I first saw this scene in 'Unknown Chaplin' and my father and I were in stitches! That was over 30 years ago. It's tragic that it was deleted but thank heavens it survived! To give the illusion of hundreds of extras, Chaplin had them exchange hats and partners when out of shot. Genius!
This is one of Chaplin's most hilarious scenes and was obviously deleted due to its length. The 'dopey bell boy' went on to become a film producer. To achieve the illusion of a busy street, the extras in the background swapped partners and hats when they disappeared out of shot. The climax of this film never fails to bring a tear to my eye. GENIUS! BCNU...
Chaplin was a perfectionist. If it took him hundreds of takes to get a scene the way HE wanted it- with the right nuances and comedy timing- he'd shoot it until it was "perfect". This deleted scene from "City Lights" is proof of that. That's why it took him two years to finish the film, and why he decided to keep it "silent". One can only imagine what music he might have composed for this sequence.....
I think the universities and psychology departments should use this for training students as a perfect example of OCD - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. It's epic!
Correctly he didn't put the scene in the "City Lights".It would've took away the attention from the story plot. But what a scene! It have life of its own. I laughed so much I actually started to cry!! Genius!!
It seems to me that this scene would have taken place just before the Tramp crosses the traffic congested street and walks through cars to make it from one side of the street to the other, then meeting the blind girl for the first time who takes him to be a wealthy gentleman who'd just stepped out of the luxury sedan.
Film historian Kevin Brownlow says when he first saw this previously unknown footage in the late 1970's in Chaplin's London office, he says it was one of the most incredible moments of his professional life. It helped inspire the Unknown Chaplin series.
Great irony -- the slow-wittted guy with the apple wears a hat that reads "Express." I'm impressed that :07 through 2:17 is one continuous scene, as is 4:49 to 6:37, both pretty involved physical comedy. What a true genius. He always cheers me up.
actually, this movie was filmed when there was sound, Chaplin did no want the character of the tramp to speak so he decided to make it silent with an orchestral score.
that's the sort of thing our cat does when he finds the spring that stops the door from banging on the wall. i literally could not stop laughing by the end of this scene! Thank you Charlie Chaplin x)
I think I read somewhere that the "Express" boy (the best part about this bit IMO) is Charles Lederer, nephew of Marion Davies, a paramour of Chaplin's. He later became a screenwriter.
@rockitboy true, chaplin was not afraid of very long sequence shots since he was perfectionist, we can assume how nightmarish were these scenes for the actors...
When I saw this movie when they showed it at the college I was going to way back when, I thought this was the funniest scene in the whole picture and cracked me up something good. Then saw it on TV and waited for it and it wasn't there. Boo!!
odd enough, all of us have the tendency to fiddle with the most unusual stuff... and that is one of the factors that charlie chaplin sometimes apply to his films...
I've expected that a policeman would try to do it himself, still with no success. The scene could have been developed into a 20 minute long film, but Chaplin made films in which acute social issues were raised. The gag with the sliver was too simple for him, even it would be very eccentric. I've read about this scene in an Attenborough's book, but never saw it.
Yes, agree, w all the genius comments, would love to see the famous contortionist scene where he works out at the spa? Anyone seen that around, or could post? Much laughter to you all..
I wonder if Chaplin had the dialogue cards for this scene stashed in one of his archives. I assume the music to be similar to the other ones in the film where people are walking in front of the store.
Ahhhhhh, but the question for moi 'tis 'Why was this brilliant bit of comedy not included?' Methinks I have the answer and shall remark upon it in my next blog entry. Oh, BTW - You Chaplin Fans may wish to check your local public library, mine has a complete Chaplin collection on DVD.
I'm supposing that because this wasn't used, that intertitles (that tell what the dialog is) aren't included. Those would have explained a bit more of what is going on. This is funny, but I can understand why Chaplain would have eventually rejected it, since it doesn't have anything to do with advancing the plot and storyline.
Actually, this movie was released about two years after sound became the norm; Chaplin didn't want the Tramp character making the transition to sound and dialogue, and he was spot on in deciding against the idea.
I'm a huge fan of Buster and i know his face like the palm of my hand. He wasn't even casted for this movie. The only time they've worked together was on the film "Limelight" 1952. They were so good together!
I first saw this scene in 'Unknown Chaplin' and my father and I were in stitches! That was over 30 years ago. It's tragic that it was deleted but thank heavens it survived! To give the illusion of hundreds of extras, Chaplin had them exchange hats and partners when out of shot. Genius!
This is one of Chaplin's most hilarious scenes and was obviously deleted due to its length. The 'dopey bell boy' went on to become a film producer. To achieve the illusion of a busy street, the extras in the background swapped partners and hats when they disappeared out of shot. The climax of this film never fails to bring a tear to my eye. GENIUS! BCNU...
Chaplin was a perfectionist. If it took him hundreds of takes to get a scene the way HE wanted it- with the right nuances and comedy timing- he'd shoot it until it was "perfect". This deleted scene from "City Lights" is proof of that. That's why it took him two years to finish the film, and why he decided to keep it "silent". One can only imagine what music he might have composed for this sequence.....
