City Lights   1930   1931   1932   next   previous

City Lights Clippings 150/387

Motion Picture News, New York, November 8, 1930.

City Lights Scenes

& Saxophone Speaks For Charlie

      CITY LIGHTS,“ Charlie Chaplin‘s hilarious stellar vehicle

which is the current attraction at the new Los Angeles

Theater, although it does not feature a single dialogue sequence,

in many scenes duplicates the sounds of human voices

in a manner said to be particularly comic and unusual.

      An original idea of Chaplin, a saxophone accompaniment,

blurting in tones similar to the notes of a human

voice in co-ordination with the lip movements of the various

characters, is used in various scenes of the film.

(...) Los Angeles Evening Express, Feb. 7, 1931

& CHARLIE CHAPLIN – MUSICIAN

      Charlie Chaplin may come to London shortly for the first

presentation in this country of his new film „City Lights.“

A letter from Los Angeles received yesterday by Mr. Aubrey

Chaplin, his cousin, states  that „he has a symphony

orchestra of 35.“ The letter adds that the picture would be

shown in New York during the first week of February,

and „from there Charlie will proceed to London.“ Charlie

Chaplin‘s film has taken three years to complete

and has cost £300,000. Chaplin‘s last visit to this country

was in 1921.

(...) Guardian, Manchester, England, Jan. 20, 1931

& Schenck Denies U. A. Asked

      Fox Exorbitant Split

      Hollywood – Terms for its pictures over the Fox West

Coast circuit agreed upon by United Artists, which

he says the circuit later repudiated, ,were identically the same

as we have made with Paramount, Loew‘s and

Warners,‘ Joseph M. Schenck told MOTION PICTURE NEWS.

United Artists, he said, ,never insisted upon any exorbitant

percentage split.‘“

(...)  Motion Picture News, Nov. 15, 1930

& CHAPLIN WRITES MUSIC FOR HIS NEWEST FILM

      Charlie Chaplin undertakes to master another

phase of motion-picture production in his forthcoming vehicle,

„City Lights,“ which will have its world premiere early

in January at the new Los Angeles Theater.

      Chaplin is an accomplished musician. In this art he is

self-taught, and has become the master of several

instruments including violin, piano, ‘cello, organ, concertina

and several brass instruments. While „City Lights“

is absolutely devoid of dialogue, it is fully synchronized

with music and sound effects and with but several

exceptions the entire musical accompaniment was orginally

created by Chaplin.

      In the picture he appears in his perennially famous

role of the tramp, as the first of a trio of the three

important parts in the story. Other characters that are

outstanding are Virginia Cherrill, former society

beauty discovered by Chaplin and signed for the role of the

blind flower-vendor in „City Lights“ as her first screen

appearance, and Harry Myers, film favorite of long standing,

who enacts the role of an eccentric millionaire.

      Chaplin‘s original musical score to „City Lights“ took

him almost a year to write. One of the numbers to be

offered in the film is „Beautiful, Wonderful Eyes.“ The melody,

as well as the words of the ballad, are Chaplin‘s, although

only the music accompanies the film. 

      In preparation for the gala debut of „City Lights“ and the

new Los Angeles, the theater is now being rushed

to completion. H. L. Gumbiner, owner of the Tower, will own

and operate the Los Angeles.

(...) Los Angeles Times, Dec. 21, 1930

„So long as the do-re-mi is okay“

Editorial content. „Chaplin Out for The Dough;

      U. A. Publix in Jam?

      Hollywood – Charlie Chaplin plans to disregard

affiliated theatres and will book City Lights into independent

houses everywhere. Whichever operator offers the

heaviest sugar for the film will get the play dates, although

it is difficult to figure how independents can outbid

the chains, provided the latter want the picture. One house

or ten in a city, it doesn‘t matter to Charlie, so long

as the do-re-mi is okay.

      This may get United Artists into a jam with Publix, it is

stated here, due to that firm‘s preferential booking arrangement

with United Artists.

      The picture will have its world premiere New Year‘s

Eve at the Los Angeles, being built by the Gumbiner interests

on a site owned personally by William Fox.

      What effect the U. A.-Fox jam will have on Chaplin‘s plan

is problematical.“

      The world premiere of City Lights takes place in Los Angeles

      January 30, 1931 at the Los Angeles Theatre.

      Los Angeles Theatre, 615 South Broadway (between

      6th and 7th Streets), Los Angeles.

Redaktioneller Inhalt

     City Lights   1930   1931   1932   next   previous