Natalie Talmadge Movies
- 1923
Buster Keaton's third starring feature (discounting 1920's The Saphead, which was not conceived with Keaton in mind), Our Hospitality is a boisterous satire of family feuds and Southern codes of honor. In 1831, Keaton leaves his home in New York to take charge of his family mansion down South. En route, Keaton befriends pretty Natalie Talmadge (Keaton's real-life wife at the time), who invites him to dine at her family home. Upon meeting Talmadge's father and brothers, Keaton learns that he is the last surviving member of a family with whom Talmadge's kin have been feuding for over 20 years. The brothers are all for killing Keaton on the spot, but Talmadge's father (Joe Roberts) insists that the rules of hospitality be observed: so long as Keaton is a guest in the house, he will not be harmed. Thus, Keaton spends the next few reels alternately planning to sneak out of the mansion without being noticed, and contriving to remain within its walls as long as possible. The dilemma is resolved when Keaton rescues Talmadge from a raging waterfall (a dummy stood in for Talmadge; Keaton used no doubles, and nearly lost his life as a result). Beyond the brilliant sight gags in the closing scenes, the most memorable sequence in Our Hospitality is the bumpy train ride taken by Keaton and Talmadge in an 1831-vintage Stephenson Rocket. This 7-reel silent film represents the only joint appearance of Buster Keaton and Natalie Talmadge; Keaton hoped that by spending several weeks on location with his wife, he could patch up their shaky marriage (it didn't work). Also appearing in Our Hospitality are two other members of the Keaton family: Keaton's ex-vaudevillian father Joe (who performs an eye-popping "high kick") and his son Joseph Keaton IV, playing Buster as a baby. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Buster Keaton, Natalie Talmadge, (more)
- 1921
Although Raimunda (Eualie Jensen) marries Esteban (Courtenay Foote), he holds a secret passion for his stepdaughter, Acacia (Norma Talmadge). He uses his servant, Rubio (Walter Wilson) to ruin Acacia's romance with Norbert (Harrison Ford). Then, when she becomes engaged to Faustino (Robert Agnew), Esteban has him murdered, and Norbert is tried for the crime. But he is acquitted and the guilt points toward Esteban, who runs to the hills. Eventually he returns and Raimunda begs Acacia to forgive him. The two embrace, and the truth comes out about Esteban's love for his stepdaughter. The angry Raimunda calls for help and Esteban shoots her. He is arrested and the mother dies in her daughter's arms. This picture was based on the stage play by Jacinto Benavente which starred Nance O'Neil as Raimunda. In its motion picture adaptation, the role of Acacia was built up for screen star Norma Talmadge. Talmadge's sister Natalie -- at the time engaged to comedian Buster Keaton -- had a small role. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Norma Talmadge, Courtenay Foote, (more)
- 1920
In this comedy, Constance Talmadge plays Babs, a girl who is thrown out of boarding school because she's more interested in studying romance than she is in studying books. The object of her affections is Jim Winthrop (John Halliday), but before they can wed, he has to find suitable mates for his two plain sisters, Dorcas (Natalie Talmadge, Constance's real-life sister) and Matilda (Fanny Bourke) -- and Winthrop's elderly aunt, too. To speed things up, Babs takes it upon herself to find them all men. This picture was adapted from a Mary Roberts Rhineheart story by scenarist Anita Loos. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- 1919
Mrs. Harmon (Hedda Hopper) is a widow with two daughters, Ethel (Norma Talmadge) and Janis (Natalie Talmadge -- Norma
's real-life sister). She leaves the two girls to spend their vacation at Holy Cross Academy while she angles for a rich husband to support them all. But the man she wants, Van Surdam (Charles Gerrard), proves to be more interested in young girls, so Mrs. Harmon sends for Ethel. It works, and Van Surdam falls for the daughter. Ethel only marries him because she knows her family needs the money, but when they go on a cruise, the liner is sunk by a submarine. A stoker, John Arnold (Wyndham Standing) saves her and they both wind up on an island. He has been jilted by a frivolous girl and professes to hate women, and Ethel admits that her experiences with the opposite sex aren't any better. Of course, they fall in love before being rescued. The jealous Van Surdam conveniently has a heart attack so the couple are free to be together. This picture was based on the Arthur Hornblow novel, By Right of Conquest, and the story was adapted by the husband/wife team of John Emerson and Anita Loos. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
's real-life sister). She leaves the two girls to spend their vacation at Holy Cross Academy while she angles for a rich husband to support them all. But the man she wants, Van Surdam (Charles Gerrard), proves to be more interested in young girls, so Mrs. Harmon sends for Ethel. It works, and Van Surdam falls for the daughter. Ethel only marries him because she knows her family needs the money, but when they go on a cruise, the liner is sunk by a submarine. A stoker, John Arnold (Wyndham Standing) saves her and they both wind up on an island. He has been jilted by a frivolous girl and professes to hate women, and Ethel admits that her experiences with the opposite sex aren't any better. Of course, they fall in love before being rescued. The jealous Van Surdam conveniently has a heart attack so the couple are free to be together. This picture was based on the Arthur Hornblow novel, By Right of Conquest, and the story was adapted by the husband/wife team of John Emerson and Anita Loos. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- 1918
Having shot his fist five Comique Film Corporation comedies in New York, star-director Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle moved his unit to California to make Out West, and remained in the Golden State for the rest of his silent-screen career. Arbuckle plays the sheriff of a wild-and-wooly western town, where shootings, maimings and killings are an everyday occurrence. The local saloon even has a huge trap door to accommodate the falling bodies. Though no saint himself, Fatty is redeemed by the love of Salvation Army lass Alice Lake, and dedicates himself to tracking down notorious outlaw Al St. John. Cornered by St. John, our hero discovers that the villain can be subdued through the simple expedient of tickling his foot! Stealing the show is Buster Keaton in the first of his poker-faced lampoons of "strong silent" western hero William S. Hart. A generally amusing subject, Out West is marred (at least for contemporary viewers) by an extended scene in which a tremulous African American bartender is terrorized by the trigger-happy Fatty and Buster. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle
