Looking for Mabel Normand
Madcap Mabel Normand
THAT LITTLE BAND OF GOLD (Keystone 1915)
“That Little Band of Gold” is one of the very nice films worth a watch anytime it plays; it is one Mabel Normand and Roscoe Arbuckle made early in 1915 with Ford Sterling after he had returned to Keystone and along with Ethel Madison adds to this appealing cast. The film is in public domain fortunately for us.
In a number of their co-staring comedies during this period, Roscoe and Mabel play a married couple. This is just two reels so the story moves fast, Mabel and Roscoe, met, married, Fatty gets drunk and Mabel becomes disillusioned, Phyllis Allen, plays Mabel’s mother and is a classic interfering mother-in-law. Ford is Fatty’s drinking partner a role that Chaplin had played a year earlier. The Ford character is named of Gassy Gotrox, and Ethel Madison plays the vamp 
named Maud Brightlights. Roscoe, Mabel and Phyllis have a night at the Mason Opera House. Roscoe was already in his cups, at the opera he sneezes loudly, laughs at the singers inappropriately, unbuttons his pants for comfort and with collaboration of his friend Ford sneaks off with Ethel and her friend ( I think it is Estelle Allen, but I don’t know for sure) and then the fun just goes on and on. Ford does a fine job and it many scenes he is the focus, which is pretty hard to accomplish with Mabel and Roscoe. Mabel is lovely in this film but not the silly, funny girl, I think of in Keystone
films.
Ethel, Ford, Roscoe, and the other another actress (maybe Estelle), end up at the dinning room of the Alexandria Hotel. Both men of course are very taken with Ethel’s vampish whiles. Both the scenes at the opera and dinning room include real people as extras. Mabel and Phyllis find Roscoe and drag him out of the
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
THAT LITTLE BAND OF
Keystone-Mutual
2 reels, ©
Before and After Marriage
dir. Roscoe Arbuckle
cast: Roscoe Arbuckle, Mabel Normand, Ford Sterling, Alice Davenport, Ethel Madison, Charles Arling, Al St. John, Charley Chase, Glen Cavender, Frank Hayes, Estelle Allen, Billie Brockwell, Edgar Kennedy, Dora Rogers, Slim Summerville
finished:
Location: Interior of Alexandria Hotel, Mason Opera House,
Keystone Studio
