A Dog‘s Life Clippings 52/146
Motography, Chicago, Illinois, March 30, 1918.
Harry Lauder (right)
This Picture is Noteworthy for the Fact That It Contains
the Only Likeness of Col. W. N. Selig That Has Been
Published. From left to right Dan Wilson, L. M. Moto, Wm. N. Selig, Collin Reid, William Morris and Harry Lauder.
(...) Photo, Moving Picture World, April 11, 1914
& Tells How it Happened.
In selecting a title for his first comedy to be released
by the First National Exhibitors‘ Circuit, Charlie
Chaplin is said to have utilized a chance remark made by Harry
Lauder during the Scotch celebrity‘s visit to the new
Chaplin studios in Hollywood, Cal. After showing his visitor
about the premises, Charlie turned to Harry and said:
„Well, Harry, what do you think of my new quarters?“
Lauder gazed about the brilliant glass stage,
rubbing his chin thoughtfully, while he considered the suites
of palatial dressing-rooms, fitted with every modern
convenience that necessity and good taste could suggest, the luxuriously-furnished offices and perfectly-appointed
little restaurant where meals are provided for the star and his
company. Then he turned to Chaplin with a pitying
shake of his head.
„It‘s a dog‘s life you are leadin‘ these days, Charlie,“
he replied, „a dog‘s life.“
When the question of selecting a name for his forthcoming
ribtickler came up a day or two later, Chaplin remembered
Lauder‘s laconic comment and decided it would make an appropriate
title for the first of his comedies.
(...) Los Angeles Times, March 31, 1918
„A big, over-fed, lazy, repulsive hound“
Editorial content. „Lowly Dog May Delay Chaplin Picture
,Co-Star‘ Needed for Forgotten Scenes No Longer
Adaptable and Charlie Seeks Another, but So Far in Vain
CHARLIE CHAPLIN is up against it. The king
of comedians has struck an obstacle that may result his initial
production for the First National Exhibitors‘ Circuit
and starting all over again on a new story. For the first time
in his career the famous artist is stuck and all on
account of a dog. Not a high-class blue-ribbon canine, but
a common everyday ,mutt,‘ at that.
When Charlie started to produce his first picture he was
inspired by a little dog. It was a tiny, hungry, skinny,
stray pup, with shivering body and tail curled up between
its legs in true cur style. Its eyes were so pathetic
and its whine so human that Charlie was attracted and
he befriended the mongrel.
Not long after, the comedian announced that he would
produce A Dog‘s Life, and his chief support was to be
the stray dog. The dog was christened ,Mutt‘ and at once began
his duties at the Chaplin plant as co-star.
This week the comedian discovered that there were
a number of scenes which should have been taken
five weeks ago, but which had been forgotten. He called for
a ,set‘ and ,Mutt‘ and was about to photograph
the missing scenes. Then Charlie turned a sickly white.
No longer was the mongrel the pathetic and
inspiring ,Mutt‘ of weeks ago, but a big, over-fed, lazy,
repulsive hound.
The distress call has gone out from the Chaplin studios
in an effort to get a ,double‘ for ,Mutt.‘ The pound
has been fine-combed and every dog emporium in Los Angeles searched, but not a pup that looks anything like
the one-time inspiration has been found. In desperation,
Charlie has appealed to the public and must
wait for a new dog before he finishes A Dog‘s Life.“
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