THE CHAPLIN CENTENNIAL: A CHAPLIN NOVELLA AND MODERN TIMES

THE CHAPLIN CENTENNIAL: A CHAPLIN NOVELLA AND MODERN TIMES

5 February, 2014

This is a special and exciting week for fans of Chaplin and classic cinema. And if you’re a fan of either, you’re a fan of both.

This week we celebrate and mark the historic occasions when Chaplin made his film debut (“Making a Living”, Keystone, released 2 February, 1914), and his character The Little Tramp made his debut (“Kid Auto Races at Venice”, Keystone, released 7 February, 1914).
  

And today, as we mark the debut of Modern Times, which opened on February 5^th, 1936 and was the last screen appearance of Chaplin’s Little Tramp character, it was announced that a novella written by Chaplin will be published. 

Chaplin’s only known work of fiction (he had also written and published his biography in his lifetime in 1964, and a photobook called “My Life in Pictures” in 1974, “Footlights” is a novella that is the precursor to the screenplay and film LIMELIGHT. 

CHAPLIN’S NOVELLA “FOOTLIGHTS”
“Footlights” was written in 1948, and was reconstructed by Chaplin biographer and film historian David Robinson, and researchers at the Cineteca di Bolongna, an Italian film restoration institute. Multiple drafts of the manuscript to “Footlights” were found in the Chaplin archives in Switzerland, and the Chaplin Estate gave the parties permission to reconstruct the literary work. The novella essentially tells the story told in Chaplin’s film LIMELIGHT, but has a more somber, sadder edge to it.

The novella can be ordered from Amazon or from Cineteca HERE. It goes on sale at The British Film Institute on Tuesday.

Here is a charming scene with Chaplin and Claire Bloom:

MODERN TIMES

 Chaplin’s last film to use his immortal character of The Little Tramp opened on 5 February, 1936. Chaplin’s Jewish Barber in THE GREAT DICTATOR, although bearing a great resemblance to the tramp, was quite a different little fellow.

Here is the classic factory scene from MODERN TIMES:

Original Images and Text © Mark Redfield 2014

CHAPLIN CENTENNIAL: THE GREAT ACTOR DEBUTS IN CINEMA 100 YEARS AGO ON 2 FEBRUARY ,1914

MAKING A LIVING debuted 100 year ago today...

Charlie Chaplin's first appearance in a motion picture by the public was in the Keystone comedy Making a Living, released on 2 February, 1914.

The familiar and beloved Little Tramp character is not to be found in this knock-about farce from Mack Sennett's comedy factory. Chaplin plays a very different type in his motion picture debut.

Making a Living was directed by Henry "Pathe" Lehrman (nicked named "Pathe" by D.W. Griffith himself, for Lehman lied about working with the French company Pathe in order to be hired whe he started with Griffith and Biograph in New York years before...).

 Chaplin (left) and Henry "Pathe" Lehrman (right).

Making a Living features Chaplin as a sharp swindler "Edgar English", Virginia Kirtley as the daughter, Alice Davenport as the Mother, Henry Lehrman as the Reporter, Minta Durfee as the Woman and Chester Conklin as the Policeman (and as a bum). The infamous Keystone Cops also make an appearance and help give chase at the end.

Here is a print of the film:

CELEBRATING CHAPLIN'S CENTENNIAL 1914-2014

This year I'll be posting a great deal about one of my favorite actors and filmmakers--Charles Chaplin.

Having spent chunks of my life studying his work and his life, I find myself compelled once again to look at his work closely in the hopes of learning, and enjoying, so much more.

Here's to Charlie--the master poet of the cinema!

-Mark Redfield
1 February, 2014

"Charlie" (2009) by Mark Redfield
Acrylic on canvas. 18x24

Original Images and Text © Mark Redfield 2014

Redfield's Cartoonarama: CHARLIE CHAPLIN

"I remain just one thing, and one thing only, and that is a clown. 

It places me on a far higher plane than any politician."

