Raquel Meller, NOT Edna Purviance

Another NOT EDNA PURVIANCE, as Jessica Buxton shared an image she found in the new book 'Charlie Chaplin' by Peter Ackroyd (released May 2014).

The photo marked (A) shows Charlie Chaplin, but NOT with Edna Purviance, as the caption reads in Ackroyd's book, but with Raquel Meller. And the year wasn't 1918, but 1926. In picture (B), Chaplin and Meller were photographed for the Los Angeles Times on the Circus set, at Chaplin's studio in the summer of 1926 (image B). 

Special image created by ednapurviance.org

Chaplin had one of his instant attraction to Meller, and even wanted to cast her in his NAPOLEON film. While nothing came of that, Chaplin did use the song Meller helped make famous, "LA VIOLETERA," for his music for the blind girl theme in 'City Lights.'  Chaplin never credited the composer, leading people to think  "LA VIOLETERA" was his own creation. The composer, José Padilla Sánchez, sued Chaplin, and won his lawsuit against Chaplin for using his music uncredited. 

As for the caption, it's another example of people not knowing what Edna Purviance looks like. It's easy to see it is NOT Edna, by face features and hair colour alone. What's more puzzling, is how the author came to the conclusion this was Edna.   

Thanks, Jessica, for sharing this. Just want people to know, if you have this book, and you see this image, it is NOT Edna Purviance. 

Another NOT Edna Purviance at Edna's Facebook page and Edna's org. Home site.

And here is an original recording of "LA VIOLETERA" as sung by Raquel Meller in the 1920s.

Original composer, José Padilla Sánchez.

Comparing Charlie Chaplin's THE PILGRIM

Joao Antônio Franz dos Santos has created this wonderful comparison video showing the official release of THE PILGRIM (as Charlie Chaplin had last edited it for The Chaplin Revue in the late 1950s) and a much earlier Russian version released closer to the original silent version.

Don't know the exact year of the Russia version, but could have been an original silent version released with sound during the 1930s, since the frame isn't as wide. But Joao was going through his collection and re-discovered it, so can't remember when he got it, but decided to make this comparison to show the differences.

Sample from Joao's comparison, showing Edna & Charlie in scene not in the any official version.

The Russian version is not restored, but putting that aside, you'll see totally different takes, more close ups, scenes not seen anywhere else, changes in speed, and general different feel of Charlie's character, that Chaplin edited together in the earlier version. I and others, have seen a more gentle version of Charlie's character in his last edited films, over his earlier edited films during his career. (I did a report on The Kid a few years ago.)

I personally enjoy seeing these earlier versions, because it tells me more about Chaplin during his filmmaking years, over the period he was retired and re-editing his work for a modern audience. He shifted his character to being more gentle and polite in his later edits, every chance he got. I have now seen the same change in The Kid, Shoulder Arms, Pay Day and now The Pilgrim. (Should say, also love the silent version of The Gold Rush, over the narrative one in the 1940s.) Just something more real about this character in his earlier edits.

Chaplin also was more balanced in showing the other characters he played with. To me, he seemed to refocused the last edits toward himself more, and removed bits to whole backgrounds of the other characters. (I thought Jackie had some of his best scenes in an earlier version of The Kid, but could say the same for some of Chaplin's scenes, as well.) Great film in both, but love the earlier version as Charlie's character seems more real, and not as polished. The best thing I like about the last edited films is the music, but really like the earlier versions for the character and story.

These films were released by Chaplin since he owned the copyright from 1918 onward, so he approved of both, just in different eras. Just love seeing the earlier Chaplin, when he was in his prime years and seeing films his peer audiences saw. Thanks to Joao for making this comparison. Great study!

Also has scenes not seen of Edna Purviance in other versions, which is great for Edna's fans!

