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Post by Larry's 66 Diner on Feb 27, 2010 13:09:38 GMT -6
Denise Morrison, silent film historian, interviewed Melissa Talmadge Cox at the 14th Annual Kansas Silent Film Festival in Topeka. Ms Cox is the grand-daughter of legendary silent film comedians Buster Keaton and Natalie Talmadge. Here is a link to the interview with Ms Cox yesterday evening. There will be another interview this afternoon, which I will likely post late tonight or tomorrow. www.youtube.com/watch?v=4z8CQCOLc3c |
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Post by Larry's 66 Diner on Mar 2, 2010 13:30:14 GMT -6
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Post by kelly on Mar 22, 2010 12:18:12 GMT -6
Hey Larry last night TCM here in the US show Our Hospitality that movie was funny and make you think I just can't believe that Melissa grandparents really truly despite each other Buster Keaton I understand was alcoholic he did love his sons
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Post by Larry's 66 Diner on Mar 24, 2010 7:33:03 GMT -6
That is hard to believe, isn't it, Kelly?
Don't know if you realized it, but the infant boy in the film is Melissa's father; her great-grandfather was also in the film.
Our Hospitality is probably my personal favorite of Keaton's films. :thumbsup:
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Post by kelly on Mar 24, 2010 13:12:31 GMT -6
Well I was on TCM forum Sunday night they hype the Our Hospitalty it other my fav Buster Keaton movie very good I didn't realize until Robert Obsounre mention that baby was actually Buster Keaton Jr
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gagman66
Have my own Counter stool!
Posts: 441
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Post by gagman66 on Mar 30, 2010 14:24:40 GMT -6
 If you order by March 31st the Talmadge sets are marked down at substantial savings from $29.95 to $20.97 on the Kino Website. So you need to hurry. I got mine from Deep Discount DVD and think I paid $18.95 each or something like that. I'll see if I can find the order info. It's better to order direct from Kino though if you can.
Be sure to get the Constance Talmadge set as well. Overall it is the better DVD. HER NIGHT OF ROMANCE is just as good as KIKI, and HER SISTER FROM PARIS is great fun too. WITHIN THE LAW is OK on the Norma disc, but rather Mundane viewing by comparison with the others. If they ever release THE LOVE EXPERT it is every bit as funny as KIKI is. As I mentioned EAST IS WEST is being restored, so that could be part of a follow-up. This is the DVD event of the year for silent film fans thus far in my opinion.My thanks to my good friend TG (Precoder) for the information contained in this fine post. This advertisement is pictured in the May 1926 issue of PhotoPlay Magazine. Naive or Nervy? True or Tricky? Take the Kiki quiz and decide for yourself. The smaller captions read:
"No other actress on the cinema today could play this character with the artistry and
faithfulness of interpretation that Norma has put into the role." - David Belasco
"I never made a picture I like better." - Norma Talmadge
... And here's a film review published in the June 1926 issue of ScreenLand Magazine written by Delight Evans ... it's in the "New Screenplays" section .... . "KIKI ~ JUST KIKI"
"I don't know how you felt about Norma Talmadge but I was always a little afraid of her. So lovely -- so aloof; such expensive clothes; such gorgeous jewels. And holding that little head so very high! But "Kiki" changed all that. You'll love "Kiki". I know I did. It endeared Norma to me as never before. It made her a roughneck - a gamin who kicked and fought and scratched and wasn't too proud to sit down hard. I think it's her best picture. And daring ? Don't you forget it. It took courage for La Talmadge, queen of the screen, famous for her regal roles, to throw off the shackles and begin all over again as a slapstick comedienne. Remember, she's been a star for years. She has won her reputation by doing certain scenes in a certain way. As a dramatic artist, she's sure-fire. And she has a sister who is famous in her own line of comedy. But Norma never balked. She frizzed her hair and bobbed her skirts; she tossed away her old technique and emerged a dazzling new personality. She became Kiki to the life. Probably she thought she'd go over, but she couldn't be sure. Only audiences can determine the real worth of a picture. It must give Norma a great kick to know that "Kiki" is knocking you cold! You couldn't ask for sweller entertainment. You follow breathlessly Norma's adventures as a chorus girl, her devoted shadowing of her Victor, her jealousies and her rages, her moments of mischief and grief. Before long you're loving Kiki. No matter what she does it is all right with you -- and she does plenty. Norma Talmadge becomes a memory. Kiki has the stage. And you'd never know they were the same girl. When Kiki gets her man you're as excited as she is, and almost as delighted as he is. Norma's tough, tender, vulgar and wistful, The most charming creature you have seen for a long time. Ronald Colman has a real Colman role after his bad luck lately playing fathers and things. And what that boy can do when he wants to! He was worth al the trouble Kiki went to, to get him. George Arthur, Marc McDermott and Gertrude Astor are pleasantly present. Clarence Brown directed, and did right by "Kiki". As for Norma -well, write your fan letter.". Amazing ... I noticed the ticket stub displayed in the extras section of this kino dvd, shows that "Kiki" premiered second week of January 1926. Produced in the late months of 1925. But for this advertisement and this film review to be featured in May and June of 1926 fan magazines, four and five months after it's opening, shows that "Kiki' was a great success with audiences for weeks and weeks on end ...Benji's Own excellent Review,Kiki is as Kiki does ...
