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| Mickey was the one and only feature produced at Mabel Normand Productions. Mabel put a great deal of herself into Mickey, so in a real way Mickey became Mabel. During the filming she became ill with bronchitis. Once Mickey was finished, the problem of distribution rights came into play. Mabel was shut out. Mickey was shelved. Mabel left Sennett for the Sam Goldwyn Studios. |
The first feature film Mabel made for Goldwyn was Joan of Plattsburg (1918). This became another shelved film. Goldwyn was madly in love with Mabel but there is no indication that the feelings were reciprocated. At the Goldwyn Studios, Mabel ran wild: showing up late after nights of revelry; being ill prepared; and generally raising havoc. Mabel was at the zenith of her popularity; both Mickey and Joan of Plattsburg were released. However, her fans saw signs of physical changes in the gifted star. How much was in fact due to ill health and how much due to partying is hard to tell. She began to disappear from the studio for days at a time, even forgetting to cash her payroll checks. Sam Goldwyn's feelings toward Mabel cooled and he was ready when Mack Sennett approached him to buy out the 5-year contract that had another 18 months to run. Mabel was also ready to go home to Edendale. |
Molly O' was presented to the prodigal Mabel as a welcome home gift. She wasn't fooled. She knew that Sennett had first offered it to Mary Pickford. Only when Mary had rejected it, did Sennett negotiate with Goldwyn for Mabel. Dick Jones, Mabel's favorite director, worried about how ill she looked. It was said he was also in love with Mabel. Jones did his best to show Mabel at her best but nothing can hide the effects of time, fast living and perhaps the first signs of TB. Mabel was having small hemorrhages in her lungs and was self-medicating with a cough syrup, which she called "goop," that suppressed her cough but left her groggy. Everything showed on Mabel's expressive face. |
| The production of Molly O' went smoothly, because Sennett surrounded Mabel with a cast and crew who knew how to work with her. However, Mabel was getting too old to play an inexperienced teenage girl. Even with its shortcomings however; the film is a real treasure. The critics and public were very impressed with the film. Her box office was good and Mack Sennett was making money. Mabel was back. |
| She began another film right away. Here again Sennett was careful with the cast, using many of the same members who had worked so well with Mabel previously, with Jones directing. Mabel again was playing the part of a character years younger than her actual age. |
