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A 1917 Motion Picture News full page ad for "The Birds Christmas Carol"
before it was retitled "A Bit O' Heaven". |
"A Bit O' Heaven" (1917)
Based on "The Bird's Christmas Carol" by Kate Douglas Wiggins, from the Frieder Film Corporation.
Director: Lule Warrenton. Stars: Mary Louise (Carol Bird), Harold Skinner (Uncle Jack), Ella Gilbert (Mrs. Bird), Donald Watson (Mr. Bird), Madeline Eastin (Elfrida - the Nurse), Carl Miller (Brother Donald), Mary [Mae] Talbot (Mrs. Ruggles), Gertrude Short, Roy Clark, Gertrude Messinger, John Sterling, Marvel Spencer, Irma Sorter (Raggedy Ruggles Children)
The Hook: This was the film adaptation of the works of writer Kate Douglas Wiggin (Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm), and it stars a child actress who only did one film.
This one sounds like a touching Christmas melodrama, even though it was released in the summertime. Young Carol Bird is an invalid girl who wishes to grant Christmas cheer to the poor Ruggles family children who befriend her. Perhaps the new title "A Bit O'Heaven" was thought to be more markedly than "The Bird's Christmas Carol".
Among the Ruggles children were Gertrude Messinger, who was active in Hollywood throughout her childhood and into the early talkies era. Her brother Buddy Messinger was also a well-known child star.
The lead role of Carol Bird was played by a "Mary Louise" who is not listed in another known film role. Press articles of the time suggest that she was four years old during production and did appear in other films.
The film was directed by Lule Warrenton, early pioneering female filmmaker who was said to have directed a number of films for children. This film was shot at "Lankershim" California and was distributed by the Frieder Film Corporation.
Here is one positive review from the Motion Picture News, July 7, 1917
"A Bit O' Heaven"
(Frieder Film Co. — Five Parts) Reviewed By William J. McGrath
A FEAST awaits the picturegoing public, man, woman and child, in this production by the Frieder Film Corporation adapted from Kate Douglas Wiggin's perennially popular Christmas tale, " The Bird's Christmas Carol." Renamed in its film version, but one even more suitable and applicable than the original popular title, its picturization reveals something above the ordinary, a refreshing human story brought to life and bound to become as much of a classic of the screen as the printed story has become in literature.
Well accomplished, after long and tedious effort by the producers, it becomes on the screen a story that is all that Kate Douglas Wiggins designed it to be, a simple, plain little tale of two stratas of life that vigorously twangs the extremes of human emotions — pathos and humor. A juvenile cast, the like of it never gathered together before, interpret the high lights, leaving nothing to be desired ; the strength of the direction back of it all is manifested by the result of the whole and not one iota of detail, so necessary in a picture of its sort, has been overlooked.
Of plot there is hardly any. It merely mirrors the joy, pride, humor and reward that comes from the charity and unselfishness of a crippled little child of wealthy parents. She is Carol Bird, a part surprisingly well taken by Mary Louise, a charming little six-year-old lass who takes her place in the rank of child stars as the result of this picture. The " eight raggedy Ruggleses," a tattered, mischievous, romping brood who thrive in the alley back of Carol's home, are her problem. Cared for by a poor, distracted but withal proud widowed mother, the big event of their lives comes with the invitation to Christmas dinner and presents at the Bird's mansion.
Here is where the artistry of the picture asserts itself, where detail looms up as big as a mountain. The greater portion of the picture shows the preparation for the big event in the lowly, back-alley home of the Ruggleses ; the poor overwhelmed but proud mother making ready an obstreperous animal spirited bunch of boys and girls.
Then there is a score and more details and delineations from life that there is not space enough to enumerate, but all of them are bound to be caught and appreciated by those to whom they are akin.
"A Bit o' Heaven " is something new and refreshing, a new defense of motion pictures and, as a booking proposition, worth fighting for."
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| The Island of Lost Christmas Specials, where films like this could be found some day. |
