CHAPLIN AT KEYSTONE

LA NAISSSANCE DE CHARLOT - KEYSTONE 1914

Thierry G. MATHIEU - Ars Regula Editions

“LA NAISSANCE DE CHARLOT - Keystone 1914” is a periodic review which focuses on the study of Charlie Chaplin's earliest film work, particularly the period at the Keystone studios, under the supervision of Mack Sennett, the “King of Comedy”.

Chaplin appeared in at least 37 films during his year-long tenure at the Keystone Pictures Studio.  Unfortunately, these films are only available today, at best, in incomplete form, the official “restorations” released on home video in 2010 notwithstanding.

Most of Chaplin’s Keystones are extremely rare, with many coming down to us through the years only in butchered versions, suffering from multiple edits and cuts, with varying levels of picture quality, often quite poor. The new restorations still often offer only incomplete scenes, with numerous cuts in the sequences, and errors in continuity and intertitles, although in some cases more complete and error-free prints are extant, and with a better picture quality.

This magazine series provides cast lists and analyses, inventories of available film sources, studies of available copies and versions and features an abundance of illustrations and bibliographical data. It also provides, through reconstructive analysis, the most thorough set of complete shot continuities as is possible. Finally, the series offers detailed reviews of and challenges to the editorial decisions made as part of the recent "restorations".

On a film-by-film basis, Chaplin's gradual screen birth from January through December, 1914 will be documented.

The extraordinary character that emerged would go on to become a legendary and universal screen icon.

Contents :

  • Technicalities
  • Inventory of copies
  • Reference documents
  • Comparative analyses
  • General discussion
  • Critiques
  • Additional notes
  • Rare and unknown scenes
  • Reconstituted version
  • Miscellaneous extras
  • Illustrations

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  • # 31 : (in project)