Any hopes of pulling off a fast-paced comedy like this, you're gonna need an actress of considerable talent and confidence. Someone willing to really cut loose. No other way to say it. Not everyone can do "Kiki" maybe why two of the most unlikely of types have done it; Mary Pickford and Norma Talmadge. In both films, the situation is the same, from Kiki's ratty fashion sense to our heros horribly decor'd apartment; right down to the same awful jello-mold couch. Yup I've seen this before, only difference; it talked ...
Norma Talmadge is simply sensational in this 1926 silent version. One of the most respected, admired and acclaimed dramatic actresses of the time is now determined not to waste this unique career chance to play dumb. And boy is she hell-bent for leather. In scene after scene, Norma throws it all atcha with a boundless energy that turns this into one of the funniest silent comedies I've ever seen ...
Kiki is a mixed-up, directionless tart who thinks that being a showgirl just might be the big ticket. To get near the shows producer Victor Renal (Ronald Colman), she flings and thrusts her wiles every which way possible until she works her way into the chorus line. But her short attention span turns opening night into a kingsize disaster. Now feeble Victor wants to get rid of her but he can't. She keeps clawing around, demanding his attention and doesn't stop until she's eating his breakfast ... Really hilarous ...
Gertrude Astor is perfectly mean and hateful while George K. Arthur as the fleeby valet rolled me on the floor laughing. Wow this is a funny movie ...
So, does Norma Talmadge live up to the great performance Mary Pickford gave us later? Does she even come close? You bet she does. It's every bit as lively and quick and just as rambunctious. It's absolutely crazy ...
Norma Talmadge has forever won me over ... Another fun KIKI Ad from May of 1926. This one appeared in Moving Picture Magazine that month Bebe Daniels was the cover girl. 
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Post by Midge on Mar 30, 2010 14:33:18 GMT -6
Thanks, Jeffrey! I loved the vintage ads.  Notice how the copywriters speak of the characters as if they are real people, and it's assumed that the audience will react the same way and become emotionally involved with them. It was also nice of you to post Benji's review. He is a former member of the Diner, and we still miss him. I thought his review was better than the magazine's. |
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gagman66
Have my own Counter stool!
Posts: 441
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Post by gagman66 on Mar 30, 2010 15:49:20 GMT -6
Midge,
Thanks. Yeah I remember that He used to be a member here. Here were my comments on Benji's review.
"I'm glad you took time to watch this one. I agree that KIKI is one of the great forgotten Silent comedies. In-fact, this made me laugh more than anything I had seen in a long time when I first saw it. Might mention that I have never seen the later Mary Pickford sound re-make. Far as I know, it's not been around on DVD or on TCM before? So hard to believe that Norma Talmadge did not make more comedies because this film was a Smash hit with her fans. One of the top Money-makers of 1926 according to Moving Picture World Magazine's year ending (Box Office) October issue. So a very successful and popular film back in the day. You'd expect that there might have been more of a demand for the less serious side of Norma from that point on. For whatever reason that just didn't happen. Maybe Norma just wanted to show for once that Constance wasn't the only Talmadge with a Funny-bone? I don't know?
The Kino print is an improvement over what I had seen, though some parts of it look better than others. Bare in mind that this was literally spliced together by the LOC from three incomplete sources. The sequence where KIKI wakes up and indignantly spots the framed photos all over the place of Paulette (Gertrude Astor), and rounds them all up is just hysterically funny. Impossible to keep a straight face through this. The titles cards are witty, and the entire supporting cast is top -notch. And here you probably thought that Clarence Brown only made tear-jerking drama's? Ha!
I was less impressed with the score by Biograph Players a three piece ensemble that is all new to me. I had not heard their work before. Portions of it are very good, but they totally kill the humor in a couple of the funniest scenes in the film. The score as I see it, attempts to be two things at once both Vintage and Modern and frequently fails at both. The lead Piano player sounds much like Schroeder in a Peanuts cartoon, accept that Schroeder was a better player. There are some good moments though that work well musically. The score is not awful, it just fails on several key sequences. Some of the melodies are actually quite good. For a first time effort on DVD, they show some promise.
Those are terrific Ad's. Where did you find it at? The review is really excellent. I still haven't been able to figure out why Derek didn't like this movie? He didn't like HER SISTER FROM PARIS either. Even though his passion is Silent Comedy. And there was another friend of mine (can't recall which one) several months ago who commented that the role of KIKI would have been perfect for Clara Bow. They actually did enjoy Norma in the film, but kept on picturing Clara for some reason. Mike Duffy liked the film, but did not find Norma all that desirable. He kept screaming for Billie Dove!
Hey, you haven't even seen the Constance Talmadge movies yet. You have much to look forward too. These DVD's are the event of the year for Silent film fans in my opinion. Just as BARDELYS THE MAGNIFICENT/MONTE CRISTO was the event of 2009. They will be tough to top." It will be interesting to see what Flicker Alley includes with CHICAGO (1927) in a few months.
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Post by kelly on Mar 30, 2010 16:17:28 GMT -6
OH MAN is that good Talmadge sisters dvd set COOL
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If you order by March 31st the Talmadge sets are marked down at substantial savings from $29.95 to $20.97 on the Kino Website. So you need to hurry. I got mine from Deep Discount DVD and think I paid $18.95 each or something like that. I'll see if I can find the order info. It's better to order direct from Kino though if you can. 
Notice how the copywriters speak of the characters as if they are real people, and it's assumed that the audience will react the same way and become emotionally involved with them.