- Charlie Chaplin

This cartoon of Chaplin was painted in 2012. Acrylic on canvas. 18x24. © Mark Redfield

To purchase an original painting, please visit my Etsy shop HERE:

FILM HISTORIAN KEVIN BROWNLOW

Kevin Brownlow's speech to the Academy this November. His books and documentaries have opened windows, doors and worlds to me; his work continues to inspire and remain "must have" works in my library, valuable pieces that I re-visit often.

If you don't know Brownlow's work, I strongly suggest you start with his book THE PARADE'S GONE BY. Then look at his series HOLLYWOOD, and the documentaries UNKNOWN CHAPLIN and
BUSTER KEATON: A HARD ACT TO FOLLOW (with the late David Gill). And then go from there. To Chaney, Lloyd and so much more.

Wonderful contributions; well deserved recognition of his work by the Academy. Hopefully others are being inspired by him to continue on. Listen to his speech to the Academy in November, 2010 HERE.

-Mark Redfield, November, 2010

THE CHANEY MURDER CASE by Mark Redfield, debuting in the Fall of 2010

I've started a page over at facebook where I'll be posting developments about my novel THE CHANEY MURDER CASE until it's publication in the Fall of 2010, and also post whateverthis-n-that about actor Lon Chaney strikes my fancy!

Of course I'll be posting major news about the novel here at AN ACTOR'S NOTEBOOK, and have some nice pieces about Lon Chaney, but check out the facebook page in the event that other friends post things about The Man of a Thousand Faces.

The facebook page is HERE.


Thanks in advance for joining the group and for all your support!

CARTOONARAMA: CHARLIE CHAPLIN

"CHARLIE" (2009) by Mark Redfield. 18x24. Acrylic on canvas.

Chaplin is another, continuing influence. I was lucky, in a way, to grow up during the late 1960's and early '70's, when there was a resurgence in popularity with great comedians like Chaplin, Keaton, W.C. Fields and Laurel and Hardy.

Perhaps it starts with the Robert Youngson compilation films of silent comedians that were released in the mid-60's and the packaging of Three Stooges shorts for television. In Europe, Keaton was "re-discovered" by cineastes. Posters of W. C. Fields were in college dorms all over the country in the mid-1970's. The films of all the greats were packaged cheap for television syndication, and my generation was exposed to their genius and magic.

Not today. They have all fallen out of vogue somewhat, and today's generation of kids don't know who they are. The films just aren't easily available.

It's up to us, those who know, to share their magic with new generations.

CARTOONARAMA: BUSTER KEATON

"SIMPLY BUSTER" (2009) by Mark Redfield. Acrylic on canvas panel. (16x20)

Buster Keaton remains a great inspiration to me, both as an actor and filmmaker. One of the first plays I ever did professionally was inspired by Keaton's spirit of comedy and the surreal; his recurring theme of man against machine; of the attempt to master forces that overwhelm us all. I'll never stop learning from him.

Original image (c) Mark Redfield.

CARTOONARAMA: CHARLES OGLE, FRANKENSTEIN 1910

There's a new "gadget" I've added to the blog, over there on the right-hand side of the page, called CARTOONARAMA. Of the cartoons, drawings and paintings I've been doing lately, many have been of actors and various portrayals.

My painting is of Charles Ogle as Frankenstein's monster in the very first telling of the tale, Frankenstein (1910) produced by Edison's company. Ogle appeared in over 200 silent films, and the images of him in his gruesome make-up as the monster tantalized horror film fans for years, as the film was thought lost until the mid-1970's. "Edison's Frankenstein" is now available on DVD, and has been bootlegged and available on the internet.

I guess I was struck by the mask-like qualities of the make-up in the famous photo I based the cartoon on, and so it appears as a mask floating in blackness. The cartoon is acrylic on canvas, measuring 16x20. Actors and their characterizations that I've painted that I'll post in the future include Lon Chaney, John Barrymore, Laurel and Hardy, Peter Sellers---just doodles of actors and famous faces that inspire me...

Text and original image (C) Mark Redfield.

LE COCHON DANSEUR

"The Dancing Pig" from 1907. This marvelous little film features a fabric costume that affords plenty of life in its movement for the performer. Especially curious is the close-up at the end of the film, where the facial mechanics can be shown off for great effect.