The financial and cultural legacy silent screen star Mary Pickford left for future generations through her Mary Pickford Foundation reaches Montgomery County this week. The gift begins with the premiere of Philip Carli’s musical score for her 1917 film “The Poor Little Rich Girl” to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the actress’ screen debut in May 1909.
Hugh Monro Neely, the curator of the Mary Pickford Institute for Film Education, will conduct the National Philharmonic in special presentations Tuesday at the Music Center at Strathmore. The morning show is for students at Strathmore’s partner school, Loiderman Middle School for the Arts, and film students from Clemente and Eastern middle schools. The evening performance is free to families and fans of early films.
“Philip Carli and I first met at a Mary Pickford film festival,” Neely says. “The scheduled pianist was annoyed because he didn’t receive the score in advance, so he dropped out at the last minute and the film began in true silence. Because musical accompaniment was always a vital part of silent films, Philip jumped out of his balcony seat, leaped onto the stage and began playing.”
Neely and Carli have worked together ever since, composing and reconstructing orchestral scores for silent films. By the late teens, every theater across America had a music library of at least 5,000 pieces to illustrate chase scenes, comedy scenes, romantic moments and multiple emotions aroused during silent movies. Neely dubs the collections “Film Music for Dummies.”
“Philip is a specialist in music for silent films and composes original scores in the style and harmonies typical of songs you might have heard in 1917,” he says. “His score for ‘The Poor Little Rich Girl’ is beautiful and imaginative thematically and includes all the traditional textures.”
The second component of the gift is financial support for a long-desired Montgomery County Public Schools program in film.
Because of the current economic crisis, the program seemed doomed until the Mary Pickford Foundation offered to back the project. Pickford’s original directive, Neely explains, centered about medical and educational charities for the very young and very old.
However, she provided for considerable flexibility. Over the last decade, the foundation has expanded its scope to include education in the art of filmmaking and in film history. The Montgomery County project falls into that category. Now students can study both silent and talking films, learn how they develop from script to movies and understand how music is incorporated to tell the story.
“The Poor Little Rich Girl” is about a child neglected by parents too busy and absorbed in other interests to spend time with her. It was chosen because of its sophistication for that era and the plot dealing with many elements pertinent today for both children and their parents. Pickford, long regarded as “America’s Sweetheart,” was petite in stature and had long curls, enabling her to portray children through her 20s.
“This is a pilot program, so we’re eager to see how the kids are affected and how it’s integrated into the school system,” Neely says. “Mary’s own story and her rise from poverty to worldwide success and financial power to help charities is an inspiration for all people, especially young women.”
If you go
The Mary Pickford Foundation presents the National Philharmonic performing Philip Carli’s new musical score to the 1917 silent film “The Poor Little Rich Girl,” conducted by Hugh Munro Neely
Where: Music Center of Strathmore
When: 8 p.m. May 19
Info: Free in advance for families and film lovers of all ages; 301-581-5100, strathmore.org. Ticket holders need to arrive at least 30 minutes before the event.
