Kiki (1926)

Clarence Brown (NATIONAL VELVET) directs this silent comedy with Norma Talmadge, one of the great Stars of the silent era. It’s a real showcase for her comedic talents which were rarely displayed on the screen. It’s unfortunate that the vehicle is rather tiresome. Talmadge plays a Parisian gamin who cons her way into the chorus of a popular Follies show produced by Ronald Colman who she promptly falls in love with. The major problem is that Talmadge’s Kiki is supposed to be a captivating, impish child of the streets and we the audience are supposed to find her antics adorable. What Kiki is, however, is a little deceitful and annoying brat. Destroying other people’s mail, threatening people with scissors, pretending to be ill etc. and we’re supposed to think, “Oh, how cute!”. The one performance I did enjoy was George K. Arthur as Colman’s valet who’s onto Kiki’s tricks. With Gertrude Astor, Marc McDermott and Frankie Darro.