Sunnyside (1919 film)

Last updated
Sunnyside
SunnysideCC.jpg
Film poster
Directed by Charlie Chaplin
Written byCharlie Chaplin
StarringCharlie Chaplin
Edna Purviance
Henry Bergman
Tom Wilson
Olive Ann Alcorn
Cinematography Roland Totheroh
Edited byCharlie Chaplin
Distributed by First National Pictures
Release date
  • June 15, 1919 (1919-06-15)
Running time
34 minutes
CountryUnited States
Language Silent (English intertitles)

Sunnyside is a 1919 American short silent film written by, directed by and starring Charlie Chaplin. It was his third film for First National Pictures.

Contents

Plot

Charlie works on a farm from 4 a.m. until late at night at the run-down Evergreen Hotel in the rural village of Sunnyside. He has endless duties inside the hotel as well as farm chores to undertake.

Chaplin's boss is the local preacher who mistreats him badly. He gets his food and the boss' on the run (milking a cow into his coffee, holding a chicken over the frying pan to get fried eggs). Charlie has to lead the cows to an upper pasture on a Sunday. He wanders off-road on a dusty corner and loses the cows. They materialise in the village: mainly in the church. Charlie rides a longhorn out of the church and falls off as they cross a bridge. In his daze he sees dancing nymphs. His boss kicks him all the way home.

Charlie's love interest in the village is the girl played by Edna Purviance. He loves her, but is disliked by her father. He waits for the father to leave the house then enters and gives her a posy of flowers. Their tryst is disturbed by brother Willie. He blindfolds Willie and says they are playing blind man's buff - leading him out of the front door. Charlie plays piano with his girl. A goat and kid appear behind the piano and Charlie thinks it is a flat note. The father returns and he has to leave.

A city slicker is hurt in a car crash and is carried into the hotel by the fat boy. He is placed on the reception desk and Charlie tries to check him in. The fat boy brings the doctor. The doctor's bag mainly contains whisky and crude implements of amputation. The doctor writes a prescription and the city slicker pays him. The doctor leaves and the fat boy puts the slicker in a bedroom. Charlie returns to the hotel lounge, where he has to mop the floor around the doctor, the fat boy, and the boy's tiny father. The screen title says "Lounge lizards", an early printed use of the term.

The city slicker recovers. He stands at the reception smoking a cigarette. The hotel has a small area selling groceries. A woman stands at the grocery counter and gets her hand stuck on fly paper. She has forgotten what she came in to buy: Charlie proffers a series of items including a razor. Smelly cheese makes her remember she wanted socks. She pays with a dollar bill which gets stuck to the fly paper. She leaves and the slicker follows her out, returning a cent which she dropped. Charlie despairs as they walk off together. Charlie spies through her window and sees her with the slicker with her father in the room, seemingly accepting this new suitor. The slicker has a unique style: a handkerchief up his sleeve and a cigarette lighter in the head of his walking cane.

Charlie dons spats and a walking cane. The locals laugh as he passes. At the girl's house he draws attention to the spats and his DIY attempt at a cane-top cigarette lighter. The slicker arrives and Charlie leaves, outdone.

Back in the hotel his boss shouts at him. The slicker checks out of the hotel and gives Charlie a tip. Charlie embraces his girl as the slicker drives off.

Critics have long argued as to whether the final scene is real or a dream.

Deleted scene

The 1983 documentary Unknown Chaplin contains a deleted scene in which Charlie also serves as the hotel's hapless barber. Albert Austin plays a man who has come in for a shave and gets more than he expected from the Evergreen Hotel's inept barber.

