Fortunes change dramatically for little Cedric, a poor American boy living in 1880s New York, when he unexpectedly inherits a British fortune. He and his mother, known as "Dearest," are sent to England to live with the cold and unsentimental earl who oversees Cedric's newfound wealth. To keep his wealth, Cedric must conquer the Earl's heart and fight off an unexpected claimant to his new fortune.
A highly influential film in its day, this family classic remains an extraordinarily entertaining and fascinating look at old New York and the English artistocracy. Mary Pickford exhibits her remarkable range as an actress by playing both Cedric (inspired by her brother Jack's joy of mischief and her husband Douglas Fairbanks' swagger) and his mother, the gentle and beautiful Dearest. Also on display is the enormous talent of cameraman Charles Rosher (Sunrise) who created all the double exposure shots in which mother and son appear in the same scene. One of Mary Pickford's most lavish productions, this is still considered the finest adaptation of Frances Hodgeson Burnett's classic novel.