Tag: Frank D. Williams

Recreation (1914, Charles Chaplin)

Chaplin’s got a real problem with visual continuity in Recreation. At first, he does really well. The actors move–through a park–from left to right. Helen Carruthers is on a bench with a prospective beau (Charles Bennett), then she leaves him and moves right. Chaplin (as the Tramp) enters and moves right to follow her.

Eventually he has to move further right, where he starts throwing bricks at Bennett. Recreation makes me wonder if brick throwing was a big thing in the teens.

Anyway, there’s a bunch of action between the different shots and it’s really great. Then Chaplin breaks it for the finish, multiple times, and the jump is rather annoying.

Otherwise, Recreation is a good deal of fun. Chaplin and his actors have a great time with the physical comedy; the Tramp’s undeniably charming. Shame an island appeared out of nowhere to set up the final gag.

2/3Recommended

CREDITS

Written, edited and directed by Charles Chaplin; director of photography, Frank D. Williams; produced by Mack Sennett; released by Mutual Film.

Starring Charles Chaplin (Tramp), Helen Carruthers (Girl), Charles Bennett (Seaman), Edwin Frazee (Short Cop) and Edward Nolan (Tall Cop).

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His Trysting Place (1914, Charles Chaplin)

The best thing about His Trysting Place is probably Frank D. Williams’s photography. Chaplin’s athletics are impressive, but he doesn’t have much use for them. They’re most exciting during his food fight with Mack Swain. The food fight itself isn’t particularly funny–until the end–but Chaplin looks like he’s flying at times.

Trysting is about two dumb husbands–Chaplin and Swain–who cross paths to bad effect. Chaplin’s married to Mabel Normand and he’s obtuse. He can’t get his relaxing done at home, what with Normand caring for their baby. Swain’s just a buffoon, even a lovable one.

They mix up their coats after the food fight and Chaplin goes home with a note from Swain’s maid to her lover. Normand finds it… antics ensue.

Trysting is lengthy at twenty minutes. Normand’s not particularly good; her performances hurts the film.

But it’s genial and Williams’s photography makes it beautiful.

2/3Recommended

CREDITS

Written, edited and directed by Charles Chaplin; director of photography, Frank D. Williams; produced by Mack Sennett; released by Mutual Film.

Starring Charles Chaplin (Clarence, the Husband), Mabel Normand (Mabel, The Wife), Mack Swain (Ambrose) and Phyllis Allen (Ambrose’s Wife).

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