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Behind the Screen

  • 19161916
  • TV-GTV-G
  • 30m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
2.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Behind the Screen (1916)
  • Short
  • Comedy
  • Romance
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.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.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.
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
2.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Charles Chaplin(uncredited)
  • Writers
    • Vincent Bryan(uncredited)
    • Charles Chaplin(uncredited)
    • Maverick Terrell(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Charles Chaplin
    • Edna Purviance
    • Eric Campbell
Top credits
  • Director
    • Charles Chaplin(uncredited)
  • Writers
    • Vincent Bryan(uncredited)
    • Charles Chaplin(uncredited)
    • Maverick Terrell(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Charles Chaplin
    • Edna Purviance
    • Eric Campbell
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 24User reviews
    • 11Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos97

    Behind the Screen (1916)
    Eric Campbell in Behind the Screen (1916)
    Charles Chaplin, Lloyd Bacon, and Eric Campbell in Behind the Screen (1916)
    Charles Chaplin in Behind the Screen (1916)
    Charles Chaplin and Eric Campbell in Behind the Screen (1916)
    Charles Chaplin and Eric Campbell in Behind the Screen (1916)
    Charles Chaplin in Behind the Screen (1916)
    Charles Chaplin in Behind the Screen (1916)
    Charles Chaplin and Eric Campbell in Behind the Screen (1916)
    Charles Chaplin in Behind the Screen (1916)
    Eric Campbell in Behind the Screen (1916)
    Charles Chaplin in Behind the Screen (1916)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Charles Chaplin
    Charles Chaplin
    • David - His Assistantas David - His Assistant
    Edna Purviance
    Edna Purviance
    • The Girlas The Girl
    Eric Campbell
    Eric Campbell
    • Goliath - a Stagehandas Goliath - a Stagehand
    Albert Austin
    Albert Austin
    • Stagehandas Stagehand
    • (uncredited)
    Lloyd Bacon
    Lloyd Bacon
    • Director of Comediesas Director of Comedies
    • (uncredited)
    Henry Bergman
    • Directory of History Filmas Directory of History Film
    • (uncredited)
    Leota Bryan
    • Actressas Actress
    • (uncredited)
    Frank J. Coleman
    Frank J. Coleman
    • Assistant Directoras Assistant Director
    • (uncredited)
    James T. Kelley
    James T. Kelley
    • Cameramanas Cameraman
    • (uncredited)
    Charlotte Mineau
    Charlotte Mineau
    • Actressas Actress
    • (uncredited)
    John Rand
    John Rand
    • Stagehandas Stagehand
    • (uncredited)
    Wesley Ruggles
    Wesley Ruggles
    • Actoras Actor
    • (uncredited)
    Leo White
    Leo White
    • Stagehandas Stagehand
    • (uncredited)
    Tom Wood
    • Actoras Actor
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Charles Chaplin(uncredited)
    • Writers
      • Vincent Bryan(uncredited)
      • Charles Chaplin(uncredited)
      • Maverick Terrell(uncredited)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Three movies are being shot simultaneously and Charlie is an overworked scene shifter. The foreman is waited on hand and foot until all the shifters but Charlie go on strike. A girl looking for work pretends to be a man and helps Charlie. Charlie discovers her gender and falls in love with her. The foreman thinks they are homosexual and in the ensuing fight they become involved in a long pie throwing scene from one of the movies in production. The frustrated workers dynamite the studio. —Ed Stephan <stephan@cc.wwu.edu>
    • film studio
    • falling in love
    • male female relationship
    • black eye
    • acting like a dog
    • 11 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Short
      • Comedy
      • Romance
    • Certificate
      • TV-G
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This is one of the few films in which Charles Chaplin's character (David) gets a name other than "Charlie" or a description like "The Tramp". Only in his last sound films does he portray people with a full name.
    • Quotes

      The Girl: Can I be an actress, please?

    • Alternate versions
      Kino International distributes a set of videos containing all the 12 Mutual short films made by Chaplin in 1915 - 1917. They are presented by David Shepard, who copyrighted the versions in 1984, and has a music soundtrack composed and performed by Michael Mortilla who copyrighted his score in 1989. The running time of this film is 23 minutes.
    • Connections
      Featured in Unknown Chaplin: The Happiest Years (1983)

    User reviews24

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Great for Some Laughs
    From 1916, this is one of Charlie Chaplin's more entertaining short films in my opinion. Chaplin is a stage assistant named David, who works under the oppressive Goliath. Problems arise when the other stage hands go on strike, leaving the work for David while Goliath torments him. One reason this film appeals to me is that, not only go you get Chaplin's usual funny schtick, but you also get a glimpse into a film studio of the time. I love seeing the simplicity of the studio sets, the single boxy film camera, and even the use of a trap door for one hilarious bit. I always love the back-and-forth between Chaplin and frequent collaborator Eric Campbell and this is one of their better shows. For that extra chuckle, the film even includes a pie fight in the finale. You can't go wrong with one of Chaplin's funnier early efforts such as BEHIND THE SCREEN.
    helpful•0
    0
    • brando647
    • Mar 22, 2010

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 13, 1916 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Instagram
    • Languages
      • None
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Pride of Hollywood
    • Filming locations
      • Lone Star Studio - 1751 Glendale Boulevard, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Lone Star Corporation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      30 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Silent
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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