City Lights   1930   1931   1932   next   previous

City Lights Clippings 140/387

Exhibitors Daily Review and Motion Picture Today, N. Y., Oct. 28, 1930.

Kenneth MacPherson and Bryher (Annie Winifred

Ellerman), Close Up Editor and Assistant Editor, circa 1927,

Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library

& Paul Rotha, undated, mubi.com

& THE FILM TILL NOW

      A SURVEY OF THE CINEMA

      By

      Paul Rotha (...) New York 1930

& AS IS

      BY THE EDITOR. (...)

      The more surprising, therefore, is the author‘s (Paul Rotha,

The Film Till Now) acclamation of Chaplin as the

supreme artist, enduring „the aching pain of loveliness,“

„an unhappy, disconsolate and lonely man.“ What

is this ability to believe without one single, even momentary

uncertainty? Can Chaplin do no wrong? And why

has the author acclaimed „The Circus,“ a trite and shoddy

film, without construction and factory-made in its every emotion,

as ,one of the greatest tragedies in the history of the

film, and yet ... magnificently funny.‘? When shall we have the investigation of this clever man and his cult?

      In all that will to pathos is only a form of psychic cheating.

For pathos, a lechery of the inert, the willingness

to pity, so often the betrayal of inner softness, is nearly always

a washerwoman‘s joy, a pub-crawl state of moral

wiseacre-ing. Do we have to admire this, or is it not a form

of solitary vice?

      Chaplin has been more perfect when he has not been

seeking these „greatest tragedies.“ Then strip him of pathos and

there‘s something elfin. Something of Ariel, a wisp

of a fellow... something, alas, of a proletarian Peter Pan.

      Chaplin as the director of „A Woman of Paris“

is a different consideration. Much more consolidated, and

much less coy. (...)                

                                                         Kenneth MacPherson

(...) Close Up, Territet, Switzerland, Oct. 1930

& ACTION (...)

      Charlie Chaplin and Tom Mix were veritable heroes to

millions of youngsters, because of what they did. (...)

      Only Chaplin, at the time, appears to have sensed the

situation. He obstinately refused to become vocal. (...)

His „City Lights,“ already under way at the outbreak of the talkies,

is still dragging along with nonchalant unconcern.

(...) Clifford Howard, Close Up, Territet, Switzerland,

Sept. 1930, detail

& CHAPLIN TO GO ABROAD

      Charlie Chaplin, „City Lights“ completed, will leave

Hollywood December 15 for New York and London. He will

be accompanied by Carlyle Robinson of his staff.

(...) Exhibitors Daily Review and Motion Pictures Today,

Nov. 10, 1930

& Chaplin to Europe Next Month (...)

      Hollywood – Charlie Chaplin, having completed „City

Lights,“ leaves Dec. 15 for New York and London.

He will be accompanied by Carlyle Robinson of his staff.

      World premiere of „City Lights“ will take place

in a Los Angeles house on New Year‘s Eve, but United

Artists has not yet set a date for national release.

(...) Film Daily, Nov. 10, 1930

      The world premiere of City Lights takes place in Los Angeles

      January 30, 1931 at the Los Angeles Theatre.

      Los Angeles Theatre, B‘way betw. 6th and 7th, Los Angeles.

„Are marking time, as to future production work“

Editorial content. „INDEPENDENTS WAIT CHAPLIN‘S

      PICTURE FOR PRODUCTION CLUE

      Hollywood Bureau – The independents, it was learned

here over the weekend, are marking time, as to

future production work, until Charlie Chaplin decides

to unreel his „City Lights.“ Charlie, as the world

knows, refused to go talkie and the effect of his silent funmaker

is awaited with a lot of interest. Charlie may decide

on the showing any day now.“

Redaktioneller Inhalt

City Lights   1930   1931   1932   next   previous