I can't say I like this song which was released as a single from Pictures and promoted quite a bit. Someone will tell us what chart position it reached but it wasn't very high.
For me it's a little too contrived, although I admire Mike Batt's originality and Katie for her performance of it. The much discussed 'musta had much cash' lyric is brilliant I think, but others will differ....

Mary Pickford used to eat roses
Thought that they’d make her beautiful and they did,
One supposes.

Douglas Fairbanks, he was so handsome,
He wore a moustache,
Must-a had much cash, too,
Worth a king’s ransom,

Charlie Chaplin, he was invited,
When these artists became united.
When these artists became united.

David Griffith worked as an extra,
Then as a stagehand,
Until they let him be
A director

Dave was brave, a mover and shaker,
A true pioneer,
He seemed to show no fear,
A real film maker

Just like Chaplin, he was invited,
When these artists became united.
When these artists became united.

They tied the knot together,
Groom and bride couldn’t hide their pleasure.
They tried to pick fair weather,
But love died, didn’t last forever.

Mary Pickford used to eat roses,
Thought that they’d make her beautiful and they did,
One supposes.

Douglas Fairbanks, he was so handsome,
He wore a moustache,
Must-a had much cash too,
Worth a king’s ransom.

Charlie Chaplin, he was invited,
When these artists became united.
When these artists became united.
When these artists became united.

I think I’m one of the few who really loves this song. One of my favourites definitely.
Already the first few words give me goosebumps. It might be connected with the fact that it was the first studio version of Pictures which I heard, and I liked it so much that I listened to it dozens of times. I still remember that.
I also mentioned several times so far that I’m a fan of acoustic music. A song which is throughout very good in my ears.

Mary Pickford, the second single, was released as download-only much to the chagrin of fans. I believe it failed to chart, even though there was promotion for it in events like Domino Day when she performed the song wearing a bowler hat. This song doesn't have 'Top 50' written over it, and I think it was released just to keep Pictures from going out-of-sight, out-of-mind all the while setting their sights for a No.1 hit with WAWW. Just speculation on my part, perhaps if MaryPickford303 registers here she can tell us the real scoop.

I have no issues with the lyrics and think they are cool and pays homage to the mega stars of silent cinema. It's a pleasant little ditty.


Here's a fan creation from 'TafkaS'.




And here's the official music video:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3jthh_katie-melua-mary-pickford_music
The music video contains some cinematic gems, including early news reel footage of Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and David Griffith. Some of Chaplin's more famous works were not included likely due to copyrights.

I dislike the song immensely, and I doubt I will ever listen to it without wanting to bang my head against a wall. It's not her voice, which in fairness is great on it. It's the gut wrenchingly annoying and childish lyrics. They really could've picked a better song for a single instead of that god awful pap.

Horses for courses and all that stuff I suppose.

I love the background story of this song with the sheet of Mikes calendar

As a big fan of Charlie Chaplin I am pleased that Katie sings a song where he is in it But not only this I also like the whole song.

I remember very good as I heard the little soundbit, which was offered to the fans and all those who visits Katies website before the release of CD No. 3, I thought by myself this is a wonderful little song. And it remebered me on another song but till now I can't say which one.

All in all it is absolutely wonderful

i really like this song, to me it's a simply pleasant tune, i don't know why it's so unpopular...

cool rest for my ears after listening too much rock and metal

Don't bang too fast. Listen to the sophisticated guitar playing and let yourself go with the slightly swinging rhythm. Enjoy. Lyrics and music fit perfectly, and that's what makes the art of songwriting, not the lyrics or the music stand-alone. If you rate pop songs for some presumed profund message in the mere lyrics than you'll have to consider crap 90% of all titles. Let the song end with the last chord in A major and listen to the following It's All in my head which remains on the same scale but changes to A minor. In my mind Pictures has to be heard from the beginning to the end as a whole. And by the occasion I repeat what I said sometimes already last year: Pictures is Katie's best album so far!

I know the two things aren't necessarily incompatible, but it surprises me that you champion Pictures as the best album whilst hoping that Katie moves more in the directions of pure blues music like Kozmic Blues. That's the reason I think Pictures is the worst album; because there is no blues on it.

I suspect you're taking the whole thing rather too seriously! Mike Batt has written enough quality lyrics to know that what he was writing here was a bit of fun (just like Scary Films). I agree to the point that one track on the album would have been enough, and it wouldn't have been Mary Pickford.

No I don't listen for profound messages in the lyrics of a song, but I do listen to the lyrics, and it's hard not to tune out my hatred for the lyrics.

I have listened to Mary Pickford God only knows how many times, and I cannot for the life of me get into the mood, where I sit back with a ciggie in one hand, vodka in the other and contently listen to every decibel that comes out of the speakers. Which I have become accustomed to doing when listening to a Melua album. The opening line, all the way through the last pierce my ear drum with violent impunity. And it's not the music, that does the damage, it's the bloody lyrics.

Sorry but my mind is closed on this matter, I can never enjoy Mary Pickford. Maybe it is a 'fun song' or whatever, but it's certainly not one for me. Still, it's only one song and I hardly judge the album based on it.

I agree with Believer I think Pictures is the best album for me. I have my favourites and they vary depending on my mood, but there isn't a track that I don't like. With the other two albums although they contain some of my very favourites they also contain some tracks I just don't like.

90% of pop songs is a crap anyway

but fortunately katie is in those 10%

I think Picture's very open to styles. More open than the first two albums. And so it's natural that blues and jazz elements ain't such dominant, but they are present: Mary Pickford for example is based on a 12 (2 x 6) bar scheme and I would call it a folk-blues song. The rhythm guitar plays a classical rhyhtm 'n' blues / rock 'n' roll figure (A - A6). Perfect Circle is influenced by funky and blues; I don't remember whether I said it here: The guitar improvisation in the outro of the live version me reminds of Eric Clapton sometimes. So I wouldn't second the sentence "no blues on it". Blues and jazz elements are not so strong on Pictures, but they are, and where they are, they are taking their own way. In the end, then, there is no contradiction to "Kozmic Blues" for me.

I wasn't trying to persuade you because I don't really like it either, but I can't get worked up into such a frenzy over a 'fun song'.

The lyrics maybe too simple, and at times silly, but the melody, and particularly for me the bass line, are fantastic. It's very nice song to chill and it always makes me smile when i hear it. I do believe it does happy radio-friendly listenability but not as a second single.
Overall, one of my favourites of Pictures!

I really like the guitar work in this track and the subject matter too. I think it is a well written track despite the odd 'iffy' lyric, but a good song overall with a lovely melody.

A good song. Nothing extra-special about it in my opinion. Still nice to listen to and I like the music video.

There's nothing wrong with this song. Thank you Mike for writing this

I think there are some more who like this song. I myself for example like it very much. The melody is great. It´s one of my farourite songs from pictures

For me, Marry Pickford is a song for well being. I love the melodie and the rythm and Katie voice playing with the melodie. And I do think, that the lyrics are great. For me a great song.

I love the parts,when she sings:

They tied the knot together,
Groom and bride couldn’t hide their pleasure.
They tried to pick fair weather,
But love died, didn’t last forever.

I second that. This is the very first part of a Pictures song which made me love the album

Who are the bride and groom? This has never made any sense to me.

As I see it there are no bride and groom... The union is just a metaphore for united artists, which apparently didn't last long...

The bride and groom were Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks who were married for a period.
United Artists studios still exist.

OK I'm mistaken then...

It doesn't change much the sense of the song for me, but thanks for the piece of information