Remember seeing this image?
Recently, I saw this on an online auction: Red Letter Photocard showing this image from the Charlie Chaplin's Essanay period. The film was
'By the Sea' filmed in the Los Angeles area in 1915.
I have seen this card before. It doesn't say Edna Purviance on it, but I have seen sellers place Edna's name on it. But, it is not Edna.
Just looking at it, the face features are all wrong for Edna's:
• Nose different shape
• Eyes different
• Head shape not oval, (Edna has an oval face)
Just to name a few...
Who it is, I am not quite sure. This woman in the postcard wears the same dress and hat actresses Margie Reiger wears in the film. Here is Margie in the film:
Margie Reiger, walking toward the camera in 'By the Sea'
I need a better image, but certainly don't look like button boots, like in the postcard.
But the lady in the postcard looks to have blond hair, and Margie's hair is dark. So, the photocard lady doesn't look like Margie or Edna.
I do know from Edna's photos, Chaplin took test photos to check different outfits and makeup. So this lady in the card could have been one of the ladies testing for the part. Also, Chaplin looked to be trying a dog for the film, but decided against it, since no dogs appear in
'By the Sea' except for two dogs, in the background on one of the beach scenes.
Margie Reiger, sitting on the bench in 'By the Sea'________________________________________________
By the Sea goes to The Bank...Another fun bit in researching this image, is to note the jacket Edna Purviance is wearing in
'By the Sea'. It is small line pattern jacket, with black buttons on the front and along the bottom. And also notice the blackish hat with the white bow. (Take out your copy of
'By the Sea' for a better look.)
Edna with hat and jacket in 'By the Sea' In the movie
'The Bank', which Edna would do a bit later, she is wearing the same hat with bow, and same jacket and skirt, but this time the jacket is unbuttoned. It also looks like a few black buttons were removed off the bottom of the jacket, just to change the look, a bit.
Edna with hat and jacket in 'The Bank'
The jacket and hat is only worn briefly, in the early scenes in
'The Bank' as Edna arrives at work. She takes the jacket and hat off, soon after arriving, and does not wear them in the rest of the film.
Pull out your copies of these films and check for yourself (same skirt, hat and slightly changed jacket) in two different films. As for the lady in the photocard? I don't know, but maybe someone else does, but it is not Edna.
Just some fun things I've noticed, while studying these films.
