116 - The Marvellous Mabel Normand

Eavesdropping at the Movies · Dec 13, 2018 · 29m

Flatpack's Silent Night series continues with a screening, at Birmingham Cathedral, of The Marvellous Mabel Normand, a programme of four silent comedy shorts from the BFI National Archive. Normand was the leading silent comedienne of her day but neither Mike nor José was familiar with her, and the programme provides a great introduction to her work, as not just a star but also a director. We saw Mabel's Blunder (1914), which she directed, Mabel's Dramatic Career (1913), His Trysting Place (1914) and Should Men Walk Home? (1927). Each stars Normand, and alongside her are such names as Mack…