I think the universities and psychology departments should use this for training students as a perfect example of OCD - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. It's epic!
I love the way Chaplin is so territorial about his beloved stick!
Correctly he didn't put the scene in the "City Lights".It would've took away the attention from the story plot. But what a scene! It have life of its own. I laughed so much I actually started to cry!! Genius!!
It seems to me that this scene would have taken place just before the Tramp crosses the traffic congested street and walks through cars to make it from one side of the street to the other, then meeting the blind girl for the first time who takes him to be a wealthy gentleman who'd just stepped out of the luxury sedan.
THANKS A LOT!!! I was looking for this scene for 23 years
You probably saw it in the documentary Unknown Chaplin from the early 1980s. I believe that was the first time it was shown to the public.
Film historian Kevin Brownlow says when he first saw this previously unknown footage in the late 1970's in Chaplin's London office, he says it was one of the most incredible moments of his professional life. It helped inspire the Unknown Chaplin series.
Great irony -- the slow-wittted guy with the apple wears a hat that reads "Express."
I'm impressed that :07 through 2:17 is one continuous scene, as is 4:49 to 6:37, both pretty involved physical comedy.
What a true genius. He always cheers me up.
actually, this movie was filmed when there was sound, Chaplin did no want the character of the tramp to speak so he decided to make it silent with an orchestral score.
that's the sort of thing our cat does when he finds the spring that stops the door from banging on the wall. i literally could not stop laughing by the end of this scene!
Thank you Charlie Chaplin x)
I think I read somewhere that the "Express" boy (the best part about this bit IMO) is Charles Lederer, nephew of Marion Davies, a paramour of Chaplin's. He later became a screenwriter.
@rockitboy
true, chaplin was not afraid of very long sequence shots
since he was perfectionist, we can assume how nightmarish were these scenes for the actors...
When I saw this movie when they showed it at the college I was going to way back when, I thought this was the funniest scene in the whole picture and cracked me up something good. Then saw it on TV and waited for it and it wasn't there. Boo!!
This is my favorite scene of all Chaplin. Thank you for posting it, I searched for it many times and I m glad I ve finally found it.:)
Mony Mateea same here! Saw this when i was a little kid, never forgot the scene!
It's in the documentary "The Unknown Chaplin," narrated by James Mason, and it's available on DVD.
es fantastico encontrarse esta escena no vista, cada segundo de chaplin vale su peso en oro
What a genius. Visual humour gets me every time.
A.D.D. & O.C.D. a la Tramp style.
Takes great athleticism to fake a slip so well as to look spontaneous.
2:38-3:20: love his superb expressions!
odd enough, all of us have the tendency to fiddle with the most unusual stuff... and that is one of the factors that charlie chaplin sometimes apply to his films...
I've expected that a policeman would try to do it himself, still with no success.
The scene could have been developed into a 20 minute long film, but Chaplin made films in which acute social issues were raised. The gag with the sliver was too simple for him, even it would be very eccentric.
I've read about this scene in an Attenborough's book, but never saw it.
We have all had those kind of moments before xD
Yes, agree, w all the genius comments, would love to see the famous contortionist scene where he works out at the spa? Anyone seen that around, or could post? Much laughter to you all..
I wonder if Chaplin had the dialogue cards for this scene stashed in one of his archives. I assume the music to be similar to the other ones in the film where people are walking in front of the store.
CHAPLIN4EVER!!!
he really is a genius, no doubt of that...
The women walking down the street in this film are SO attractive!
ענק! תסריט גאוני ובצוע שמימי. (מה צועק לו האיש שמסדר את הבובה בלון ראווה?)
you are the best in the wrold
haha that guy at 2:34 is sooo toasted
if you want to learn the cinema history watch *BIRTH OF CINEMA* and enjoy.
Ahhhhhh, but the question for moi 'tis 'Why was this brilliant bit of comedy not included?'
Methinks I have the answer and shall remark upon it in my next blog entry.
Oh, BTW - You Chaplin Fans may wish to check your local public library, mine has a complete Chaplin collection on DVD.
hahahahah!!! fantastic!!
I'm supposing that because this wasn't used, that intertitles (that tell what the dialog is) aren't included. Those would have explained a bit more of what is going on. This is funny, but I can understand why Chaplain would have eventually rejected it, since it doesn't have anything to do with advancing the plot and storyline.
Seems to me it would have taken place after the unveiled statues scene at the beginning, and just before the Tramp meets the flower girl.
COMEDY 101
what is he doing?
They were called silent movies. They didn't have sound back in them days.
Actually, this movie was released about two years after sound became the norm; Chaplin didn't want the Tramp character making the transition to sound and dialogue, and he was spot on in deciding against the idea.
2:35 - is that Buster Keaton?
No he's not.
José Luis Enríquez Are you sure?
I put my life on it. ;-))
+José Luis Enríquez how do you know?
I'm a huge fan of Buster and i know his face like the palm of my hand. He wasn't even casted for this movie. The only time they've worked together was on the film "Limelight" 1952. They were so good together!
HAHAHAHAhhahahahahahHAHAHAHAhahahahaHAhAHaaha