Norma Talmadge and Ronald Colman star in "Kiki", the first film on the Norma Talmadge Collection by Kino. The performance of Talmadge in this screwball comedy is atypical of her usual dramatic approach, but, boy, is it ever effective! Once the comedy gets really rolling with Kiki's stage debut it never falters. Naturally, as one would expect in a screwball comedy, there is a huge emphasis on comedy of situation and, to a lesser extent, comedy of character. The sight gags always work and the outrageous nature of this type of humour is created by the hilarious cascade of mishaps, misinterpretations, and mis-timings which reach an almost surreal level at the end. The title cards are themselves often witty. The end of Kiki's debut is described thus:
Ah, Those first nights! They begin with aspirations--and end with aspirins.
Norma Talmadge clearly dominates this film. She plays her part with panache, gusto, and tremendous energy. Kiki comes through as a character with a mischievous, vivacious innocence which wins the heart of the viewer. And there is good support from the rest of the cast. Colman is handsome and debonair in his role, and his character portrayal flows seamlessly into the mixture of romance and comedy. Likewise Gertrude Astor as Paulette creates an effective snobby rival. George K. Arthur {Adolphe} works nicely as a foil to Kiki and the worldly Baron Rapp who wishes to seduce Kiki completes the main figures. There's also s nice little part for Frankie Darro who is Kiki's street urchin pal.
It is a pity that such an entertaining film had to be reconstructed by the Library of Congress from English, French. and Czech prints--not one of which was complete. As it is the reconstruction is excellent though the differing quality of some scenes betrays the fact that this edition is very much a composite taken from different sources. But we should be thankful that we can see it and enjoy this bubbling comedy.
There is a delightfully witty soundtrack performed by The Biograph Players which adds considerably to one's experience of this endearing and very funny film.
Ah, Those first nights! They begin with aspirations--and end with aspirins.
Norma Talmadge clearly dominates this film. She plays her part with panache, gusto, and tremendous energy. Kiki comes through as a character with a mischievous, vivacious innocence which wins the heart of the viewer. And there is good support from the rest of the cast. Colman is handsome and debonair in his role, and his character portrayal flows seamlessly into the mixture of romance and comedy. Likewise Gertrude Astor as Paulette creates an effective snobby rival. George K. Arthur {Adolphe} works nicely as a foil to Kiki and the worldly Baron Rapp who wishes to seduce Kiki completes the main figures. There's also s nice little part for Frankie Darro who is Kiki's street urchin pal.
It is a pity that such an entertaining film had to be reconstructed by the Library of Congress from English, French. and Czech prints--not one of which was complete. As it is the reconstruction is excellent though the differing quality of some scenes betrays the fact that this edition is very much a composite taken from different sources. But we should be thankful that we can see it and enjoy this bubbling comedy.
There is a delightfully witty soundtrack performed by The Biograph Players which adds considerably to one's experience of this endearing and very funny film.