66. Sunnyside (1919)

First National 1918-23

Synopsis

In the little village of Sunnyside Charlie is a dozy farm hand who is kicked awake by the boss to work on a Sunday. He waits, frying pan in hand for a hen to lay an egg and puts milk in the tea straight from the cow. Unable to attend church Charlie reads pious texts as he herds the cows. The cattle stroll off and he has to rescue one from the church by riding it out. He is eventually dumped in a ditch by the cow where - in a delirious dream - he dances with nymphs. He wakes to find himself being hauled out by the townspeople. He goes to a neighbouring house see his sweetheart, Edna, while her father is away. He gives her a ring and attempts to entertain her on the piano but is drowned out by the bleating of a goat which gets in a takes a bite out of the music (the lost chord). When he returns to the farm and sets to work a city type staggers in, evidently ill. The horse doctor is sent for and writes the patient a bill. The guest is taken to a room to recuperate. Later Edna arrives to get groceries and seems to be very taken with the stranger, now recovered. The city type is made much of by Edna's father and Charlie attempts to dress himself to match his rival. He tries to emulate his behaviour too but Edna, irritated, returns his ring. As the new boyfriend leaves, Charlie distraught, stands in front of a speeding car but the expected impact is only the boot of his employer kicking him awake in time to claim Edna before the city type can become interested. The city type leaves Charlie a large tip as he drives away.

chaplin_credits

Cast:

Charles Chaplin (Farm Handyman)

Edna Purviance (Village Belle)

Torn Wilson (Boss)

Torn Terriss (Young Man from the City)

Henry Bergman (Villager and Edna's Father)

Loyal Underwood (Fat Boy's Father)

Tom Wood (Fat Boy)

Helen Kohn (Nymph)

Olive Button (Nymph)

Willie Mae Carson (Nymph)

Olive Alcorn (Nymph)

Park Jones

Granville Redmond

AI Blake

Shorty Hendricks

Lulu Jenks

George Cole

David Kohn

Tom Harrington

Zasu Pitts worked in a number of scenes from 4 to 2.5 November; but her role appears to have been cut from the finished film.

In Cut Sequence

Albert Austin (Man being Shaved)

Locations:

Phelps Ranch, Lasky Ranch, Country Road in Beverly Hills, Bridge in San Fernando Road, exterior of Edria's home.

Production started:

4 November 1918

Production finished:

15 April 1919

Released:

15 June 1919

Length:

2769 ft

Musical score by Chaplin and incorporating Balfe's "When Other Lips", arranged by Eric James, recorded in April-May 1974 at Anvil Studios, Denham, England.