Hosiery department store shop-girl Mabel Normand (as Mayme Ladd) leads a drab existence. As "a dreamer whose dull, drudging life has never been brightened by a single gleam of romance," Ms. Normand is susceptible to scam artist Eugenie Besserer (as Yvette O'Donnell). Normand accepts the phony clairvoyant's invitation for a reading, spending her last few dollars to hear Ms. Besserer summon the spirit of a beautiful Spanish maiden, from within Normand's consciousness. With a flower in her teeth, Normand believes she has the power to become "Rosa Alvaro", a maiden so beautiful she can make men do her bidding with a mere smile. Her pal Doris Pawn (as Gwen Applebaum) thinks Normand's Spanish alter-ego is nutty.
But Normand's "Rosa" succeeds in attracting tall, dark, and handsome doctor Hugh Thompson (as Maynard Drew) at a masquerade party. If you haven't figured it out by now, this is the often updated "Cinderella" storyline. "What Happened to Rosa" is nothing compared to what happened to Mabel Normand, in real life. During her "Goldwyn" years, Normand seemed only a shadow of her former self; probably, the studio didn't know how to best present their star. But, there were also personal problems. For whatever reasons, this film is not vintage Normand. She's better than this. By the way, don't miss the opening "Goldwyn" logo, with "Leo the Lion" striking a "before Metro" pose.
**** What Happened to Rosa (12/20) Victor Schertzinger ~ Mabel Normand, Hugh Thompson, Doris Pawn, Eugenie Besserer
But Normand's "Rosa" succeeds in attracting tall, dark, and handsome doctor Hugh Thompson (as Maynard Drew) at a masquerade party. If you haven't figured it out by now, this is the often updated "Cinderella" storyline. "What Happened to Rosa" is nothing compared to what happened to Mabel Normand, in real life. During her "Goldwyn" years, Normand seemed only a shadow of her former self; probably, the studio didn't know how to best present their star. But, there were also personal problems. For whatever reasons, this film is not vintage Normand. She's better than this. By the way, don't miss the opening "Goldwyn" logo, with "Leo the Lion" striking a "before Metro" pose.
**** What Happened to Rosa (12/20) Victor Schertzinger ~ Mabel Normand, Hugh Thompson, Doris Pawn, Eugenie Besserer