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The Extra Girl (1923) - a Silent Film Review


‘That's some pussy cat.’
No, this is not a description of Mable Normand who is the leading lady in 'The Extra Girl'. This is a comment she makes after everyone on the set is chased by a ferocious lion. Well the director had said 'That lion won't jump and today I want a thrill', but he got more excitement than he had bargained for.


Sue lives in a small town in America and dreams of an acting career on the silver screen. Youth friend Dave is a willing victim for her many living room rehearsals. Meanwhile, Dad is arranging a husband for Sue. Druggist Aaron appears to be a good match. When Dad and Aaron see Dave and Sue a little too much absorbed in their rehearsals, Dad decides they should not see each other anymore and that Sue should marry Aaron as soon as possible. This is, of course, asking for problems.


But this film is more than just a love story. It is also a story about a woman who dreams of a successful career. Both Dave and her father love her very much, but it is 1923 and they do not understand why a woman would want to work. Sues mother understands it. When Aaron asks her sneering if she really thinks Sue can act, she answers; ‘Why, her grandfather on my side was a great acrobat.’


Mabel Normand is living proof that a woman could have a successful career in the 10s and 20s of the last century. She acted in 220 films between 1910 and 1927, she wrote 6 scenarios, produced 1 film and directed 10. With this film she shows that she was a born comedienne. The somewhat serious story alternates with slapstick moments. Writers Bernard McConville and Mack Sennett have created a good balance between the serious and humorous parts of this film. This makes the slapstick moments more touching than that you constantly roll off your chair with laughter, like when you're watching Charley Chaplin, Laurel and Hardy and their comedy contemporaries. Although I love these great comedians, I have to give preference to films that balance drama and humor.


Unfortunately it could not be avoided that I would be disappointed in the ending of this film. And with this I have to give a spoiler warning. It was 1923, it was F. Richard Jones who directed this film, Mack Sennet who produced it were men and it were men who came up with the story and wrote the scenario. The female cinema-goers had to be reminded that the place of the woman was at home with her husband and children. Sue notes in a retrospect that her Hollywood adventure was fun, but that hearing her son calling her 'mamma' means more to her than the greatest career she could ever have had.


But apart from that I certainly enjoyed this movie.


The Extra Girl on the IMDb
The Extra Girl on Wikipedia
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