MICKEY
starring Mabel Normand, Wheeler Oakman and Lew Cody
VARIETY
December 6, 1918
Mickey and Mabel Normand are one and the same. It would have been hard to find a more appropriate name for her, or to be correct, she could not have appeared in a title role in which she was better suited. If there ever was a hoyden in pictures, it is this young star. And yet, with all her tomboy pranks and cutting up, she is a wonderful little actress.
While it was not announced on the screen at the New York Theater, Mickey is a Max Sennett picture. This was as plain as day after the first reel, when the Sennett English bulldog made his appearance and later when half a dozen educated cats at various intervals made things lively for the characters.
One is slightly disappointed at first because the opening scenes are those of the usual cut and dry "western." But this illusion is dispelled as soon as Mabel Normand makes her appear-ance. Mickey's garments consist of an old pair of trousers, patched, heavy flannel undershirt and a discarded waistcoat, many sizes too large for her. She lives with her uncle and his squaw housekeeper. He is working a mine at the opening of the picture, getting very little pay dirt, and they are not over prosperous, but they are a happy trio.
Mickey's chief occupation is getting into trouble. She starts off by persuading the family mule to eat her uncle's razor strap. Throughout the picture she has many opportunities of displaying her wonderful horsemanship and most of it is bareback riding.
But Mickey's life in the "Wild and Woolly" west comes to an end when her uncle receives an invitation to send her east to some relations, who have a country home on Long Island. She goes there, but when these folks learn Mickey has no money they put her to work. As a domestic she is a rank failure and disrupts the whole household.
Throughout the picture she does a number of daring and intrepid "stunts." How it is that Miss Normand has escaped with-out any broken bones is a marvel.
There is a thrilling racetrack scene which was probably taken at the Empire City course and will be familiar to many New Yorkers. The other "locations" have been selected with care and the interior settings are up-to-date. Fine photography adds special interest to the picture. The cast supporting Miss Normand is splendid and the whole production breezes along, with action every minute.
"Mickey" is one of the best program features of its kind released in many months. It is one big laugh from start to finish.
review courtesy of William Thomas Sherman
Video availability: Movies Unlimited, Unknown Video, Nostalgia
For more information, see "Mickey" as our "Feature of the Month"