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(Excluding biopics.)

Die falsche Asta Nielsen (1914).



The tale of the fake Asta Nielsen was helmed by her landsman and frequent director Urban Gad. The film is currently believed lost, the following synopsis comes from the European Film Gateway site:

"Asta Nielsen, who was at this time at the height of her popularity, shines here in a self-reflective dual role: she plays both herself and her double, the barber’s daughter Bolette. Bolette is aware of the similarity between them and by chance comes into possession of some of the silent film star’s old garments. When she takes on the star’s identity, she turns everything topsy-turvy in her hometown. However, she cannot keep up the deception for long before she is overwhelmed by the assailing admirers and cannot tolerate the champagne. She is then of course rescued by the appearance of the real Asta."

This gimmick is turned on its head in Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943), where the Eddie Cantor look-alike Joe Simpson, played by Cantor, appears late in the film to save the show from the egomaniac "real" Cantor. One may also think of Show People (1928) where aspiring film actress Peggy Pepper, played by Marion Davies, is not impressed when having Marion Davies pointed out to her.


Potseluy Meri Pikford (1927) (A Kiss from Mary Pickford)



Mary and Doug cheerfully appeared before the cameras during their visit to the USSR, and the film's protagonist Igor Ilyinsky does indeed get a kiss from Mary — however, Miss Pickford apparently had not been informed that a full-length feature would be built around that short moment. In any case, a charming comedy illustrating that film fanatics are much the same any place and any time.


Dear Brigitte (1965)



One of three Sixties' family comedies from the director/star team of Henry Koster and James Stewart, though none enjoy the reputations of their earlier collaborations Harvey and No Highway. In this one, daddy Stewart's genius son has a crush on Brigitte Bardot (cue Lou Costello: "Yeah, you and fifty million other guys"), who invites the lad to come visit her in person. (As you do.)

Any other examples of stars appearing as themselves and being named in the film's title?

and more obliquely…

When All Through the Night (1941) had its belated opening in the Scandinavian countries around the late 1940s, Sweden gave it the title Kalabalik i högkvarteret ("Panic at Headquarters"), while in Norway it was titled Bogart rydder opp (which translates roughly as "Bogart Cleans House" or "Bogart Saves the Day").

Couldn't locate an original Norwegian poster, so I faked one based on the Swedish (at right):

Mutt and Jeff in Meeting Theda Bara.

Good call!

BEING JOHN MALKOVICH (1999)

How about the most obvious one, DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS IN ROBIN HOOD, the official title of that film.

Sidney Lumet's GARBO TALKS (1984)

By implication, "The Great Profile" starring John Barrymore.

"Barney Oldfield's Race for Life" ?

Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd
?? reaching...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0329028/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_1" target="_blank

What about Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy? They were themselves (or at least used their own names) in every picture.

"Snow White and the Three Stooges" (1961)
"The Three Stooges in Orbit" (1962)
"The Three Stooges Meet Hercules" (1962)
"The Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze" (1963)

Donald Binks wrote:What about Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy? They were themselves (or at least used their own names) in every picture.

Their names were never used in the films' titles, though. We might include compilation features like Laurel and Hardy's Laughing 20s or Harold Lloyd's World of Comedy, or documentaries like Buster Keaton Rides Again, or all those shorts with the stars' first names in the titles — Max Wants a Divorce, Fatty and Mabel Adrift ... but then we'd never get outta this place.

Even this one is iffy, since the genuine article does not appear:



(But then, why did I include the Jimmy Dean poster above? It ain't easy being consistent!)

Rollo Treadway wrote:

Donald Binks wrote:What about Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy? They were themselves (or at least used their own names) in every picture.

Their names were never used in the films' titles, though.

There was THE LAUREL-HARDY MURDER CASE from 1930.

(Continuing to name films in which the name in the title is someone actually also in the film):

"Our Gang" (1922)
"Our Gang Follies of 1936" (1935)
"Our Gang Follies of 1938" (1937)
"Gene Autry and the Mounties" (1951)
"The Bowery Boys Meet the Monsters" (1954)

Babe's School Days (Lubin, 1915) with Babe Hardy.
The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case (Roach, 1930) and also Oliver the Eighth (Roach, 1934)
Mabel's Blunder (Keystone, 1914) and a bunch of other Mabel Normand shorts.
Charley My Boy (Roach, 1926) with Charley Chase.
Violent is the Word for Curly (Columbia, 1938) with Curly Howard and two other guys.
Bunny as a Reporter (Vitagraph, 1913) and a bunch of other John Bunny shorts.

Tom Mix in Arabia(1922)
also Just Tony(1922) and Tony Runs Wild(1926)
and how about Come On, Tarzan(1932)

Though I have no authority to dictate, I think that using a created stage name like "Our Gang" or "The Three Stooges" shouldn't really count. It's kind of like counting Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006). Borat and The Three Stooges were names created to market films, even if it was for a series; not the name of a "star performer."

So there.

By that criterion, I can't include Irma Vep (1996). But I would include Anabelle's Serpentine Dance (1895) and The May Irwin Kiss (1896). Fred Ott, of course, wasn't a celebrity until after the sneeze.

Richard Finegan wrote:

Rollo Treadway wrote:

Donald Binks wrote:What about Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy? They were themselves (or at least used their own names) in every picture.

Their names were never used in the films' titles, though.

There was THE LAUREL-HARDY MURDER CASE from 1930.

D'oh! (as their friend Jimmy Finlayson might say)

In addition, one of their weirdest:

This could perhaps start another crazy thread, but Charles Ruggles was in RUGGLES OF RED GAP (1935) and Colin Clive in CLIVE OF INDIA (1935 also), though neither played the title roles. Have a feeling there's a few more out there...

Jackie Cooper's Birthday Party (1931)
Tom Brown of Culver (1932)

W. C. FIELDS AND ME

earlytalkiebuffRob wrote:This could perhaps start another crazy thread, but Charles Ruggles was in RUGGLES OF RED GAP (1935) and Colin Clive in CLIVE OF INDIA (1935 also), though neither played the title roles. Have a feeling there's a few more out there...

Lord Byron of Broadway (1930) with one Jack Byron in the cast ...

Rollo Treadway wrote:

earlytalkiebuffRob wrote:This could perhaps start another crazy thread, but Charles Ruggles was in RUGGLES OF RED GAP (1935) and Colin Clive in CLIVE OF INDIA (1935 also), though neither played the title roles. Have a feeling there's a few more out there...

Lord Byron of Broadway (1930) with one Jack Byron in the cast ...

And on a TV link, Robin Bailey in 'Rumpole of the Bailey'...