Mabel's Blunder

Mabel mistakes her lover's sister for a rival in her affections. She acts as their chauffeur and the principals all go to a restaurant, A slap stick finish results, but the humor of this is not very strong. - The Moving Picture World, September 19, 1914

This is a rather star-studded film, though some of the future stars you may not recognize. The film is directed by and stars Mabel Normand--probably the first big female comedy star on screen. She is supported by Al St. John (frequently in support for Fatty Arbuckle, and later in talking Westerns) and Charley Chase (who blossomed into a headliner in the 1920s and 30s with Hal Roach Studios.

The film is a two-reel comedy about a lady who is engaged to the boss' son, though no one else knows it. When another lady comes to work and the boss pays her lots of attention, Mabel is jealous and dresses up as the son's chauffeur to spy on them. At the same time, Mabel's brother (St. John) is dressed up as Mabel and the boss begins to make the moves on him/her. It's one of the earlier cross-dressing comedies I've seen and is good for a few laughs.

The plot elements now seem old hat – a case of misunderstanding, cross dressing, and mistaken identity – but in 1914 it must have seemed new and hilarious to the audience. Mabel works as a secretary and is secretly engaged to the boss' son; the boss himself (the old lecher) has eyes on Mabel. Mabel mistakenly thinks that a woman she sees her fiancée kissing is his girlfriend and she aims to follow them to a party by switching clothes with her brother who happens to be the son's chauffeur. One of the interesting things about this short is how few title cards were used and yet how easy it was to follow the plot. Mabel had a very natural and expressive manner about her, which is clear from this one reeler. Not a great comedy short by any stretch but a good one and it was nice to see a good print of a Mabel Normand film. Thanks to the reviewer who pointed out that Al St. John and Charley Chase were in the film – I missed that.

Mabel (Mabel Normand) is engaged to Harry (Harry McCoy), the boss's son. The boss has an eye for Mabel too, in this gender-bending comedy of errors and mistaken identities.

Some have said this film is not that great, but okay "for the time". Actually, I think it is rather good. The doppelganger aspect, the costume changes, the "gender-bending"... this has quite a few interesting and innovative ideas.

What I find most interesting is the "feminist" aspect. Mabel Norman not only stars, but writes and directs. She is not very well known today, or for those who do know her, she is often seen as second fiddle to Charlie Chaplin. This film proves she is more than that... she was a talented artist in her own right.