Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Mabel Normand | ... | Sue Graham | |
Ralph Graves | ... | Dave Giddings | |
George Nichols | ... | Pa Graham | |
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Anna Dodge | ... | Ma Graham (as Anna Hernandez) |
Vernon Dent | ... | Aaron Applejohn | |
Ramsey Wallace | ... | T. Phillip Hackett | |
Charlotte Mineau | ... | Belle Brown | |
Mary Mason | ... | Actress | |
Max Davidson | ... | Tailor | |
Louise Carver | ... | Madame McCarthy - Wardrobe Mistress | |
William Desmond | ... | William Desmond - Actor | |
Carl Stockdale | ... | Director | |
Harry Gribbon | ... | Comedy Director | |
Billy Bevan | ... | Comedian | |
George Beranger | ... | Actor in Wardrobe Line (as André Beranger) |
Sue Graham is a small town girl who wants to be a motion picture star. She wins a contract when a picture of a very pretty girl is sent to a studio instead of her picture. When she arrives in Hollywood, the mistake is discovered and she starts working in the props department of the studio instead. Her parents then come out to California and invest some money with a very shifty individual. Written by Charles K. Ammons <ckammons@mci2000.com>
The Extra Girl (1923)
*** (out of 4)
Producer Mack Sennett and star Mabel Normand made a great number of films together but this here would turn out to be the last one as they'd go their separate ways and not to mention that this was filmed during the actresses troubled aftermath of the William Desmond Taylor murder. In the film Normand plays a small town girl who decides to go to Hollywood where she knows she's gonna make it big. As soon as she hits town she gets a job but it's not in front of the camera but instead behind it sweeping floors. Soon her parents and her sweetheart (Ralph Graves) come to visit her and things don't get better. THE EXTRA GIRL is far from perfect but I thought it had enough very good moments to make it worth sitting through and not to mention some fine performances. Many have labeled this a comedy but I think that's pretty far-fetched as there's really not any funny moments throughout the film. The majority of the time is actually dealing with some dark subjects and situations and not to mention we get some pretty intense sequences that would have made D.W. Griffith proud. One such sequence has Normand accidentally letting a lion loose, which then goes on a chase throughout the studio. This sequence was extremely well shot and edited and you can feel the creature breathing down your spine. The ending, which I won't spoil, is also excellently done and contains some first rate drama. Normand is extremely good in her role as you can believe her every step of the way. She's perfectly charming in the picture and I thought she handled the drama just fine. Graves, probably best remembered for his films with Frank Capra, is also excellent in his role as are supporting players Vernon Dent, George Nichols and Anna Dodge.