Mickey (Silent)

Nice feature with famous silent era comedienne
Mabel Normand had already made her mark as an accomplished comedienne in Keystone and Mack Sennett productions when she ventured forth with her own production company in 1916. "Mickey" was the first and only film produced by that company, and it was delayed due to various problems until its release in 1918, but it was well worth the wait. Unlike the earlier Keystone comedies however, "Mickey" is basically a serious but light-hearted story, and as Mickey, Mabel is thoroughly entertaining as a tomboy growing up in a rough environment at the 'Tomboy Mine' where everything she does ends in trouble. It doesn't get any better when she is sent to live with her aunt in New York, but through romance and a bit of adventure she turns into a lady - though not before some twists and turns with action and some intrigue. There is quite a lot packed into just over an hour, and while there's nothing really outstanding or special about "Mickey", it is still a pleasure to watch, mainly due to...

Wonderful silent-movie find
Mabel Normand, now largely unknown, was the greatest comedienne of silent movies. Discovered by Mack Sennett of the Keystone studio, she starred in dozens of Sennett's comedy shorts, often partnered with Fatty Arbuckle.
Mickey is a feature-length comedy produced in 1918 by Normand herself, who (as Sennett's great romance) was finally given her own studio as a reward for her years of hard, underpaid work. It tells a classic story of a poor orphan girl who rises to riches helping her prospector uncle in his search for gold.
The film is about an hour in length, replete with pratfalls, mad chases and close escapes from hair-raising dangers. Movies didn't use stunt people in those days -- Normand does her own, as do the rest of the cast.
The story line doesn't hang neatly together as later movies do. Parts of the film were lost and the surviving scenes are only loosely stitched together.
It doesn't really matter. The action sequences are what count, and Normand's...

Mickey is a darling!
Mickey is a silent film. Mabel Normand was like a female Charlie Chaplain, so very expressive in her comedic bits. The story is full of chases and high-energy romps. A classic film.

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