Review of Mickey (1918) by I Don't Know W — 12 Feb 2006

[left][font=comic sans ms][size=5][color=green][b]MICKEY WAS MADE AT[/b][/color][/size][/font][/left].

[left][/left].

[left][font=comic sans ms][size=5][color=green][b]THE MABEL NORMAND FEATURE FILM [/b][/color][/size][/font][/left].

[left][font=comic sans ms][size=5][color=green][b]COMPANY[/b][/color][/size][/font][/left].

[font=comic sans ms][color=green]The only film made by the [i]Mabel Normand Feature Film Company was[/i] [i]MICKEY[/i] by far[/color][/font].

[font=comic sans ms][color=green]her best film and the best representative of the Mabel persona. [/color][/font].

[font=comic sans ms][color=green]In 1916 while Mack Sennett was trying to get out from under the weight of Keystone [/color][/font].

[font=comic sans ms][color=green]and the control of the New York Film Company, he developed a strategy to keep [/color][/font].

[font=comic sans ms][color=green]making films under his own name and protect Mabel?s career as well. The Mack [/color][/font].

[font=comic sans ms][color=green]Sennett Weekly was a trade magazine which he sent to distributors and theater [/color][/font].

[font=comic sans ms][color=green]owners and began publishing January 1, 1916. It featured a picture of Mabel as [/color][/font].

[font=comic sans ms][color=green][i]MICKEY[/i] on the front page of each issue until Sennett formed a relationship with [/color][/font].

[font=comic sans ms][color=green]Paramount (and Mabel?s name was removed from the header). Mabel meanwhile signed [/color][/font].

[font=comic sans ms][color=green]a lucrative contract with Sam Goldwyn which Sennett had helped negotiate. [/color][/font].

[font=comic sans ms][color=green]During the production the publicity for the up coming feature was nonstop. The film [/color][/font].

[font=comic sans ms][color=green]required its own studio as well as its own production company. For all intents, Mabel [/color][/font].

[font=comic sans ms][color=green]actually ran the company and controlled the construction of her studio and it was [/color][/font].

[font=comic sans ms][color=green]Mabel who decided on the staff and crew. After a few missteps F. Richard Jones [/color][/font].

[font=comic sans ms][color=green]was named director over Sennett?s objections. Mabel was able to surround herself [/color][/font].

[font=comic sans ms][color=green]with actors and technicians who she had worked with previously. The production, [/color][/font].

[font=comic sans ms][color=green]although rather long and expensive, turned out very successful. By having [i]MICKEY[/i] [/color][/font].

[font=comic sans ms][color=green]made at its own studio and having its own production company Sennett could [/color][/font].

[font=comic sans ms][color=green]successfully maintain that it was not a Keystone feature and therefore not owned by [/color][/font].

[font=comic sans ms][color=green]New York Film Company. Even with the rather strange and convoluted business [/color][/font].

[font=comic sans ms][color=green]maneuvers of Sennett, [i]MICKEY[/i] was not shelved because Sennett didn?t think much of [/color][/font].

[font=comic sans ms][color=green]the film. Rather, he knew its value as a bargaining chip in setting up Triangle[i]. [/i][/color][/font].

[font=comic sans ms][color=green][i]MICKEY[/i] was impatiently awaited by everyone and they were not disappointed. [/color][/font].

[font=comic sans ms][color=green]Problems arose surrounding the distribution of the film, even this Sennett was able to [/color][/font].

[font=comic sans ms][color=green]use to his advantage as part of the publicity campaign. With the public waiting for [/color][/font].

[font=comic sans ms][color=green]the advertised feature it was not released until August 11, 1918, even though it was [/color][/font].

[font=comic sans ms][color=green]copyrighted February 25, 1918. It was released many times after its highly [/color][/font].

[font=comic sans ms][color=green]successful première by different distributors. Even so, Mabel saw none of the [/color][/font].

[font=comic sans ms][color=green]millions in profits made by the film. [/color][/font].

[font=comic sans ms][color=green]Mabel?s relationship with Sennett had been problematical since they had called off [/color][/font].

[font=comic sans ms][color=green]the wedding plans in the summer of 1915 although they continued to work together. [/color][/font].

[font=comic sans ms][color=green]Mabel did not return to the Keystone Studio lot in Edendale preferring to work in the [/color][/font].

[font=comic sans ms][color=green]East Coast Studio. Sennett continued to protect Mabel and - advance her career [/color][/font].

[font=comic sans ms][color=green]sometimes to his advantage and not hers. [/color][/font].