Charlie Chaplin: The Long Year at Essanay (2017)

Charlie Chaplin: The Long Year at Essanay Poster

Short documentary about Chaplin's year at Essanay. Clips from Chaplin films but also from other Essanay films.

Summary
"Charlie Chaplin: The Long Year at Essanay" is a 2017 acclaimed documentary that unloads the renowned filmmaker's life and profession during his one-year stint with Essanay Studios in 1915. The film, directed by documentary auteur Dave Douglas, provides an astute and thorough examination of Chaplin's transition from a budding talent to a megastar.

Chaplin's Journey to Essanay
The movie dives into Charlie Chaplin's arrival at Essanay Studios - an essential point in his profession. Chaplin initially began as an English phase actor prior to he signed onto Keystone Studios in 1914. After a rewarding however artistically limiting year at Keystone, Chaplin shifted to Essanay, expecting a more poetic license. Douglas' narrative sets the phase for Chaplin's changing work at Essanay that permanently changed the production of funny.

Transformative Period at Essanay
"Charlie Chaplin: The Long Year at Essanay" closely examines this transformative period in his profession. 1915 saw Chaplin directing, acting, and even writing his productions for the first time. He was provided the chance to work out control and reveal his unique vision. Included in the film are clips and analyses of important films, like "The Tramp" and "His New Job". It's interesting to chart the development of his signature character, 'The Tramp' during this duration, which ended up being a cherished symbol of comedy and pathos.

New Creative Peaks
The documentary illustrates how Chaplin struck brand-new innovative peaks under the banner of Essanay. The liberty supplied to him to explore his instinctive filmmaking style is fittingly encapsulated. He produced remarkable movies featuring subtle humor, unique from the slapstick funny that prevailed throughout those days. His technical and artistic genius were pushing the borders of storytelling, setting the framework for his future masterpieces.

Important and Commercial Success
The film takes us through the instantaneous success that Chaplin's film took pleasure in. With the development of 'The Tramp,' he had actually found a connection with audiences worldwide. Collections from the films validate Chaplin's business triumph and his intensifying appeal. The Essanay stint paved the way to a rewarding contract at the Mutual Film Corporation in 1916, catapulting him to worldwide fame.

Cultural Impact
The final part of the movie goes over Chaplin's substantial influence on cinematic storytelling. His successful combination of comedy, pathos, and social commentary has actually had a long lasting impact on comedians and filmmakers alike. "The Long Year at Essanay" commemorates Chaplin's path-breaking influence on the funny genre and movie at big.

Conclusion
"Charlie Chaplin: The Long Year at Essanay" is a brillant documentary that investigates Chaplin's vital career development phase in Essanay Studios. It furnishes its viewers with a deep understanding of Chaplin's genius, presenting the story of his innovative pioneering in a compelling way. Through dramatic clips, first-hand accounts, and expert analyses, Douglas creates an essential piece of movie history that is as amusing as it is informative. This documentary is not simply for Chaplin's fans but for anybody interested in filmmaking and the history of comedy in cinema.

Top Cast

  • Glenn Mitchell
    Narrator
  • Charlie Chaplin (small)
    Charlie Chaplin
    Archive footage
  • Ben Turpin (small)
    Ben Turpin
    Archive footage
  • Edna Purviance (small)
    Edna Purviance
    Archive footage
  • Gilbert M. Anderson (small)
    Gilbert M. Anderson
    Archive footage
  • Syd Chaplin (small)
    Syd Chaplin
    Archive footage