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IMDb > Behind the Screen (1916)

Behind the Screen (1916)

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User Rating: 7.0/10 (428 votes)
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Overview

Director:
Charles Chaplin
Writer:
Charles Chaplin (writer)
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Release Date:
13 November 1916 (USA) more
Genre:
Comedy | Short more
Plot:
Charlie is an overworked labourer at a film studio who helps a young woman find work even while his coworkers strike against his tyrannical boss. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Dynamite | Pillar | Explosion | Trapdoor | Flirting more
User Comments:
Well designed routines with an unnecessary romantic element more

Cast

 (Complete credited cast)
Eric Campbell ... Goliath (a stagehand)

Charles Chaplin ... David (Goliath's assistant)
Edna Purviance ... The girl
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
The Pride of Hollywood (USA)
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Runtime:
15 min | Germany:24 min (restored version) | Argentina:30 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Silent
MOVIEmeter: ?
V 9% since last week why?

Fun Stuff

Movie Connections:
Featured in Charlie: The Life and Art of Charles Chaplin (2003) more

FAQ

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1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful:-
Well designed routines with an unnecessary romantic element, 30 December 2002
Author: bob the moo from Birmingham, UK

David is an assistant to stagehand Goliath in a movie studio. A young woman wanting to be an actress sneaks into the studio dressed as a boy but David discovers her. However he has enough problems with a lazy boss and an aptitude for causing trouble.

I suggest that this short has a plot but in reality the whole girl disguised as boy thing just appears to be in there to allow Chaplin to get a sneaking kiss from Purviance! However what is in the film is plenty of very funny routines including a trap door, a falling pillar and the traditional custard pie fight. These are all very funny and well designed. In fact at the time of production Chaplin took so long over each scene that Mutual Films had to apologise to it's exhibiters for the delay in release.

Chaplin himself is good as the put upon little man who gets up to mischief and the rest are basically fall guys who overact really well as you need to do in a short. Like I said, why Purviance was in this for is anyone's guess – contractual reasons? Chaplin's choice?

Despite this it is very funny with lots of enjoyable set-ups in a short time. Only the supposed romantic sub plot spoils thing slightly.

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Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
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