EARLY CINEMA
4 Charlie Chaplin Comedies U
USA | 1916 | 103 minutes
DIRECTED BY
Charles Chaplin
STARRING
Charles Chaplin|Edna Purviance|Eric Campbell|Lloyd Bacon
In 1916,
aged 26, Charles Chaplin signed a contract with the Mutual Film Corporation to
make 12 two-reel comedies over the course of twelve months. On signature, he
received $150,000. He also was due a salary during the contract period: $10,000
per week! Apparently, Mutual was very happy with the films Chaplin made under
this deal, and the company made a tidy profit of $700,000. (Note: $1 in 1916 is worth about $29 today.)
We shall
screen four of these two-reelers (one reel lasting around 15 minutes) in the
Green Room Bar, with a short interlude between each one, providing an
opportunity for purchases from the bar.
The
Floorwalker U (29 mins)
The setting
is a retail emporium. The floorwalker is a senior supervisor of the shop
assistants. He looks rather like Charlie Chaplin, but he isn’t. He is Lloyd
Bacon, who is stealing money from the firm as a sideline to the floorwalking. Somehow,
Chaplin is persuaded to exchange identities and becomes the floorwalker. He
soon finds himself on the wrong side of the law.
The Fireman U (24 mins)
Chaplin is
driver of the local fire-engine and has a tendency to oversleep. He risks
losing his job if he’s late again, so takes action to avoid missing the next
alarm. Of course, he becomes the hero of the piece and gets the girl in the
end.
The
Vagabond U (24 mins)
In this
film, for a third time, Edna Purviance is the girl, and this time she is
rescued by Chaplin (in the role of an itinerant violinist) from a band of
gypsies. But the course of true love does not run smooth.
One A.M. U (26 mins)
Rather different. An essentially solo performance from
Chaplin, who arrives home at 1 am, after a night out on town, and has some
difficulty engaging with his home and its furnishings as he attempts to get
some sleep.16 September 2024 MONDAY 19:30
GREEN ROOM BAR
Tickets £7.00|£5.00 (up to age 25)