Kiki

This is a real surprise - an entirely enjoyable comedy based on character, not slapstick, expertly directed by Clarence Brown and with a quartet of subtle performances, none of which is exaggerated, all perfectly natural and heart-warming.

Talmadge is very inventive and very funny as the waif, yearning for Colman, who is dapper, assured and certainly the handsomest leading man in silent films. Astor is a scream as the desperate gold-digger and Arthur almost steals the film away from Talmade as Adolphe, her valet nemesis. Facial expressions are natural, movement is as well. It is very much a photographed stage play with only ten sequences, the first running a third of the film's length. Yet, it never seems stagey or stiff.

Were there Oscars then, I'd have bet Talmadge, director Brown and supporting actor Arthur would have snagged noms, plus the ornate Art Direction.

A winner on every level and one of Talmadge's best. The Kino DVD of the LOC restoration is impeccable, clear, crisp and bright.

Norma Talmadge, an actress who usually performed in melodrama during the 1910's and 1920's, displays her gift for comedy in "Kiki" (1926), a gift usually seen more often in the performances of her kooky sister Connie Talmadge ("Intolerance", "The Primitive Lover"). But Norma was a pro and could carry comedy off just as well as her sister (for example see Norma also in "The Social Secretary" (1916) for some witty moments).

"Kiki" starts off rather slowly and at first you are not sure you are going to like her character. She's a street kid who seems incredibly dumb, who lives alone but desires to get into the chorus line of a local show. Here she falls in love with incredibly handsome Ronald Colman, a tenor, and though she loves him instantly she puts off his advances by being silly and uncooperative. Through some really funny physical comedy the two eventually come together. Best part of the film is when Kiki pretends to be in a catatonic state just to be able to stay near her love. I was howling with laughter.

Kiki is definitely a worthwhile film to see if you are intrigued with the Talmadge Sisters. Too few of their films survive, but what does showcases enormous talent that should not be forgotten.

Romantic comedy starring Norma Talmadge who is terrific playing Kiki, waif who sells newspapers on a Paris street corner, she longs to sing in the local Follies revue, not to mention she's madly in love with the manager of the revue, who she admires longingly from afar. When the Follies needs a replacement singer, Kiki spends her rent money on a new outfit complete with gigantic checkered bow tie, piles of bangle bracelets, and beret topped with a long, wild feather - she soon tricks her way into the theater's office and into getting hired. Kiki is an energetic, feisty little fireball who is soon getting into fights with the manager's stuck-up girlfriend all in hot pursuit of the man she wants.

This film is both fun and funny, Talmadge is just great in her part - there is one scene where she is pretending to be catatonic and she holds her body stiff as a board while the characters manipulate her legs up and down, pick her up, move her stiff hands back and forth, etc. - well done and highly amusing. Ronald Colman, who plays the manager, is dashing and extremely handsome in this, as usual. There are also some amusing scenes with a rather prissy valet who is constantly in conflict with Kiki as she has managed to get herself ensconced in Colman's house and won't leave. An excellent silent film.

If anyone has a complete version of this out there, I would love to get in touch with you. My copy is missing a couple of reels. So, I don't know exactly HOW Ronald and Norma met in the movie.

Despite the missing reels, I thoroughly enjoyed this little movie. Despite the picture quality not being very good, it was fun and playful and Norma Talmadge was a hoot - especially where she is "comatose"! Ronald Colman was also young, chipper, and handsome - and of course, there's the evil "other woman" in his life.

If you can find a copy of this film, even incomplete, do see it. It's not a masterpiece, but it is fun to watch, and I think anyone would be amused.

On the streets of Paris, poor newspaper saleswoman Norma Talmadge (as Kiki) pines for debonair producer Ronald Colman (as Victor Renal). Encouraged by paperboy pal Frankie Darro (as Pierre), Ms. Talmadge spends her rent money on a new outfit and auditions for a position as chorus girl in Mr. Coleman's theater revue. She gets the job with some deception and performs on stage like Lucille Ball (likely in the audience), but makes audiences laugh. More importantly, Talmadge catches Coleman's romantic eye. However, he is engaged to blonde star Gertrude Astor (as Paulette Mascar)...

Superstar tragedienne Talmadge wisely shows her comic side in this first class success, produced with partner Joseph M. Schenck. They employed director Clarence Brown, photographer Oliver Marsh and amazing set artist William Cameron Menzies, to great effect. Comic servant George K. Arthur (as Adolphe) and veteran Marc McDermott (as "Baron" Rapp) contribute fine support. The unexplained relationship between Talmadge and young Darrow (he should have reappeared near the end) along with the "never been kissed" scene are meant to sell Talmadge as a teenager, which does not convince...

"Kiki" has been beautifully restored, and should hereafter be considered one of 1926's more important releases.

******** Kiki (4/4/26) Clarence Brown ~ Norma Talmadge, Ronald Colman, Gertrude Astor, George K. Arthur