Comparison created by Joao Antônio Franz dos Santos

Dan Leno, one of Charlie Chaplin's favorites

During Charlie Chaplin's youth and stage career days in England, British stage star Dan Leno was one of Charlie Chaplin's heroes. Leno being a top performer of his day, inspired many young performers who took elements of his style to the silver screen. Leno's career didn't make it into silent films, but he can be seen some of the earliest forms of moving pictures.

This very rare Mutoscope was saved by the Leno family members and put together for The Dan Leno Project. It's an unique chance to see Leno in action in a simple 'film' called Dessert at Dan Leno's House. There is hope more such 'films' can be found and saved.

Max Linder and Abel Gance's 'Au Secours!'

Anyone who is a longtime Charlie Chaplin fan, knows that Max Linder was one of Chaplin's idols before Chaplin got into films. But did you know Max Linder also worked with Abel Gance?

In honor of the Napoleon showing in London on November 30th, here is look at the film Max Linder and Abel Gance made together called 'Au Secours!' (French film). Released before Napoleon, it's a good look at the style of editing so favorited by Gance's work. Besides that, it's fun film to watch.

Note: This video appeared to be recorded at a live event, as the soundtrack suggests.

Kevin Brownlow and the £100,000 minute

£100,000 for a minute of Charlie Chaplin? That and more will be learned in this series of videos from a recent event last year with some moments with Kevin Brownlow and Patrick Stanbury, from Photoplay.

First one includes some on NAPOLEON and a BUSTER KEATON DVD that a company produced with the wrong master.




Kevin talks about seeing a Mary Pickford film directed by Clarence Brown and how it started his collecting of US silent films.




Kevin talks about discovering a film library collection while on holiday and more...






£100,000 for a minute of Charlie Chaplin? That was the rate being charged by Chaplin's agent for any uses of Chaplin's films. With no budget for such a high amount, how Brownlow and Gill did get some Charlie Chaplin clips for HOLLYWOOD SERIES and continued to create UNKNOWN CHAPLIN SERIES.

Director Michel Hazanavicius and his Favorite Silent Films

If you love The Artist, and came out of the theatre, wanting to see more silent films, a good place to start, is to see some of the films the director of The Artist really enjoys.

Best Director winner, Michel Hazanavicius, shares his Favorite Silent Films, that include City Girl, The Crowd, The Unknown, Underworld, Docks of New York, Sunrise, and more... (Great list, by the way.)

Also a special mention, that include Josef von Sternberg, Charlie Chaplin and director, Billy Wilder.

Update: A few clips of the films mentioned. These online are not the best quality.

The Crowd - Directed by King Vidor



Underworld - Directed by Josef von Sternberg
(first Sternberg film released after Chaplin didn't release Sternberg's 'A Woman of the Sea')



City Girl - Directed by F.W. Murnau (two clips)






The Unknown - Directed by Tod Browning (with Lon Chaney and Joan Crawford)



Sunrise - F.W. Murnau (with Janet Gaynor)

Charlie Chaplin Honorary Oscar 40th Anniversary

April 1972, Charlie Chaplin returned to America for the first time in 20 years. It was an historical moment remembered by all who saw it. It was the first time I was introduced to Chaplin, and I have been a fan of his, ever since.

Here is a short video version of the actual moment. (Hopefully, someday, The Academy will share the full moment, without any cuts.)


Charlie Chaplin Oscar d'Honneur 1972 by BryanAiki

Charlie Chaplin's Speech from The Great Dictator

Charlie Chaplin's Screen test of Genevieve & Vivian Tobin

Took Film Test Many Years Ago
Genevieve Tobin Owes Part of her
Success in Movie World to Charlie Chaplin
The Centralia, Washington Daily Chronicle
Saturday, November 8, 1930 - pg. 2

By Robbin Coons
Hollywood, Nov. 8th - Genevieve Tobin is a comparative newcomer to Hollywood, but she had her first screen test years ago at the hands of Charlie Chaplin. Genevieve and sister, Vivian, who is still on Broadway, were doing a one-act play in vaudeville, and Chaplin sitting bored in the audience, was startled into interested attention when the two mere children came on stage.

With their mother, there with Genevieve, they were invited to come to the Chaplin's studio next morning for a screen test.

Edna Purviance, the comedian's then leading lady, helped Genevieve make up while himself assisted Vivian --- piquing Genevieve no little.

The test resulted well enough but there was nothing Chaplin had for them to do at the time, and Mother Tobin wanted them to finish school, so that ended the movie idea for a time.

TOO BAD
It came again, to Genevieve, when she was playing the lead in "Fifty Million Frenchmen" on Broadway and received an offer of talkie stardom.

The show, says Genevieve, fairly collapsed soon after she left its cast for Hollywood.

Various triumphs on the stage, she allows no false modesty to underestimate their greatness nor her own worth, as she tells of them--- preceded this offer.

She is, to say the least, very confident not only for herself, but for Sister Vivian, who she says, "is not in pictures but could be any time she wanted to."

__________________
Genevieve Tobin played many supporting roles, including her work in "The Petrified Forest" with Humphrey Bogart and Bette Davis.

Here is a clip of Genevieve Tobin playing Mitzi Olivier in One Hour with You (1932).



As for the Chaplin screen test, where Edna helped, the internet information is a bit confusing, with different birth date for Tobins. Unless someone has this all figured out on the Tobins, it would take me sometime to research.

I am interested, since I have a photo of Edna with two young girls, all in costumes, but dressed in nothing I ever seen in any Chaplin film before. The girls were pretty young looking, so that is why I am most interested in exact birth dates. But from the little information on the web, I would guess this photo we have is not them, because the girls look too young.

This photo I maybe including in the newly updated video I am working on for the Chaplin Conference in Zanesville, Ohio, coming this October, 2010.

Image - Drawing by Linda Wada - Feb. 2010

Papier-mâché pastry anyone?

Picture Play Magazine - April 1919
More Movie Tricks
by Emma-Linsay Squier
Page 186
From my Edna Purviance Collection

"Charlie Chaplin came into the studio when making "A Dog's Life" and wanting some papier-mâché cream puffs made up. He wanted imitations pastry light enough to be popped into his mouth by twos or threes. The result was a tray load of delectable-looking cream puffs that were detection-proof three feet away. When they were placed on the vendor's wagon, and the comedian begun snatching them into his mouth, the camera man did not know they were faked until told by the director to "cut" so that Charlie could spit out the pasteboard." - Picture Play Magazine, April 1919




I don't usually do this, but this has been on youtube. Chaplin's films from 1918 'A Dog's Life' onward, are copyrighted with Roy Export. But this does show the film clip the magazine article talks about.

And for you Charlie Chaplin fans out there, a special Charlie Chaplin Conference will be held in Ohio, October 28-30, 2010. You can learn more at this link.

Ben Model Silent Film Video Blog

Silent film accompanist
Ben Model
has started his own video blog.
You can catch his shows at Silent Film Music Blog.
Also, follow his events at his website, Silent Film Music.
You will find a list of coming events.

Chaplin look alike? From 1924?

He also has a collection of work at his Silent Film Music Channel. There you can see actor's like Lige Conley, who looks quite a bit like Charlie Chaplin without make-up. In this film 'Fast and Furious' from 1924, it has scenes that look like Chaplin's 1916 'The Floorwalker.'

Update: Here is the video borrowed from Mr. Model's youtube site.

1916 - Charlie Chaplin's Own Story, online

"Christmas came and went and I did not have an offer of a place on the stage." - from 'Charlie Chaplin's Own Story', 1916 on Internet Archives

Looking for some online reading this Christmas? Internet Archives has the 1916 book 'Charlie Chaplin's Own Story.' It was the first book published about Chaplin, but this controversial book, cause a legal battle when it was published. This rare book is now available online. It is available for download or to read online.