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Mary Pickford

Object Details

Exhibition Label
Born Toronto, Canada
In the early twentieth century, Mary Pickford was arguably the most famous woman in the world. Known as “America’s sweetheart,” she starred in popular films like Tess of the Storm Country (1914) and Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1917). Yet Pickford was also a shrewd businessperson who cofounded United Artists in 1919 and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences in 1927. Born Gladys Smith in Toronto, Pickford came to the United States with her family in 1901. Before she began appearing in movies, she worked with Broadway impresario David Belasco, who recommended she change her name to Mary Pickford. From 1913 to 1919, she was the leading female silent film star. Pickford led the Hollywood war effort during World War I, selling bonds and making such films as Johanna Enlists (1918). An honorary colonel, her character exhorted departing troops: “And don’t you come back ‘til you’ve taken the germ out of Germany!”
Nacida en Toronto, Canadá
Podría decirse que, a principios del siglo XX, Mary Pickford era la mujer más famosa del mundo. Conocida como “La chica adorada de América”, protagonizó populares películas como Tess of the Storm Country (1914) y Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1917). Sin embargo, Pickford era una empresaria inteligente que fue cofundadora de United Artists en 1919 y de la Academia de Artes y Ciencias Cinematográficas en 1927. Nacida con el nombre de Gladys Smith en Toronto, Pickford se mudó a los Estados Unidos con su familia en 1901. Antes de iniciarse como actriz, trabajó con el empresario de Broadway David Belasco, que le recomendó que se cambiara el nombre a Mary Pickford. Entre 1913 y 1919, fue la actriz de cine mudo más destacada. Pickford lideró los esfuerzos de guerra de Hollywood durante la Primera Guerra Mundial, vendiendo bonos y protagonizando películas como Johanna Enlists (1918). Como coronel honoraria, exhortó a las tropas que partían: “¡Y no regresen hasta no haber extirpado ese mal de Alemania!”
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Artist
Sven Brasch, 1886 - 1970
Sitter
Mary Pickford, 8 Apr 1892 - 29 May 1979
Date
1921
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Medium
Linocut poster
Dimensions
Image: 81 x 59.5cm (31 7/8 x 23 7/16")
Sheet: 81 x 61.6cm (31 7/8 x 24 1/4")
Type
Print

Featured In

  • Leading Figures of World War I
  • Let's Go to the Movies
  • Rallying Support for the War Effort (WWI)
  • Twentieth Century Americans: 1900-1930
  • Let's Go to the Movies:Let's Go to the Movies
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