Tomboy Bessie
About Tomboy Bessie
Bessie (Mabel Normand) torments everyone around her. Mack Sennett, as Andrew, is courting her aunt Cissie (Kate Toncray). Bessie's father (William J. Butler) says Andrew may marry Cissie only if he can amuse Bessie. That means letting Bessie plague him, and she sets a chicken farmer (Frank Opperman) on the group.
Cast & crew
More about Tomboy Bessie
Mack Sennett and Mabel Normand are both credited as directors. William E. Wing wrote it. Percy Higginson photographed it. Biograph shot it in California in April 1912. General Film released it on 3 June 1912. The negative is 521 feet. Copyright is 8 June 1912. An Internet Archive copy runs 8 minutes 30 seconds. Charles Gorman plays a policeman. W. C. Robinson is also listed. It is a Biograph split-reel comedy, not a Keystone.
Themes
Making
Normand is credited beside Sennett as director, which is unusual for a Biograph split reel of this year.
Look
Percy Higginson photographed the California exteriors.
Preservation
A print survives. An Internet Archive copy of the 521-foot reel runs 8 minutes 30 seconds. Public domain in the United States.
Notes
- The Internet Archive identifier used by some uploads is TomboyBessie1912. The catalog identifier is silent-tomboy-bessie.
- Sennett's character is named Andrew. Toncray's is Aunt Cissie.
- Opperman's chicken farmer is the last gag, turned loose on the courting party.
- Public domain in the United States.
- Silent Era lists a DVD edition without naming the label.
Scenes
- Butler tells Sennett the marriage depends on keeping Bessie amused.
- Bessie turns the chicken farmer loose on the group.
Also available
- Internet Archive (silent-tomboy-bessie)
