Mary Pickford
SPARROWS – 4K RESTORATION – Blu-ray+DVD Combo
With Sparrows, Mary Pickford once again gave her audience what they wanted by playing “the hoyden, the protector, the fighter.” Mary stars as the oldest of a dozen children held hostage at what was then called a “baby farm” where children of unwed mothers or deserted wives were deposited and then sold illegally to adoptive parents or as slave labor. By creating an empathetic melodrama that pulled on the heart strings, Pickford helped put a spotlight on this evil and increased public awareness and outrage.Directed by William Beaudine, with a stunning set created by Harry Oliver and filmed by three world class cinematographers, Charles Rosher, Karl Struss and Hal Mohr, Sparrows is a beautifully stylized epic, completed just as the industry neared the end of the silent era. Mary’s acting is not only superior, but this is her least glamorous role ever; she had to be a very confident actress to play such a character. Sparrows was reconstructed by the Library of Congress from the best quality film elements, a 35MM nitrate print and a 35MM safety dupe negative. Additional lab work was performed by Colorlab. The Mary Pickford Foundation scanned the preservation elements in 4K, and worked closely Roundabout Entertainment, Inc. to complete all digital work, addressing imperfections to ensure that Sparrows is presented in its best possible form for a modern audience. Since this film is known for its stunning visuals, we worked hard to ensure that audiences today can enjoy it in all its splendor. The Mary Pickford Company commissioned a new, original, orchestral score by the Graves Brothers, which was produced and recorded at the Savannah Studios in Los Angeles. Sparrows includes a souvenir booklet featuring rare photographs and essays by the Mary Pickford Foundation.
Cast – Mary Pickford (Molly), Roy Stewart (Dennis Wayne), Mary Louise Miller (Doris Wayne-the baby), Gustav von Seyffertitz (Mr. Grimes), Charlotte Mineau (Mrs. Grimes)
Director – William Beaudine
Producer – Mary Pickford
Cinematography – Hal Mohr, Charles Rosher, Karl Struss
Writer – Winifred Dunn/Story, George Marion Jr., C Gardner Sullivan (adaptation)
Music – Cameron and Taylor Graves
Bonus Features• 16 page Souvenir booklet featuring rare photographs and essays by the Mary Pickford Foundation.• Rare Outtake “Angel”• Original Theatrical Trailer
Format Blu-ray + DVD
Language Silent with Musical Score
Region All
Audio PCM Stereo & Dolby Digital 5.1
Aspect Ratio HD 4×3 Pillar Boxed
Rating Not Rated
Runtime 95
Year 1926
Color B&W with Color Tints
UPC 089859910227
SRP $29.95
SKU VCI9102
US jazz musicians Taylor and Cameron Graves supplied a lavish score to accompany 1926 Mary Pickford vehicle Sparrows (★★★★), whose sumptuous washes of electronics provided a compelling contrast with the grimness and grime of a film about abandoned children.
- music critic David Kettle in the national Scotland newspaper THE SCOTSMAN.
A new score by Cameron and Taylor Graves was newly added to this edition, resulting in a healthy looking transfer for the 95-minute feature. The disc is nicely packaged by VCI as well featuring essays and rare photographs, making it a must for silent fans.
- The Aisle Seat by Andre Dursin – December 2021
It’s a class act from first frame to last. Restored by the Mary Pickford Foundation from a 35mm tinted nitrate print, and a duplicate negative, it gives a wonderful concept of what the film would have looked like in 1926. It is a Pickford film, and a magnificent one. Kudos to the Pickford Foundation for its work in saving her productions.Let’s briefly discuss image quality. In a nutshell, it’s lovely. A beautifully resolved image, with accurate grain structure and a wonderful gray scale.An important silent production, offered here with a new score, which beautifully works with the imagery.
- Home Theater Forum – January 14th, 2022
Throughout, Oscar-winning cinematographers Hal Mohr (Phantom of the Opera) and Charles Rosher and Karl Struss (Sunrise) fill the screen with lovely, poignant sequences, like the tiny hands waving goodbye to Splutters through the slats in the barn, while the orchestral score from Cameron and Taylor Graves reflects the many moods on display, from playful to foreboding. This sparkling restoration from the Library of Congress brings out the beauty in a richly atmospheric film that proves equally pulse-pounding and heart-rending. Highly recommended for silent film collections and film studies programs specializing in melodrama.
- Video Librarian – March 2nd, 2022
