Stella Maris

Stella Maris was born unable to walk and is raised in the house of a wealthy family. Her protectors have hidden the world's cruelty from her completely; Stella does not know what people can do to one another. Unity Blake came out of an orphanage and was handed to a household that treated her badly, and learned early what kind of place the world is. Both girls become attached to the same man, John. Mary Pickford plays both girls in Marshall Neilan's film. The screenplay Frances Marion adapted from William J. Locke's novel sets two fates against each other inside the same frame. Pickford steps out of the beloved pretty-girl type and plays Unity in de-beautifying makeup as a downtrodden, awkward girl, a choice regarded as one of the boldest acting decisions of the period. Double exposure puts both characters in the same shot.