’t find it to be particularly entertaining and I didn’t feel the adaptation from the book was done well. That usually would translate into a low rating for a film, right? ...