Coquette

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Movie
Original title Coquette
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1929
length 76 minutes
Rod
Director Sam Taylor
script John Gray ,
Allen McNeil ,
Sam Taylor
production Sam Taylor, Mary Pickford
music Hugo Riesenfeld ,
Emil Hilb ,
Ervin Nyíregyházi
camera Karl Struss ,
Charles Rosher
cut Barbara McLean
occupation
chronology

←  Predecessor
My Best Girl

Coquette is an American drama from 1929. The screenplay is based on a play by George Abbott and Ann Preston Bridgers.

action

Norma Besant is the daughter of doctor Dr. John Besant and lives in a city in the former southern United States. Norma is a fun-loving woman and has many admirers. One of them, Michael Jeffrey, is penniless but honorable. A romance blossoms between Norma and Michael. Dr. However, Besant forbids the relationship and possible marriage with Michael. He throws Michael out of the house and makes his daughter promise never to see him again. But Norma and Michael have vowed to get married in six months if he is able to buy a house.

After a few months Michael returns and secretly meets with Norma. But the couple is seen. There is a lot of gossip about Norma in town. Michael is angry about the talk and wants to ask for Norma's hand despite the father's prohibition. There is a heated argument with the father. Michael leaves the house threatening to move away with Norma. Dr. Besant follows, pistol in hand. Norma's brother Jimmy tries to calm her down. But an acquaintance, Stanley, shows up and informs her that Michael was gunned down by her father. Norma rushes to Michael, who dies in her arms.

Her father's lawyer asks her to make a false statement. Norma refuses, but gives false evidence at the trial to avoid the death penalty for her father. During the cross-examination, Norma comes under pressure. Her father tells her not to lie for him. Dr. Besant confesses his guilt and is willing to pay the price. He grabs the pistol that is on a table as evidence and kills himself. Stanley wants to take Norma home, but she wants to be alone.

criticism

Mordaunt Hall of the New York Times wrote that neither the direction nor the collaboration on the script by Sam Taylor showed any imagination. Mary Pickford with her seriousness save the film.

Awards

At the second Academy Awards in 1930 , Mary Pickford was awarded the Oscar for Best Actress .

background

The premiere took place on March 30, 1929.

With an estimated budget of just under $ 500,000, the film grossed approximately $ 1.4 million in the United States alone in 1929.

Charles Rosher, who worked with Pickford for many years, was hired for the first sound film by the famous silent film star Mary Pickford. After differences with the studio and with the director, Rosher was fired and replaced by Karl Struss.

Mary Pickford's win at the Oscars sparked the first controversy over the film award. In the late 1920s, Mary Pickford was one of the most influential people in Hollywood. For the audience, however, she was committed to her roles. In her the nice girl with the golden curls was seen, which she always portrayed in her films. After the talkie had established itself, Mary sensed the chance to change her image. First she changed her hairstyle. Then she decided to make the Broadway hit as her first talky film, with which Helen Hayes had great success. The result was the most financially successful film of her career as a producer. Mary was then nominated for an Oscar. She staged the first advertising campaign for winning the award. She invited the jurors to her house. That didn't matter, as she was a founding member of the Academy herself. After winning, however, there were voices criticizing this action. The selection process for the winners was changed the following year.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Critique of the New York Times (Eng.)
  2. ↑ box office results
  3. ↑ Margarita Landazuri: Coquette (1929) Articles. Turner Classic Movies , accessed May 4, 2019 .