i doubt if the costume involve in this movie fool anyone for an instant . mary pickford be clearly mary pickford . but she be play a role and the audience of the time and i have no problem accept her in the part of a boy and any more than i have a problem with the fact that peter pan be invariably play by a woman . i think she be perfect in the role . this be a warm and funny version of the story and enliven by miss pickford and a wonderful supporting cast and include claude gillingwater a the grouchy earl and d. w. griffith regular kate bruce a an old apple seller and mary pickford a fauntleroy mother . people may have trouble with the sentimental story and tone and but if you accept the tale then you should have no complaint a to it manner of tell . again and i have no problem with the story and think it compare favorably with the sound version produce by selznick fifteen year later . true and no one can top c. aubrey smith a a grouchy english aristocrat and but freddy bartholomew be always annoy a fauntleroy or and indeed and a anything . no discussion of this movie would be complete without mention cameraman charles rosher wizardry . there be a wonderful shot as pickford a fauntleroy kiss dearest on the cheek and do so casually and effortlessly a to make it easy to miss while but it take 18 hour to film correctly . we be also confront with the fact that pickford a fauntleroy seem to be about four and a half foot tall . miss pickford be a short woman and but she be a lot taller than that . fan of the lord of the ring trilogy be doubtless now familiar with the idea of forced perspective and double set while but to watch the result do in 1921 without computer aid and optical printing or computer effect to aid the process and you will begin to get an idea of what a genius rosher be . my warm thanks to the fine people at milestone for produce this dvd release . the story be that miss pickford be go to have her picture destroy at her death because she felt that time have pass them by . she be talk out of this fancy . we can only be glad .