Kiki (1926)

A Parisian gamin (Norma Talmadge) cons her way into the chorus line of a popular follies show. She promptly falls in love with the show's producer (Ronald Colman). Based on the play by Andre Picard and directed by Clarence Brown (NATIONAL VELVET). Norma Talmadge was one of the great stars of the silent era and this movie is a real showcase for her comedic talents which were rarely displayed on the screen. It's unfortunate that the vehicle is rather tiresome. Although she was only 32 when she did the movie, Talmadge seems rather matronly for a street waif. The major problem is that Talmadge's Kiki is supposed to be a captivating and impish child of the streets and we the audience are supposed to finder 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!" when what she really needs is a good spanking. The one performance I did enjoy was George K. Arthur as Colman's valet who's on to Kiki's tricks. With Gertrude Astor, Marc McDermott and Frankie Darro.