England's Karno Comedy Company undertook its second tour of America in late 1913 with its 24-year-old vaudeville actor Charles Chaplin highlighting his pantomime skits. A rep from Keystone Studios was assigned to review Chaplin's act and hire him if impressed. He was and got Chaplin to sign a one-year contract for $150 per week.
Chaplin traveled to Los Angeles in December 1913 to learn the ropes of film acting. He filmed his first movie, "Making A Living," in the middle of January 1914, under the direction of Keystone director/actor Henry Lehrman. Chaplin, for his first screen effort premiering on February 2, 1914, plays a sleazy swindler with a droopy mustache and a top hat.
Keystone Studio head Mack Sennett wasn't impressed by Chaplin's rookie effort--nor was Chaplin. The actor complained Lehrman was resentful of Chaplin's suggestion on the skits and treated him rudely. The new actor also claimed all his best performances in front of the camera ended up being cut. Lehrman later confessed the new actor was "a vain man" who acted like he "knew too much" and edited the film to not shine too much of a light on the performer.
Sennett didn't buy Chaplin's assertions on Lehrman's behavior and warned him to change his screen persona or he would void the contract. Chaplin likewise was discouraged and ready to quit. One story has Sennett's sweetheart, actress Mabel Normand, seeing potential in Chaplin's style and convinced Sennett to keep the actor.
"Making A Living" was filmed before Chaplin assumed his "Tramp" character. There are certain elements in his movements seen here that would remain with Chaplin throughout his comedic movie career: his walking/running style, his use of a cane, and his facial twitching. But this initial movie did not create a splash in Chaplin's cinematic launch--that would come very soon.
Chaplin traveled to Los Angeles in December 1913 to learn the ropes of film acting. He filmed his first movie, "Making A Living," in the middle of January 1914, under the direction of Keystone director/actor Henry Lehrman. Chaplin, for his first screen effort premiering on February 2, 1914, plays a sleazy swindler with a droopy mustache and a top hat.
Keystone Studio head Mack Sennett wasn't impressed by Chaplin's rookie effort--nor was Chaplin. The actor complained Lehrman was resentful of Chaplin's suggestion on the skits and treated him rudely. The new actor also claimed all his best performances in front of the camera ended up being cut. Lehrman later confessed the new actor was "a vain man" who acted like he "knew too much" and edited the film to not shine too much of a light on the performer.
Sennett didn't buy Chaplin's assertions on Lehrman's behavior and warned him to change his screen persona or he would void the contract. Chaplin likewise was discouraged and ready to quit. One story has Sennett's sweetheart, actress Mabel Normand, seeing potential in Chaplin's style and convinced Sennett to keep the actor.
"Making A Living" was filmed before Chaplin assumed his "Tramp" character. There are certain elements in his movements seen here that would remain with Chaplin throughout his comedic movie career: his walking/running style, his use of a cane, and his facial twitching. But this initial movie did not create a splash in Chaplin's cinematic launch--that would come very soon.