Cast

Reception

The June 16, 1919 issue of The New York Times contains this review:

"Charlie Chaplin is at the Strand in his latest—"Sunnyside"—so, of course, those who go there will laugh. Chaplin is a farm hand and country hotel clerk this time. He is at his best when depending upon his inimitable pantomime, and least amusing when indulging in slap-stick, in which he is not distinguished from countless other comedians. There is cleverness in "Sunnyside" and good pantomime, but, also, too much slap-stick. [1]

The nymph dance in the dream sequence has been recognized as being a tribute to or parody of the ballet L'après-midi d'un faune by Vaslav Nijinsky. [2] [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edna Purviance</span> American actress (1895–1958)

Olga Edna Purviance was an American actress of the silent film era. She was the leading lady in many of Charlie Chaplin's early films and in a span of eight years, she appeared in over 30 films with him. Her name was pronounced "pur-VIE-unce" as verified by Chaplin in his spoken narration of one of his films.

<i>A Woman of Paris</i> 1923 film

A Woman of Paris is a feature-length American silent film that debuted in 1923. The film, an atypical drama film for its creator, was written, directed, produced and later scored by Charlie Chaplin. It is also known as A Woman of Paris: A Drama of Fate.

<i>Behind the Screen</i> 1916 short film by Charlie Chaplin

Behind the Screen is a 1916 American silent short comedy film written by, directed by, and starring Charlie Chaplin, and also starring Eric Campbell and Edna Purviance. The film is in the public domain.

<i>The Kid</i> (1921 film) 1921 silent film

The Kid is a 1921 American silent comedy-drama film written, produced, directed by and starring Charlie Chaplin, and features Jackie Coogan as his foundling baby, adopted son and sidekick. This was Chaplin's first full-length film as a director. It was a huge success and was the second-highest-grossing film in 1921. Now considered one of the greatest films of the silent era, it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 2011.

<i>A Night in the Show</i> 1915 American film

A Night in the Show was Charlie Chaplin's 12th film for Essanay. It was made at Majestic Studio in Los Angeles in the fall of 1915. Chaplin played two roles: one as Mr. Pest and one as Mr. Rowdy. The film was created from Chaplin's stage work from a play called Mumming Birds with the Karno Company from London. Chaplin performed this play during his U.S. tours with Fred Karno company and decided to bring some of this play to his film work. Edna Purviance played a minor role as a lady in the audience.

<i>A Woman</i> (1915 film) 1915 film by Charlie Chaplin

A Woman was Charlie Chaplin's ninth film for Essanay Films. It was made in Los Angeles at the Majestic Studio and released in 1915.

<i>By the Sea</i> (1915 film) 1915 American film

By the Sea is a 1915 American silent comedy film Charlie Chaplin made while waiting for a studio to work in Los Angeles. He had just left Niles Essanay Studio after doing five films at that location. By the Sea was filmed all on location in Santa Monica on the beach near Ocean Park Pier and on Crystal Pier in April 1915. The story centers on Charlie's Little Tramp character and how he gets into trouble trying to grab the attention of women on the beach. Edna Purviance plays one of the wives in whom he shows interest. It is said to be the first film to incorporate the classic gag of a man slipping on a banana skin.

<i>A Jitney Elopement</i> 1915 film by Charlie Chaplin

A Jitney Elopement was Charlie Chaplin's fifth film for Essanay Films. It starred Chaplin and Edna Purviance as lovers, with Purviance wanting Chaplin to take her away from an arranged marriage her father had planned for her. Chaplin does take her away in a jitney, a type of share taxi popular in the US between 1914 and 1916. Most of the film was made in San Francisco and includes scenes of San Francisco's Golden Gate Park and the large windmills still on the park's west side.

<i>The Pilgrim</i> (1923 film) 1923 film by Charlie Chaplin

The Pilgrim is a 1923 American silent film made by Charlie Chaplin for the First National Film Company, starring Chaplin and Edna Purviance.

<i>The Tramp</i> (film) 1915 film directed by Charlie Chaplin

The Tramp is the sixth film directed by Charlie Chaplin for Essanay Studios, released in 1915. It was Chaplin's fifth and final film produced at Essanay's Niles, California studio. The Tramp marked the emergence of The Tramp character, a role Chaplin had played in earlier films but with a more emotional depth, showing a caring side towards others. The film also stars Edna Purviance as the farmer's daughter and Ernest Van Pelt as Edna's father. The outdoor scenes were filmed on location near Niles.

