Karen Coats and Literary Orphans in Silent Film

     While at Hollins, I had the privilege of doing an Independent Study project with Karen Coats, in which I explored Literary Orphans in Silent Film as a gateway into the world of Betty Bronson’s Peter Pan.

     Karen suggested I choose ten books and their corresponding silent films. I ended up choosing nine films, the theatrical version of Peter Pan, and a poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning:

·      1887 Oliver Twist

1922 film starring Jackie Coogan

·      1843 The Cry of the Children (poem)

1912 film version based on the poem of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, which helped to bring about child labor reform.

·      1876 Tom Sawyer

1917 film version starring Jack Pickford

·      1885 Little Lord Fauntleroy

1921 film version starring Mary Pickford in which she played three roles.

·      1893 Captain January

1924 film version starring Baby Peggy.

·      1901 Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch

1914 film version starring Beatriz Michelena

·      1903 Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm

1917 film version starring Mary Pickford

·      1905 A Little Princess

1917 film version starring Mary Pickford

·      1911 Peter Pan (stage production)

1924 film version starring Betty Bronson

·      1913 Pollyanna

1920 film version starring Mary Pickford

In addition to the final paper, Karen wanted a reading journal and a film journal. In the reading journal, I summarized each chapter in the book, and in the film journal, I summarized each scene as delineated on the DVD. These journals proved valuable in organizing my notes and observations. This exploration into literary orphans in silent film helped me understand the impact pen and lens have had on society’s perception of orphans and the romanticized ideal of childhood. Silent film, in addition to giving ammunition to those in back of the movement garnering child labor reform, which didn’t happen until 1938, also served to perpetuate the idea of childhood as a time for a worry-free existence.