Stella Maris (Silent) (DVD)

Stella Maris and Unity Blake are as different as two women can be. Stella is an invalid who cannot walk, yet has her every need taken care of by a rich family. Her wealthy aunt and uncle go to great lengths to shelter her from the cruelties of the outside world. Unity Blake, on the other hand, has known nothing but cruelty. She lives a life of grubby desperation doing what she must to survive on the streets. Their vastly different worlds collide when a kind-hearted journalist, John Risca, takes interest in both of them. Planning to do a story on her condition, John begins visiting the bedridden Stella every day. At the same time, a chance encounter with Unity leads him to take in the bedraggled young urchin as his ward. Soon, both women are hopelessly in love with their handsome young benefactor, but each believes their love in vain - Stella because of her handicap, Unity because of her poor upbringing. That changes when an operation miraculously enables Stella to walk. Unity decides that it is Stella and John's destiny to be together...but neither of them can imagine the lengths she will go to ensure that fate.

Considered by many to be Mary Pickford's greatest film, Stella Maris stars "America's Sweetheart" at the height of her popularity. Frustrated with "little girl" roles, Pickford became interested in adapting William Locke's novel The Star of the Sea after screenwriter Frances Marion read it to her while she was washing her hair. Worries about Pickford being upstaged by whichever actress was cast as the downtrodden Unity Blake were alleviated when Mary impulsively announced she would be playing both Stella and Unity. Studio head Adolph Zukor was concerned about Mary appearing in the unglamorous role, sans makeup and in tight pigtails, but was pleasantly surprised when Stella Maris became a hit with audiences. After its release, no one ever again doubted Pickford's acting ability. It would be remade in 1925 with Mary Philbin in the dual role.

• silent