City Lights 1930 1931 1932 next previous
City Lights Clippings 97/387
Variety, New York, February 12, 1930.
Edward Steichen (photographer), Charles Chapin,
1931, pinterest
& Harry Myers, Charles Chaplin, Robert Graves (police officer) –
Night exteriors lend themselves excellently
to „Source“ lighting. In this scene from Chaplin‘s „City Lights“
the apparent source is the street lamp.
(...) Photo, Cinematographic Annual, 1930
& „I have never yet heard of a theater owner who catered
to the public say he believed that Charlie Chaplin
should leave the pantomimic field. The smartest thing Charlie
ever did,“ continued Schenck, „was when
he refused to be influenced by all his advisers who
wanted him to put his comedy into words.
„He is a premiere pantomimist and there is no language
in the world that could so adequately express Charlie
as his feet and hands. His dialogue couldn‘t hope to compete
with his own pantomime. Let other artists of the screen
talk, but Charlie must keep silent to remain on his pedestal.
„I was fairly convinced that Charlie shouldn‘t make
a talkie, but now I know after seeing ,City Lights,‘ that he could
never hope to duplicate it with sound and dialogue.
It is his funniest picture. Charlie felt that with all this talk about
sound pictures he must turn out something super and
I think he has done it. I know when you see ,City Lights‘ you
will agree with me.“
(...) Joseph Schenck Now Heartily For the Talkies
By Louella O. Parsons, San Francisco Examiner, S. F.,
Cal., Feb. 23, 1930
& „CITY LIGHTS“ ALMOST READY
Chaplin‘s Comedy Previewed by Friends
Who Claim It‘s a „Wow.“
Production Speeded Uü With June 15
Set as Deadline.
Hollywood, May 3. – (Special to The Free Press). – Joseph
Schenck, John Considine, Douglas Fairbanks, Sam
Goldwyn and a number of other film higher-ups were guests
of Charles Chaplin at a special preview of Chaplin‘s
new comedy, „City Lights“ – or the first four reels of it, all that‘s
now ready to show, the night before Fairbanks set forth
for Europe to watch the big golf matches. Chaplin was eager
to get the reaction of experts on his piece and they
agreed unanimously that it‘s a „wow.“
It develops that the real reason the comedian will not
go talkie is that he speaks with a broad accent that
he has been years cultivating to just the correct modulation.
He will not temper with his accent and is convinced
that if he uses it before the microphone, all the effect of his
funny costume and his pantomime will be lost. He‘s
probably right.
Has Sound Effects.
However, „City Lights“ is not totally inaudible. Charlie skids
on a balloon and you hear it burst. He swallows a whistle
and in his agony pushes a hand against his tummy and the whistle
toots. Also there is musical synchronization, some of the
sequences being laid in a night club.
Charlie confesses that he awaits the public‘s reception
of „City Lights“ very nervously. Fairbanks told Charlie
he would not make a talkie until he sees how Chaplin‘s goes
over and if it‘s a big success Doug will produce a silent
one too.
Production is going forward with a renewed burst
of energy at the Chaplin studio. Charlie has been
seized with a sudden yen to get through and hike to Europe.
Accordingly, a deadline of June 15 has been decided
upon for the completion of „City Lights.“
Picture Proves Costly.
Chaplin‘s notion that he would shoot some scenes
in the capitals of Europe on his jaunt abroad also
has been abandoned. He will do some shooting, but any
film he obtains will be kept for future use.
The cost of „City Lights“ up to now is just under
$800,000, despite the fact that the great one has done
nothing else for about a year.
(...) Detroit Free Press, Detroit, Mich., May 4, 1930
„Still got three months to go“
Editorial content. „18 Mos. For Chaplin‘s
Latest; Due In Oct.
Hollywood, Feb. 11.
Charles Chaplin‘s City Lights, in production a year and
a quarter, has still got three months to go.
The picture may be first shown in October.“
Redaktioneller Inhalt
City Lights 1930 1931 1932 next previous
