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City Lights Clippings 135/387

Elena Boland, Los Angeles Times, L. A., Cal., Aug. 31, 1930

„The biggest picture he has ever attempted“

Editorial content. „CHAPLIN STUDIO

      UNIQUE IN FILMS

      Only One-Man Organization

      in Picture Industry

      Comedian Works Leisurely

      on „The City‘s Streets“

      Pantomimist Steadfast to Love

      for Silents

      BY ELENA BOLAND

      It must be called ,the one-man studio‘ so

unpretentious is its management, so dependent on its head

for every activity.

      In this day of Hollywood‘s increasing maturity when

motion-picture development must, it seems, be done on the

grand scale, Charlie Chaplin‘s studio stands alone,

unique among organizations of its kind.

      The bigger the better is the motto of other plants,

also the more the merrier: They are bound by

organization; tied by system; they run on budgets, conferences

and schedule. They are headed by arrays of executives

who keep watch on production staff, technical staffs, advisory

boards and retinues of assistants. Not to mention stars

and players

      PERSONNEL LIMITED

      Chaplin‘s studio has none of this. What system it has

accumulated is handled so unnoticeable that the lord

and master can remain unconscious of it. The entire personnel

numbers forty-five. In comparison, a partial list from one

of our prominent lots states that in its employ are twenty-one

executives, twenty-nine directors, thirty-eight writers,

twelve stars and forty featured players. Another of equally

good standing declares ten executives, sixty-eight

writers, twenty-two directors, eleven stars, forty-nine featured

players and a music department of twenty.

      Chaplin can‘t. It is impossible for him to work in an

organized atmosphere. In fact, he works backward.

Already he has spent two years, working when in the mood,

making the biggest picture he has ever attempted,

City Lights. It will be finished in five weeks, if he keeps

his promise. But even yet, the story is not written.

Nor will it be until after the film is finally completed.“ (...)

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