Customer Reviews

Mary White

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I can't think of any reason to take a star away from this film. Perhaps it requires a certain audience but that is easily selected by reading William Allen White's editorial written following his daughter's death. It inspired the movie. The Kansas State Historical Society has posted the editorial on their web site. Just look for Mary White in their index. If you find the editorial appealing, then you will enjoy the film.

Mary White lived from 1904 to 1921. You learn of her untimely death a few minutes into the movie. The story focuses on her vibrant life. Inasmuch as it deals with her death, the film is touching but stays well clear of being a tear-jerker. It's charming as a period piece and accurately portrays the era. It was filmed in the locale of Emporia, Kansas where Mary White lived, enhancing the authenticity. The script is well written. The dialogue rings true; it's often witty and occasionally brilliant. The casting and the acting are superb. You enjoy spending time with these people. The music serves the story well, never overpowering it but setting the tone nicely.

I think William Allen White would have been pleased with this faithful film rendition of his written tribute to his daughter. You do get to know, in the father's words, "the glowing, gorgeous, fervent soul of her". At the end of the movie, I wanted to watch it again to bring her back to life.

William Allen White was a well-known Kansas editor and author in the early years of the 20th century. His daughter, Mary, was killed in a horse-riding accident in 1921, shortly before her 17th birthday. Most of White's writings have faded into obscurity, but his editorial about Mary lives on. Mary never hesitated to speak up against social and racial injustice. She wanted to be known as a person in her own right, not as the daughter of a famous man.

The movie depicts the last year of Mary's life. Certain facts were changed -- Mary was a high school junior at the time of her death, not a senior -- but her essential story remains the same. She reached out to those less fortunate, often ignoring the social rules of her time. Her impulsiveness caused trouble at school and home, but her father stood behind her. Mary's mother felt it was time for her to grow up, and they frequently clashed. But the overall picture is of a nurturing, loving family.

The movie was filmed on location in Emporia, Kansas. The actual White home, "Red Rocks," is featured. An interesting fact is that at the time of Mary's death, the Whites were living elsewhere in town. A fire earlier that year destroyed Red Rock's upper story. The Whites had already planned a major renovation of the house. After Mary's death, her mother insisted that the restoration of Mary's bedroom go on as planned. Before and after pictures of Red Rocks show the house as it was when Mary lived there. It is now open to the public.

Look closely, and you can spot a window air conditioner in the scene where Mary drives to school.

This movie is suitable for all ages, and may spark interest in learning more about the lives of Mary and her family. Mary now has her own Facebook page, featuring several previously-unpublished photos.

MARY WHITE is perfect for families with kids: it comes from a father who lost his teen daughter to a horseback-riding accident in 1921, and who celebrated her life with a newspaper editorial. MARY WHITE became a TV film and here offers White's reflections on his last year with Mary as they together fought against racial segregation and for women's rights.

The famous award winning small town Midwest newspaper
publisher and author loses his daughter in a riding accident
when she hits her head on a tree while riding her horse
after waving at a boy who was sweet on her.
The whole piece seems to be about how difficult and idealistic
this teen age girl was who was just about to graduate from high school.
She breaks her arm cranking her model T Ford
and that sets off a chain of parental disciplines.
For the most part with excellent grades and very good
behavior, she is a model daughter who is head strong
and at her Dad's teaching, very idealistic about
discrimination, the elderly, unions and human rights in
general. The time period is the active one of post world war
one when horses still were used on a great many roads and farms in the Midwest.
I liked the movie, but it was kind of sentimental.

This was one of my favorites from high school, a good, true story about a high school girl who made a real difference in her all-too-brief lifetime. Glad to see it's available on DVD!