Sunnyside (film)

Sunnyside

Film poster.
Directed by Charles Chaplin
Written by Charles Chaplin
Starring Charles Chaplin
Edna Purviance
Henry Bergman
Tom Wilson
Olive Ann Alcorn
Cinematography Roland Totheroh
Edited by Charles Chaplin
Production
company
Distributed by First National
Associated First National Pictures (1922) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
Fox Video (1992) (USA) (VHS)
Madacy Entertainment (1997-1999) (USA) (VHS & DVD)
Image Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
Koch Vision (2000) (USA) (DVD)
MK2 Diffusion (2001) (World-wide) (all media)
Reel Media International (2004) (USA) (video)
Warner Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
Reel Media International (2007) (World-wide) (all media)
Release dates
 June 15, 1919
Running time
 34 minutes
Country United States
Language Silent (English intertitles)

Sunnyside is a 1919 American short silent film written, directed and starring Charlie Chaplin. It was his third film for First National Pictures.

Plot summary

Charlie works on a farm from 4am to late at night. He gets his food on the run (milking a cow into his coffee, holding an chicken over the frying pan to get fried eggs). His love interest in the village is the girl played by Edna Purviance. He loves her, but is disliked by her father. He rides a cow into a stream and is kicked off. Unconscious, he dreams of a nymph dance. Back in reality a city slicker is hurt in a car crash and is being cared for by Edna. He appears to have an eye for Edna too. Chaplin tries to win her back. When Charlie is rejected after attempting to imitate the slicker, the result is ambiguous—either tragic or a happy ending. Critics have long argued as to whether the final scene is real or a dream.

Cast

Reception

The June 16, 1919 issue of the New York Times contains this review:

“ "Charlie Chaplin is at the Strand in his latest—"Sunnyside"—so, of course, those who go there will laugh. Chaplin is a farm hand and country hotel clerk this time. He is at his best when depending upon his inimitable pantomime, and least amusing when indulging in slap-stick, in which he is not distinguished from countless other comedians. There is cleverness in "Sunnyside" and good pantomime, but, also, too much slap-stick.[1] ”

The nymph dance in the dream sequence has been recognized as being a tribute to or parody of the ballet L'après-midi d'un faune by Vaslav Nijinsky.[2][3]

References

  1. ↑ Scott, A. O. (February 7, 2005). "We're Sorry". The New York Times. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  2. ↑ Chaplin, Lita Grey; Vance, Jeffrey (1998). Wife of the Life of the Party: A Memoir. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. p. 24. ISBN 0-8108-3432-4.
  3. ↑ Porter, Jenelle (2010). Dance with Camera. University of Pennsylvania: Institute of Contemporary Art. p. 148.
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