The Danger Girl - 1916

Country: USA
Language: English
Director: Clarence G. Badger
Stars: Gloria Swanson and Bobby Vernon
Release Date: 25 August 1916 (USA)
Production Co: Keystone Film Company
Runtime: USA: 18 min | 20 min (DVD)
Sound Mix: Silent
Color: Black and White
Plot Keywords: Actor Shares First Name With Character
Genres: Comedy | Short
Madcap Gloria disguises herself as a man, in order to lure a "dangerous" vamp away from her beau, Bobbie. Although some sources list Mack Swain in the cast of this film, he does not appear. The rotund actor who appears briefly in the restaurant sequence is not Swain.
Hilarious 1916 comedy short teaming Gloria Swanson with Bobby Vernon.
Swanson is slightly bored with her beau (Vernon) until he starts being interested in another girl. She's also being pestered by "last season's beau" so she decides (of course) to dress as a boy and cause some trouble.
Swanson as a boy is just terrific. She has fun with all the "boy" mannerisms and is a terrific physical comic. Vernon is also a top comic but long forgotten because his career was mostly in shorts and died with the coming of sound.
In 1916 Swanson was still a teenager and already a star. The way she uses her smile and eyes is just amazing and you can'y take your eyes off her. It's no wonder she would go on to be one of the biggest stars of the 20s. She is amazing.