The Extra Girl (1923)

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 ... See full summary »

Director:

F. Richard Jones

Writers:

Bernard McConville, Mack Sennett (story)

Stars:

Mabel Normand, Ralph Graves, George Nichols

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mabel Normand	...	Sue Graham
Ralph Graves	...	Dave Giddings
George Nichols	...	Pa Graham
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)

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

star | small town | motion picture | talent contest | swindler | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 October 1923 (USA)

Also Known As:

Millie of the Movies

Filming Locations:

Mack Sennett Studios - 1712 Glendale Blvd., Silver Lake, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mack Sennett Comedies

Technical Specs

Runtime:

68 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Penultimate feature film of Mabel Normand. She would not make another film for three years until her last feature Raggedy Rose (1926). Four shorts would follow in 1926-7 and she would pass away in 1930.

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Quotes

Zachariah 'Pa' Graham: You go on with your movin' pictures - mother and I are going home.

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Connections

Featured in 100 Years of Comedy (1997)

User Reviews

Pretty Special Little Gem

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.