A Digital Humanities Project
in Seven Thrilling Acts!
by Russell Zych, MLIS '22
Act VI: Legacy and Scholarship
While nearly half of Normand’s films do not survive, among what does survive are no shortage of examples to demonstrate her full commitment to physical comedy and stunt work. It is tempting to compare Mabel’s bold on screen persona to the actress and comedienne herself, as many scholars have done. More challenging however, is understanding both the performances and the persona they constructed as an formal innovation characteristic of early silent film artistry.
Below I present several performances of note, and let them speak for themselves.
Please note: I have set a start time for each video, to bring you directly to a particular scene where Normand conveys either a commitment to stunt work, physical comedy, subversive costuming, or chemistry with her co-stars.