Mickey (1918)

[left]MICKEY WAS MADE AT[/left][left][/left][left]THE MABEL NORMAND FEATURE FILM [/left][left]COMPANY[/left] The only film made by the Mabel Normand Feature Film Company was MICKEY by farher best film and the best representative of the Mabel persona. In 1916 while Mack Sennett was trying to get out from under the weight of Keystone and the control of the New York Film Company, he developed a strategy to keep making films under his own name and protect Mabel?s career as well. The Mack Sennett Weekly was a trade magazine which he sent to distributors and theater owners and began publishing January 1, 1916. It featured a picture of Mabel as MICKEY on the front page of each issue until Sennett formed a relationship with Paramount (and Mabel?s name was removed from the header). Mabel meanwhile signed a lucrative contract with Sam Goldwyn which Sennett had helped negotiate. During the production the publicity for the up coming feature was nonstop. The film required its own studio as well as its own production company. For all intents, Mabel actually ran the company and controlled the construction of her studio and it was Mabel who decided on the staff and crew. After a few missteps F. Richard Jones was named director over Sennett?s objections. Mabel was able to surround herself with actors and technicians who she had worked with previously. The production, although rather long and expensive, turned out very successful. By having MICKEY made at its own studio and having its own production company Sennett could successfully maintain that it was not a Keystone feature and therefore not owned by New York Film Company. Even with the rather strange and convoluted business maneuvers of Sennett, MICKEY was not shelved because Sennett didn?t think much of the film. Rather, he knew its value as a bargaining chip in setting up Triangle. MICKEY was impatiently awaited by everyone and they were not disappointed. Problems arose surrounding the distribution of the film, even this Sennett was able to use to his advantage as part of the publicity campaign. With the public waiting for the advertised feature it was not released until August 11, 1918, even though it was copyrighted February 25, 1918. It was released many times after its highly successful première by different distributors. Even so, Mabel saw none of the millions in profits made by the film. Mabel?s relationship with Sennett had been problematical since they had called off the wedding plans in the summer of 1915 although they continued to work together. Mabel did not return to the Keystone Studio lot in Edendale preferring to work in the East Coast Studio. Sennett continued to protect Mabel and - advance her career sometimes to his advantage and not hers.