Tess of the Storm Country: Amazon.ca: Mary Pickford, Lloyd Hughes, Gloria Hope, David Torrence, Forrest Robinson, Jean Hersholt, Danny Hoy, Robert Russell, Gus Saville, Madame De Bodamere, Jeanne Carpenter, Milton Berle, John S. Robertson, E. Lloyd Sheldon, Elmer Harris, Grace Miller White, Josephine Lovett: DVD

Product Details

Actors: Mary Pickford, Lloyd Hughes, Gloria Hope, David Torrence, Forrest Robinson
Directors: John S. Robertson
Writers: E. Lloyd Sheldon, Elmer Harris, Grace Miller White, Josephine Lovett
Format: Black & White, DVD-Video, Silent, NTSC
Language: English
Region: All Regions
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number of discs: 1
MPAA Rating:
Studio: Paradox
Release Date: Oct 1 2002
Run Time: 118 minutes

Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)

ASIN: 6305669236
Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #73,158 in DVD (See Top 100 in DVD)
- #22 in DVD > Classics > Silent Films > Drama

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Product Description

From Amazon.com

Tess of the Storm Country might be seen as the archetypal Mary Pickford film. Pickford plays Tessibel Skinner, a dirt-poor fisherman's daughter living with a community of squatters in ramshackle huts by the water's edge. Tess was reportedly one of Pickford's favorite roles (both in this 1922 version and in an earlier one, shot in 1914), and it shows. She brings a sparkling energy to her performance. Dressed in rags, her hair a frazzled mop, she creates an indelible character. ("The more ragged and dirty I look, the better I can play," declared Pickford in a 1914 Photoplay Magazine interview.)

Every man in squatter town has eyes for the beautiful, fearless Tess, from brutish Ben Letts (Jean Hersholt) to pathetic Ezra Longman (Danny Hoy). But Tess's heart belongs to her sweet daddy (Forrest Robinson). High on a hill above these indigent folk dwells the wealthy Graves family. Father Elias (David Torrence) considers the squatters a stench in his nostrils and tries to evict them; son Frederick (Lloyd Hughes) sympathizes with them and falls in love with Tess; daughter Teola (Gloria Hope) finds her life becoming inextricably bound with Tess's, in ways neither girl could have imagined.

Like so many films in which Mary Pickford appears, Tess of the Storm Country pits rich against poor. In the microcosm of this movie, the rich are steeped in moral turpitude; it takes poor, pure-hearted Tess to, in the words of a chastened Elias Graves, teach them the true "meaning of Christianity." This densely plotted picture also takes on such weighty themes as murder, perjury, out-of-wedlock pregnancy, suicide, and attempted rape. A rousing melodrama, the film draws the viewer right in and doesn't let go until its riveting climax. --Laura Mirsky

Video Details

America's sweetheart, Mary Pickford, in a powerful story of survival. In this all-fired melodrama, wealthy Elias Graves builds a house on a hill and tries unsuccessfully to evict the squatters who live in the valley below. Tess (Pickford) leads the squatters' struggle for survival and wins the sympathy and love of Graves's son, Frederick. This 1922 remake of Pickford's 1914 version of the same story demonstrates the remarkable growth of Pickford as an actress, producer and filmmaker--and of cinema itself.

Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews

Beautiful July 6 2003

By Samantha Glasser

Format:DVD

I was apprehensive when I first started watching this movie. I am usually not a big fan of 'heartwarming stories' with poor girls who prove their worth, but I wanted to see the movie Mary thought important enough to re-make.
This is an amazing film!
Although some of it has been damaged over time, like a blurry scene in the beginning that seems clouded over with water damage where Tess dances around, it is easy to understand and engaging.
I definitly recommend this movie. Even if you aren't a fan of silent movies, Mary will grab your attention and you'll find it hard to look away.

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Marvelous Mary Pickford, A MUST Oct 15 2001

By A Customer

Format:DVD

There is little doubt as to Mary Pickford's brilliance. As a silent screen star she was not the most beautiful nor the MOST dramatic, but she was by far one of the most marvelous stars on the silent screen. With expressions and mannerisms so refined and masterful and ability that far exceeded many of those around her she made any role a GREAT one.

"Tess of the Storm Country" is a masterful film. It really does show Mary Pickford at "top form" her acting is superb and her performance clearly does her justice. The film quality is not as good as some of her other roles that have been transposed to DVD but if you love Mary you MUST watch this movie.

Mary Pickford plays "Tess" a fisherman's daughter who lives in a shanty town just below the "hill toppers" a rich family whose patriarch despises his low brow "neighbors". With manipulation and cruelty he will do anything, even use his daughters would be fiancee to get rid of the shanty people to give him an "unrestricted" view of the water. Mary Pickford plays Tess with vitality, warmpth, and a certain rough neck edge that will have you laughing and crying at the same time. Tess eventually catches the eye and the heart of a rich young man, who... oh no happens to be the "hill toppers" college bound son. With classic twists and many developments "Tess of the Storm Country" will captivate you. Be aware that this movie has a heavy Christian theme and is quite "heavy handed" when doling out its doses of morality. There is little doubt as to the good vs. evil in this film and the ideal of sinners and repenters. However, "Tess of the Storm Country" is a certain MUST for all Pickford fans.

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A film for Pickford fans Jan 8 2001

By Mr Peter G George

Format:DVD

Tess of the Storm Country is one of Mary Pickford's best films. This was the first of her films which I saw and rather got me hooked, for I have gone on to buy four other Pickford DVDs. It may be that her style is somewhat out of favour now, but she is often funny and in this film shows great personality. It is true that the print quality of this edition is not always perfect. There are signs of decay of the film stock, but one has to accept this when one watches silent films. I would rather watch a slightly damaged 'complete' print than one that has been edited. The DVD box is not misleading if the print it describes is the best available, the best available undoubtedly is this print. Anyway why not focuss on what we have, which is a highly enjoyable film with a delightful story and star performance? There is no point grieving over what we have lost forever, i.e. a perfect print. Perfect prints of silent movies will rarely be available to us now, but that is no reason to ignore a style of filmaking which at its best is unforgettable.

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