I don't know that I would agree that Mary Pickford directed "Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall", but she was certainly both the line producer and (in partnership with her husband, Douglas Fairbanks) the executive producer. It's true that Mary did take over the direction from time to time when Marshall Neilan was unfit to carry on, but by and large, I think it would be true to say that the credits are on the ball and that Neilan directed the movie. And an excellent job he did too. True, at 135 minutes, the movie is a little overlong, but they are for the most part exciting, fascinating and/or opulent minutes. Nobody is complaining, least of all, me!
Mary delivers a great performance, but she doesn't hog the camera and leaves plenty of room for the other players. I could go through and pick them all out, one by one, but I think it will suffice to say that everyone from co-stars to extras delivers just what is needed to keep the plot moving and all the many events and turns of the screw, both fascinating yet easy to follow!
At 135 minutes, it is certainly a long movie, I'll agree. But they are all for the most fascinating and often hair-raising minutes. This movie was obviously produced on a really top budget - and it's all up there on the screen!
Mary delivers a great performance, but she doesn't hog the camera and leaves plenty of room for the other players. I could go through and pick them all out, one by one, but I think it will suffice to say that everyone from co-stars to extras delivers just what is needed to keep the plot moving and all the many events and turns of the screw, both fascinating yet easy to follow!
At 135 minutes, it is certainly a long movie, I'll agree. But they are all for the most fascinating and often hair-raising minutes. This movie was obviously produced on a really top budget - and it's all up there on the screen!