<i>A Days Pleasure</i> 1919 short film by Charlie Chaplin

A Day's Pleasure (1919) is Charlie Chaplin's fourth film for First National Films. It was created at the Chaplin Studio. It was a quickly made two-reeler to help fill a gap while working on his first feature The Kid. It is about a day outing with his wife and the kids and things do not go smoothly. Edna Purviance plays Chaplin's wife and Jackie Coogan one of the kids. The first scene shows the Chaplin Studio corner office in the background while Chaplin tries to get his car started.

<i>A Dogs Life</i> 1918 film by Charlie Chaplin

A Dog's Life is a 1918 American short silent film written, produced and directed by Charlie Chaplin. This was Chaplin's first film for First National Films. It was part of a then groundbreaking $1 million contract. It was for a total of eight 3 reel short silent films.

<i>The Rink</i> (film) 1916 film by Charlie Chaplin

The Rink, a silent film from 1916, was Charlie Chaplin's eighth film for Mutual Films. The film co-starred Edna Purviance, Eric Campbell, Henry Bergman, and Albert Austin, and is best known for showcasing Chaplin's roller skating skills. Chaplin's obvious skill on roller skates surprised many of his fans, but Charlie was an experienced performer. As a touring vaudevillian with Fred Karno's pantomime troupe, Chaplin appeared in a roller-skating skit in which he displayed a talent for comedic falls—and the ability to cause other skaters to topple.

<i>In the Park</i> 1915 film by Charlie Chaplin

In the Park is Charlie Chaplin's fourth film released in 1915 by Essanay Films. It was his third film while at the Niles Essanay Studio. It was one of several films Charlie Chaplin created in a park setting. The film co-starred Edna Purviance, Leo White, Lloyd Bacon, and Bud Jamison.

<i>The Vagabond</i> (1916 film) 1916 film by Charlie Chaplin

The Vagabond is a 1916 American silent romantic comedy film by Charlie Chaplin and his third film with Mutual Films. Released to theaters on July 10, 1916, it co-starred Edna Purviance, Eric Campbell, Leo White and Lloyd Bacon. This film echoed Chaplin's work on The Tramp, with more drama and pathos mixed in with the comedy.

<i>The Bank</i> (1915 film) 1915 film by Charlie Chaplin

The Bank is a silent slapstick comedy. It was Charlie Chaplin's tenth film for Essanay Films.

<i>Work</i> (film) 1915 film by Charlie Chaplin

Work is a 1915 American silent film starring Charlie Chaplin, and co-starring Edna Purviance, Marta Golden and Charles Inslee. It was filmed at the Majestic Studio in Los Angeles.

<i>The Adventurer</i> (1917 film) 1917 film by Charlie Chaplin

The Adventurer is an American short comedy film made in 1917 written and directed by Charlie Chaplin, and is the last of the twelve films made under contract for the Mutual Film Corporation.

<i>The Cure</i> (1917 film) 1917 film by Charlie Chaplin

The Cure is a 1917 short comedy film written and directed by Charlie Chaplin. The plot revolves around alcohol, being made just prior to prohibition but during a period where the politicians were debating the evils of alcohol.

<i>Shanghaied</i> (1915 film) 1915 American film

Shanghaied is a 1915 American comedy silent film made by Essanay Studios starring Charlie Chaplin.

References

  1. ↑ "THE SCREEN". The New York Times. June 16, 1919. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  2. ↑ Chaplin, Lita Grey; Vance, Jeffrey (1998). Wife of the Life of the Party: A Memoir. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. p. 24. ISBN   0-8108-3432-4.
  3. ↑ Porter, Jenelle (2010). Dance with Camera. University of Pennsylvania: Institute of Contemporary Art. p. 148.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.