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Shoulder Arms Clippings 36/246

Exhibitors Herald, Chicago, August 10, 1918.

Shoulder Arms Scenes

& Grinds the Crank on Chaplin‘s Antics

      Roland Totheroh Responsible for the Fine Camera

      Work of the Million-Dollar Comedian

      THE millions of Charlie Chaplin film fans all over the world,

when they sit in the luxurious opera chairs of the picture

theatres showing Chaplain pictures, enjoying the antics of the

great entertainer, seldom, if ever, give a thought to any

one but the inimitable Charlie.

      Photo. Roland (Rolly) Totheroh, Head Cameraman

      for Charlie Chaplin.

      There is, however, one other man deserving of consideration.

and he is the man behind the camera, who steadily,

day by day, grinds out the laughs that go round the world.

      Ten years ago a young man sat at a drawing

board in the art department of a San Francisco newspaper.

He was a cartoonist, and had made caricatures and

„strips“ that had made many persons laugh. But he wanted

a wider scope than the columns of a city newspaper,

so he threw away the India ink and the artist‘s brush and

proceeded to learn all he could learn about a motion

picture camera. That cartoonist was Roland Totheroh, today

Charlie Chaplin‘s cameraman, a position he has held

steadily since 1915, when the comedian started his contract

with Mutual.

      Flashing back to 1910, Mr. Totheroh, or „Rolly,“ as he is familiarly known throughout the industry, applied to G. M. Anderson

and was given a position in the camera department of the Essanay

West Coast studio at Niles, California, where he had soon

mastered the intricacies of every camera made.

      When the West Coast studio closed Charlie Chaplin went

east , and „Rolly,“ as he says, played a hunch, came

to Los Angeles, and as soon as Charlie Chaplin returned with

the Mutual contract in his pocket „Rolly“ asked for the

job of cameraman – and got it.

      Comedy camera requires greater skill than that of ordinary

drama, for in drama poor photography can always

be tinted, which covers a multitude of sins; but a comedy must

be „there“ – clean-cut, sharp; in other words, not

fair, pretty good, but it has got to be right, and that is the kind

„Rolly“ makes.

(...) Moving Picture World, Aug. 17, 1918

& Comedian Recovering From Burns Received

      While Making Picture

      Charlie Chaplin is recovering from burns and bruises

received two weeks ago while finishing the last

episode of his latest comedy, „Shoulder Arms.“ He will

resume work at his studio early next week.

Some extra actors, believed to have German sympathies,

recently hired for one of the trench scenes

of the comedy, are suspected of tampering with some

powder cans. When Charlie climbed out of

the dugout and started over the edge the powder cans

exploded.

      They shot pieces of lead and hot paint which burnt the

comedian‘s face and arms and also his clothing.

The Chaplin studio has been placed under guard by the

studio manager since the accident and no one

is allowed on „location“ until called upon for service before

the camera.

(...) Star Tribune, Minneapolis,

Minnesota, Aug. 4, 1918

& Chaplin Slightly Injured in Accident

      The First National Exhibitors‘ Circuit was informed by wire

on July 23 that Charlie Chaplin was slightly injured

at his studio in Hollywood during the production of „Shoulder

Arms,“ his newest picture, which deals with the war.

A number of small cans containing powder to make the effect

for bursting shrapnel in a scene were fastened over

a trench, and the scene had been rehearsed several times.

During lunch time, the wire stated, the wires connecting,

had been tampered with, and it is claimed several lead slugs

were placed in the can directly above where

Chaplin „goes over the top.“ The can „exploded“ and Chaplin

was burned about the face and hands, and

his uniform was burned. He continued with the scene.

      A wire received by MOTION PICTURE NEWS

on Thursday from its West Coast correspondent states

that Chaplin was badly burned by an accident

due to a short-circuit, but makes no mention of suspicions

of tampering.

(...) Motion Picture News, Aug. 3, 1918

„A slight injury while taking a scene“

Editorial content. „Charlie Chaplin Hurt

      New York – Word has been received by J. D. Williams,

general manager of the First National Exhibitors‘

Circuit, that Charlie Chaplin received a slight injury while taking

a scene for Shoulder Arms, his latest production

for the First National.“

Redaktioneller Inhalt

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