5. A Film Johnnie (1914)

Keystone 1914

A Film Johnnie was restored at the bfi National Film and Television Archive. Read the full Restoration Case Study and Restoration Report.

Synopsis

Charlie is admiring the young ladies in the cinema posters and decides to go in but is thrown out when he reacts with inappropriate emotion to the films. Noting the name on the poster, he goes to the Keystone studio where he compares his large but empty trousers with Arbuckle's straining waistband. Chaplin cadges a coin from him which is then neatly pocketed by Ford Sterling. Chaplin follows them into the studio where he causes mayhem again through a lack of understanding of the filmmaking process. He gets into a similar fix when the company rush off to take advantage of a real fire to heighten the drama of their movie.

chaplin_credits

Director:

George Nichols

Scenario:

Craig Hutchinson

Cast:

Charles Chaplin (The Film Johnnie)

Roscoe Arbuckle (Fatty)

Edgar Kennedy (Director)

Virginia Kirtley (The Keystone Girl)

Minta Durfee (Theatre patron)

Billy Gilbert (Theatre usher)

Mabel Normand (Mabel)

Ford Sterling (Ford)

Harry McCoy (Belligerent theatre patron)

Hank Mann (Stagehand)

Mack Sennett (Himself)

Frank Opperman (Theatre patron with moustache)

William Hauber (Theatre patron knocked over by Charlie)

George Nichols (Older man on screen).

Shooting days:

February 1 - February 6

Negative sent from LA:

February 11

Received in New York:

February 18

Released:

March 2 1914

Length:

1020 ft

Keystone working title:

A Movie Bug

Other titles:

The Movie Nut, His Million Dollar Job, Charlie at the Studio, Charlie the Actor