| ~His New Job~ 1915 |
| ~Ben Turpin & Charles Chaplin~ |
| ~Plot Synopsis~ |
Charlie Chaplin began his new job at Essanay Studios, who lured him away from Keystone with an
offer of $1250 a week plus a bonus of $10,000, with a parody film on his former employer. It
features two actresses at the beginning of their careers in minor roles -- Gloria Swanson and Agnes
Ayres. Charlie applies for work at the Lockstone Motion Picture Company. Arriving at the office just
after him is cross-eyed comedian Ben Turpin. Charlie is interviewed by the boss who uses a funnel
and long tube as a hearing aid. Charlie uses the device with a cigarette in his mouth which gets
lodged in the funnel. Charlie tries to dislodge it by pouring ink into the funnel and blowing but ends
up with the ink on his own face. Hired as an assistant carpenter/prop man, he disrupts rehearsals
and gets into trouble with the director. He is told to don an extra's military costume for the Russian
melodrama being filmed, but he goes instead into the star's dressing room and steals his costume.
Charlie is as inept as an actor as he is a carpenter, sitting on the train of the leading lady's gown,
tearing it off as she walks up a staircase and blowing his nose in it as he overacts tearfully. (This
scene contains one of the first dolly shots in Chaplin films). He later topples a large column which
lands on top of him, and he is sat upon by Turpin, who, having replaced him as prop man is called to
lift the column. Eventually, the star actor arrives, and, enraged at finding his costume missing,
starts a melee on stage which ends with everyone but Charlie unconscious.
Plot Synopsis from allmovie.com
offer of $1250 a week plus a bonus of $10,000, with a parody film on his former employer. It
features two actresses at the beginning of their careers in minor roles -- Gloria Swanson and Agnes
Ayres. Charlie applies for work at the Lockstone Motion Picture Company. Arriving at the office just
after him is cross-eyed comedian Ben Turpin. Charlie is interviewed by the boss who uses a funnel
and long tube as a hearing aid. Charlie uses the device with a cigarette in his mouth which gets
lodged in the funnel. Charlie tries to dislodge it by pouring ink into the funnel and blowing but ends
up with the ink on his own face. Hired as an assistant carpenter/prop man, he disrupts rehearsals
and gets into trouble with the director. He is told to don an extra's military costume for the Russian
melodrama being filmed, but he goes instead into the star's dressing room and steals his costume.
Charlie is as inept as an actor as he is a carpenter, sitting on the train of the leading lady's gown,
tearing it off as she walks up a staircase and blowing his nose in it as he overacts tearfully. (This
scene contains one of the first dolly shots in Chaplin films). He later topples a large column which
lands on top of him, and he is sat upon by Turpin, who, having replaced him as prop man is called to
lift the column. Eventually, the star actor arrives, and, enraged at finding his costume missing,
starts a melee on stage which ends with everyone but Charlie unconscious.
Plot Synopsis from allmovie.com
| Directed by: Charles Chaplin Written by: Charles Chaplin & Louella Parsons |
| ~Cast~ Charles Chaplin ... Film Extra Ben Turpin ... Film Extra, in Anteroom Charlotte Mineau ... Film Star Leo White ... Actor, Hussar Officer Robert Bolder ... Studio President Charles J. Stine ... Director Arthur W. Bates ... Carpenter Jess Robbins ... Cameraman Charles Hitchcock ... Leading Man (unconfirmed) Billy Armstrong ... Extra (uncredited) Agnes Ayres ... Extra, Secretary (uncredited) Gloria Swanson ... Stenographer (uncredited) |
| ~Remaining Credits~ Produced by: The Essanay Film Manufacturing Company Distributed by: General Film Company Produced by: Jess Robbins Film Editing by: Charles Chaplin Released: February 1, 1915 |
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| SilentHollywood.com |
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| ~Charles Chaplin, Charlotte Mineau & Robert Bolder~ |
| Other Links That You Might Find Helpful to you for this film: SilentHollywood.com Discussion Group on Facebook Internet Movie Database Allmovie.com Turner Classic Movies |
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