Director: CHARLES CHAPLIN. Screenplay: Charles Chaplin. Based on the 1846 novel by Prosper Merimee and its 1875 operatic adaptation by Georges Bizet (music) and Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halevy (book and lyrics). Photographed in black-and-white by Roland Totheroh and Harry Ensign. Scenic artist: E.T. Mazy. Assistant director: Ernest Van Pelt. Producer: Jesse J. Robbins. An Essanay Production.
Copyright 3 April 1916 by Essanay Film Manufacturing Co. U.S. release: 5 April 1916. Running time: around 35 minutes at a speed of 16 frames per second.
Copyright title: CHARLIE CHAPLIN'S BURLESQUE ON CARMEN.
NOTES: A burlesque not so much on the novel and Bizet opera, but on the two rival 1915 versions: the De Mille epic starring Geraldine Farrar, and the William Fox production starring Theda Bara. Would you believe it, Chaplin's burlesque was then itself burlesqued — by James A. Fitzpatrick, of all people — as Chip's Carmen, released a month or two later. Both Chaplin's and Fitzpatrick's juvenile burlesques were then forced to compete with yet another burlesque of Fox/De Mille, this time in cartoon form! In addition to the two "straight" U.S. productions and the three lampoons, "Carmen" was also represented in 1916 American cinemas by the May release of Ugo Serra's Italian epic. The latter really swamped the market with no less than 226 prints in circulation in the U.S.A., compared to only 15 for the De Mille picture!
Chaplin had no intention of making a four-reel movie. He intended, as usual, to edit it down to two. But Essanay, perceiving the market was "hot" for Carmen and that they could charge double rates for a double two-reeler, went ahead with the four-reel release. Chaplin sued Essanay to prevent distribution, but lost.
COMMENT: Chaplin was right! At four reels, Carmen out-stays its welcome. In fact it's a bit disappointing all around. No long-lost masterpiece this! Even the photography seems inferior to the usual high standard of Chas Chaplin productions. Nonetheless, it certainly has immense curiosity value — as a rare full house of critics at our recent Hollywood Classics screening testifies. The problem is that the film is just not funny enough to sustain its present length.
Copyright 3 April 1916 by Essanay Film Manufacturing Co. U.S. release: 5 April 1916. Running time: around 35 minutes at a speed of 16 frames per second.
Copyright title: CHARLIE CHAPLIN'S BURLESQUE ON CARMEN.
NOTES: A burlesque not so much on the novel and Bizet opera, but on the two rival 1915 versions: the De Mille epic starring Geraldine Farrar, and the William Fox production starring Theda Bara. Would you believe it, Chaplin's burlesque was then itself burlesqued — by James A. Fitzpatrick, of all people — as Chip's Carmen, released a month or two later. Both Chaplin's and Fitzpatrick's juvenile burlesques were then forced to compete with yet another burlesque of Fox/De Mille, this time in cartoon form! In addition to the two "straight" U.S. productions and the three lampoons, "Carmen" was also represented in 1916 American cinemas by the May release of Ugo Serra's Italian epic. The latter really swamped the market with no less than 226 prints in circulation in the U.S.A., compared to only 15 for the De Mille picture!
Chaplin had no intention of making a four-reel movie. He intended, as usual, to edit it down to two. But Essanay, perceiving the market was "hot" for Carmen and that they could charge double rates for a double two-reeler, went ahead with the four-reel release. Chaplin sued Essanay to prevent distribution, but lost.
COMMENT: Chaplin was right! At four reels, Carmen out-stays its welcome. In fact it's a bit disappointing all around. No long-lost masterpiece this! Even the photography seems inferior to the usual high standard of Chas Chaplin productions. Nonetheless, it certainly has immense curiosity value — as a rare full house of critics at our recent Hollywood Classics screening testifies. The problem is that the film is just not funny enough to sustain its present length.