Kiki (1926)Kiki, a poor young woman who sells newspapers on the street corners of Paris, is able to land a job singing and dancing at a nearby theater. While she is there, she invites herself into the... See full summary » Director:Clarence Brown |
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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