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

Writers:

Hanns Kräly, André Picard (play)

Stars:

Norma Talmadge, Ronald Colman, Gertrude Astor

Cast

Cast overview:
Norma Talmadge	...	Kiki
Ronald Colman	...	Victor Renal
Gertrude Astor	...	Paulette Mascar
Marc McDermott	...	Baron Rapp
George K. Arthur	...	Adolphe
William Orlamond	...	Brule
Erwin Connelly	...	Joly
Frankie Darro	...	Pierre
Mack Swain	...	Pastryman

Storyline

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 life of the revue's manager, with whom she has fallen in love.

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Plot Keywords:

baron | smoking | show within a show | based on play | character name in title

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 April 1926 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Norma Talmadge Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min 96 min (Kino Print)

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Remade as Kiki (1931)

User Reviews

Norma Talmadge Hits the Funny Bone

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