Police Clippings 24/38
Variety, New York, June 2, 1916.
Police Lobby Card, undated
& POLICE.
The second Chaplin-Mutual two-reeler, „Police,“ is not
so funny as the first one, for the reason that the finish
is too quiet. There was, seemingly, a tendency to strive for
a more artistic ending, but in this instance it didn‘t
quite hit the mark. Mutual has undoubtedly given a good deal
of attention to Chaplin‘s scenarios, they carrying more
or less of a „plot.“ This may sound a trifle incongruous, but plots
are just as essential to a Chaplin farce as to a dramatic
five-reeler. „Police“ opens with Chaplin being released from jail,
staked to a single bill. He is met at the gate by a fake
minister, who exhorts him to lead an honest life, makes him
woop and says: „Let me help you to go straight.“
During this scene the pretended minister has stolen Charlie‘s
lone greenback. After he has dscovered he was trimmed,
along comes a genuine minister, with the same plea: „Let me
help you to go straight.“ The result may be imagined.
Then he meets his former cellmate and they plan to rob a house.
After working vainly to get the window open they decide
to walk in by the door, which is unlocked. Noisy entrance, falling
over everything. Woman hears them and pleads that
they make no noise as her mother is ill. Funny stuff such
as prying open the piano and mistaking the icebox
for a safe. Woman feeds them while waiting for the police, for
whom she has phoned. Says to Charlie: „Let me help
you to go straight.“ He immediately becomes suspicious. When
his pal attemps to go upstairs, he and Charlie fight,
the other escapes and when the police arrive they capture
Chaplin. The woman says: „He‘s my husband.“
Charlie leaves, determined to lead a better life, only
to encounter a policeman whom he had tapped
on the „bean.“ He turns in the other direction as the picture
fades out. Too quiet at ending. Jolo.
(...) Variety, May 26, 1916.
Police is not the second Chaplin-Mutual two-reeler.
& ESSANAY‘S LAST CHAPLIN.
Essanay is releasing their last Chaplin picture through
the General Film Co., with the title changed from
„The Traffic Cop“ to „Police, Police.“ This was done because
Thanhouser released a five-reel subject recently
under the title of „The Traffic Cop.“ The new Chaplin will
be released in three reels, Essanay following the
precedent they established when they released Chaplin‘s
„Carmen“ in four reels, by adding two reels of padding.
In this instance only one reel has been added. This gives
Essanay an opportunity to ask more money for
these releases because of greater length, but is is very doubtful
whether the exhibitors will fall for this one as they
did in the case of „Carmen,“ when they paid as high as $100
daily, booking it for two or three days at a time, doing
business the first day and pulling a horrible flivver for the other
days booked, because of the disappointing quality
of the picture.
Essanay is coming in for unanimous condemnation
at the hands of the exhibitors for the manner
in which they are releasing „Police,“ by offering it to the highest
bidder in each locality, irrespective of what service
that bidder may use. General Film customers feel that the
theatres with the largest seating capacity can bid
more for first run showing and they feel that they ought to be
given the first choice.
(...) Variety, May 5, 1916
„Using these cut-outs for new one-reel releases“
Editorial content. „CHAPLIN‘S DEMURRER SUSTAINED.
Los Angeles, May 31.
The first battle in the action of Essanay to recover
$500,000 from Charlie Chaplin for breach of contract, was
won by the Chaplin side here, when the courts upheld
Chaplin‘s demurrer to Essanay‘s complaint.
–
When Police, Chaplin‘s last comedy for Essanay, was
released last week, it was discovered some of the
funniest business was missing. Chaplin is quoted as saying
that the scenes eliminated are rib breakers for fun
and, according to information, Essanay intends using these
cut-outs for new one-reel releases. How this will
effect Chaplin‘s contract with Mutual is problematical. At the time
the contract was entered into, Chaplin made the statement
that Essanay held two unreleased subjects, Carmen and Police.
Now that others will be issued will present another
problem for Syd Chaplin, who is Charlie‘s manager. Syd is now
in New York fighting to restrain Essanay from releasing
Carmen as a four-reel subject. Police, which has been released
in two reels, was booked solid for the entire Loew Circuit,
through General Film Co., who, following the precedent of the
Mutual, are asking $50 a day for first run.“
Police is released by Essanay May 27, 1916.
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