Charlie Chaplin was hitting his comedic stride late 1916 when he produced three highly praised films. Chaplin satirizes his Keystone Studio days in November 1916's "Behind The Screen." This time he plays an overworked stagehand whose adventures become memorable in scope. This is Chaplin's final film where his character works on a stage or movie set, such as his previous 1915's "His New Job." And he milks every prop found on a set, such as a huge stage column and a trap door. The outrageous concluding pie fight reflects Keystone's trademark comedic flanking.
"Behind The Screen" is also known as the supposed first kiss between two men on film. Edna Purviance plays a rejected actress who dresses up as a male worker to fill in for the stage company's striking employees to try to weasel in on the play's cast. Chaplin's character discovers her disguise and falls in love. The kisses, the first time Chaplin kisses Purviance on screen more than once, is seen by unsuspecting actor Eric Campbell, who mimics their act by an effeminate gesture.
In the three-part 1983 BBC documentary consisting of Chaplin outtakes, "Unknown Chaplin," it's revealed that a number of his routines in "Behind The Screen" were developed on the fly. The director worked out many of the loosely-drawn sequences on film. As a perfectionist, Chaplin discarded many brilliant arrangements that for him didn't quite play out as he had envisioned.
"Behind The Screen" is also known as the supposed first kiss between two men on film. Edna Purviance plays a rejected actress who dresses up as a male worker to fill in for the stage company's striking employees to try to weasel in on the play's cast. Chaplin's character discovers her disguise and falls in love. The kisses, the first time Chaplin kisses Purviance on screen more than once, is seen by unsuspecting actor Eric Campbell, who mimics their act by an effeminate gesture.
In the three-part 1983 BBC documentary consisting of Chaplin outtakes, "Unknown Chaplin," it's revealed that a number of his routines in "Behind The Screen" were developed on the fly. The director worked out many of the loosely-drawn sequences on film. As a perfectionist, Chaplin discarded many brilliant arrangements that for him didn't quite play out as he had envisioned.