Mabel Normand-Mabels Blunder-Pt1/2-1914 Silent

Mabel's Blunder, written and directed by Mabel Normand for Mack Sennett's Keystone Film Company and released October 1914 was Normand's 172nd film although she had only started in the business 4 1/2 years earlier at Vitagraph Co. This film is Public Domain.
Harry (Harry McCoy), the boss's son and Mabel (Mabel Normand), the office girl are secretly engaged but the boss, Harry's father, not knowing of the engagement, is also trying to woo Mabel. A mystery woman (Eva Nelson), arrives to visit Harry and Mabel thinks she is being two-timed when she peeps through a keyhole and sees Harry and Eva embrace. As Harry and Eva leave for a party, Mabel plots to trade identities with her brother (Al St. John), who had arrived to chauffeur Harry to the party. Mabel, now disguised as her brother the chauffeur drives her boyfriend Harry and Eva to the party and she is mad and cussing all the way. Meanwhile poor Mabel's brother, now wearing Mabel's clothes, is spirited away to the party by Harry's father thinking he finally has Mabel all to himself. The plot comes unwound in typical Keystone fashion. We discover the identity of the mystery woman in part II. Charley Chase also has a small part in this film as Harry's friend.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Mabels
• Blunder
• 1914
• silent
• movies
• Mabel
• Normand
• Harry
• McCoy
• Charley
• Chase
• Mack
• Sennett
• Keystone
• Film
• Company

[TheMoviefan1996]

Love the soundtrack at beginning

[preservationhall01]

@TheMoviefan1996 Johnny Hamps Orchestra-playing Blackbottom.  1930s.

[HarborGuy]

Amazing how "natural" the actors were. Most of that era wer heavily made up and emoted much........

[preservationhall01]

Most films of that era were badly "over-acted" since the directors felt they had to convey in facial expressions etc what could not be spoken. Mabel was a pioneer in directing-as you say-more natural films.

[karenrousso]

I also think it has to do with Mabel as a director: she was always v. natural as an actress, which translated to the way she directed. (I think it had something to do with the fact that she didn't come from the stage).

[preservationhall01]

Thanks for those thoughts. I think she made great improvements in the way films were "acted" in the 19-teens.

[deepseadirt]

Pictorial quality is outstanding, compared to how other Keystones have weathered the decades. If she directed this, then even better. I do believe Mabel's name is on the list of women directors at Wikipedia.

[solarisqs]

thank you thank you x

[TheMoviefan1996]

Good silent movie.

[sneezepal]

Another gifted comedienne who was far ahead of her time. Her reactions in this film are so modern and realistic.

[MarilynSlater]

Mabels Blunder was named December 30, 2009, as one of the titles in the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress. There are only 25 movies added each year so this film is really being honored as it joins only 500 others, Mabel Normand is spotlighted for her enduring importance to American culture and will be preserved for all time

[luvebug21]

Yes its veryy funny Mabel is just awesome..