She wasn't famous for her dramatic acting and compared to other actresses of the time, she wasn't the most attractive, but Constance Talmadge and the romantic comedies she starred in were a huge hit with the movie going audiences in the early days of motion pictures. While her male counter-parts in comedy were busy wowing their fans with intricate sight gags and impressive acrobatics, she was charming them with smart romantic stories full of screwball plot twists, mistaken identities, and most of all her adorable presence.
Sadly, most of the films of Constance Talmadge are among the 73% of silent movies considered lost forever, adding her and the wonderful romantic comedies she made to the long list of forgotten stars and films of the silent era. The handful of her films that remain prove to be fresh, funny and without a doubt shear proof of not only her comedic talent, but also another glimpse into the quality that prevailed back in the pioneer days of film.
Among the best of her surviving films is; Her Sister From Paris, where she plays the duel roles of an unhappy housewife and her identical twin sister, who happens to be a world-famous ballerina. Many actors have played duel roles before, but usually the characters look different, making it easier to play two different parts. In this film, Constance Talmadge has the challenge of playing two separate woman that look exactly the same. So when the characters in the film get mixed up on who's who, due to the talents of this wonderful actress, we, the audience, are able to tell them apart, adding to the fun of the movie.
Like so many of her peers, the career of Constance Talmadge ended when the talking era began. However, unlike the others before her, she never made a talking picture, opting to leave show business altogether. She was offered a role on Broadway in the 1960's, turning it down saying, "Are you kidding? I couldn't act even when I was a movie star!" Obviously she hadn't seen one of her films for a while. Otherwise she would have realized, just as anyone does when viewing her old movies, of what a great comedic talent she was.
Sadly, most of the films of Constance Talmadge are among the 73% of silent movies considered lost forever, adding her and the wonderful romantic comedies she made to the long list of forgotten stars and films of the silent era. The handful of her films that remain prove to be fresh, funny and without a doubt shear proof of not only her comedic talent, but also another glimpse into the quality that prevailed back in the pioneer days of film.
Among the best of her surviving films is; Her Sister From Paris, where she plays the duel roles of an unhappy housewife and her identical twin sister, who happens to be a world-famous ballerina. Many actors have played duel roles before, but usually the characters look different, making it easier to play two different parts. In this film, Constance Talmadge has the challenge of playing two separate woman that look exactly the same. So when the characters in the film get mixed up on who's who, due to the talents of this wonderful actress, we, the audience, are able to tell them apart, adding to the fun of the movie.
Like so many of her peers, the career of Constance Talmadge ended when the talking era began. However, unlike the others before her, she never made a talking picture, opting to leave show business altogether. She was offered a role on Broadway in the 1960's, turning it down saying, "Are you kidding? I couldn't act even when I was a movie star!" Obviously she hadn't seen one of her films for a while. Otherwise she would have realized, just as anyone does when viewing her old movies, of what a great comedic talent she was.
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