City Lights 1930 1931 1932 next previous
City Lights Clippings 162/387
Variety, New York, December 31, 1930.
A picture taken at one of Bebe Daniels‘ beach-home parties,
when Bebe‘s grandmother was demonstrating a card
trick. Charlie Chaplin is on her left, with Bebe and her mother
at the right of the picture.
(...) Photo, Picture Show Annual for 1931
„Because Chaplin wants double or more“
Editorial content. „As Chaplin Studio Figures It, ,Lights‘
Can Get $8,000,000 in World Rentals
Hollywood, Dec. 27
With every theatre in the world a potential account, including
wired and unwired houses here and abroad, Chaplin
studio is estimating that City Lights can gross $8,000,000.
They base this on selling the picture in the States
on a $6,000,000 quota, $1,500,000 more than originally
figured, and $2,000,000 from foreign countries.
If those figures are reached on sales, Lights will be the top
picture in the history on total distribution returns. The
Birth of a Nation did around $4,500,000 up to five years after
it had been released. That takes in ’15 to ’19.
For America the $6,000,000 quota is the highest ever set
on any single picture before release in the demanding
figures for foreign countries that are proportionately as high.
Neutral picture men don‘t see how the theatres here
or abroad can stand the rate.
All offers so far have been turned down because Chaplin
wants double or more. Germany, which has requested
the picture strictly as a silent, offered $150,000 for rights to
distribution in that country. Chaplin is asking $250,000.
Russia offered the small figure of $15,000, whereas the comedian
is insisting on $150,000.
So far as England and British possessions are concerned,
no negotiations on distribution rights can be entered
under British laws until the picture has been displayed on
English soil at a trade showing or otherwise. This may
result in Chaplin himself giving Lights a first run in London
through leasing a house there on his own hook, the
same as he is doing in New York and which he also plans
to do in other key cities where possible.
Chaplin‘s Angle
Chaplin is reported entirely convinced of the distribution
possibilities on his picture. So much so, say sources
close to Chaplin, that while he may direct a talker with other
players, as he did on A Woman of Paris, years ago, he is
determined never to appear in a talker himself.
Lights is claimed as a silent except for its musical score
and those spots where sound effects are absolutely
essential to dramatic or comedy highlights. There will be one
scene with sound effects where Charlie swallows
a whistle. But such street sounds as auto horns and other
noises will not be recorded. There will not be a single
spoken word in the picture by anyone. Advance tip is that the
picture is partly a satire on talkers.
The only reason picture is being synced at all, it is
said, is because so many theatres now do not have orchestras
or organs.
Shot 125,000 Feet
Chaplin shot 125,000 feet of film and will cut that to around
8,000 for release, or slightly over eight reels. It‘s the
only picture of importance that will not get a preview out here
or anywhere else, except in England where trade
showing for exhibs is necessary.
Following the local premiere, Chaplin goes east to attend
the New York opening, sailing immediately thereafter
for London. Accompanying him will be Carl Robinson. Planning
to remain away for from six months to a year, the comedian
will visit France, Germany, Russia, Spain (where Charlie wants
to see a bull fight), China and Japan.
On returning to Hollywood, Chaplin intends to either
direct a talker or start on another silent.“
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.
City Lights opens in New York February 6, 1931
at the Cohan Theatre.
George M. Cohan Theatre, 1482 Broadway (between
42nd and 43rd Streets), New York.
Redaktioneller Inhalt
City Lights 1930 1931 1932 next previous
