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Burlesque on Carmen Clippings 55/101

Washington Times, Washington D. C., April 22, 1916.

„It was my effort to be original that brought

my screen success“

By Charles Chaplin. Part Two.

(...) Tacoma Times, April 21, 1916

„Spoor declares that all the film made belongs to him“

Editorial content. „Carmen May Play Court Engagement

      Chaplin Version of Spanish Gypsy Play

      Subject of New Controversy.

      Carmen, having been featured by the exotic, operatic,

and comic stars of the motion pictures, successively, now promises

to play an engagement in the courts – according to the

newest intelligence from the film trenches.

      The Mutual company has announced that Chaplin intends

to sue the Essanay company for issuing his version of

Carmen as a four-reel picture when he intended it should only

be a two-reeler.

      George Spoor, president and owner of the Essanay

company, comes back with the statement that Chaplin can go

as far as he likes. And the V. L. S. E. company, which has

the distribution of the picture, assures exhibitors that it doesn‘t

care how much Mr. Chaplin and the Essanay company

fight – the picture will be shown as per schedule; the bonds

that are required from the litigants being sufficiant

to guarantee against loss.

      It appears that Chaplin made the picture in California

for the Essanay company, using 18,000 feet of film

to do it. Before he left the Essanay studio he cut the film

down to two reels.

      George Spoor, president of the Essanay company,

looked over the 2,000 feet that Chaplin had arranged of the

comedy to be released, and decided that more film

was necessary to make the story complete. He went over

the remaining 16,000 feet carefully, and added

2,000 more to what Chaplin had used, making a four-reel

instead of a two-reel picture of the feature.

      Chaplin insists that Spoor has no right to issue more than

the 2,000 feet he selected himself. Spoor declares

that all the film made belongs to him and he‘ll issue as much

of it as he pleases.

      „In the meantime the V. L. S. E. company, having the play

in four reels, intends to keep it going the rounds of the

theatres in that length until some change is ordered by Mr. Spoor.“

      Essanay‘s Carmen Fake.

Redaktioneller Inhalt. „Carmen könnte ein Gastspiel

vor Gericht geben“, ist der Text in der Spalte links oben – über

der Anzeige des Apollo für Carmen – überschrieben.

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