A Million to Chaplin -- October 23, 2017

Moving Picture World, 20-October-1917

Chaplin had just signed a million dollar contract with First National "for only 8 comedies."

Moving Picture World, 13-October-1917

 Chaplin fought with producers who tried to make pseudo-Chaplin films.  "Charlie Chaplin in A Son of the Gods" must have been making fun of the Annette Kellerman movie A Daughter of the Gods.  This item particularly mentions the Apollo Feature Film Corporation. 

Moving Picture World, 13-October-1917

Chaplin left the Lone Star studio where he filmed the Mutuals and planned to build his own new studio. 

Moving Picture World, 20-October-1917

First National arranged to sell overseas rights to the Chaplin films. 

Moving Picture World, 27-October-1917

Chaplin decided to put his signature on titles and promotional items to let people know that the First Nationals would be new movies and not re-releases.  "It is hoped that this innovation will go far toward safeguarding the unsuspecting public from the annoyance of paying their money at the box office to see a new Chaplin film, only to find when inside the theater that the promised treat is an old release -- an imitation or a garbled revue." 

Moving Picture World, 27-October-1917

Chaplin and First National fought against imitators. 

Moving Picture World, 27-October-1917

Apollo Pictures argued that they were not the producers of imitation Chaplin, but the Apollo Film Company was. 

Moving Picture World, 27-October-1917

Before he left for a vacation in Hawaii, Chaplin organized the team that would make his films for First National. 

Moving Picture World, 20-October-1917

I was surprised to learn that in Calcutta, Chaplin was not as popular as Lonesome Luke (Harold Lloyd), Heinie and Louie or Roscoe Arbuckle.  Heinie and Louie more popular than Chaplin? 

Moving Picture World, 20-October-1917

Meanwhile, Mutual prepared to release Chaplin's last production, "The Adventurer." 

Moving Picture World, 27-October-1917

"Book a Chaplin Week." 

Moving Picture World, 13-October-1917

Essanay began a program of re-releasing a Chaplin film each month.  "A Jitney Elopement" was partly shot in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. 

Moving Picture World, 13-October-1917

"The Champion" had already been re-released successfully. 

Moving Picture World, 27-October-1917

"Merrier than a Satyr."  -- Interesting.