CHAPLIN TO TALK

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 112, 24 April 1936, Page 14

CHAPLIN TO TALK

Role to Suit His Voice HIS FUTURE PLANS Charlie Chaplin has already announced plans for future productions, and his decision to talk in his next picture means that he will create an entirely new character. The reason he has been silent on the screen so long is because his speaking voice does not suit the Chaplin tramp. The comedian is now trying to evolve a character that will harmonise with his voice. News was received from Hollywood this week that in his first talking picture Cliaplin will represent an immigrant who arrives in the United States from an unknown country and speaks a language no one understands.

Before he talks on the screen, Chaplin intends to produce a picture as a starring vehicle for Paulette Goddard, his new leading lady in “Modern Times.” In this he will not be seen.

Now a millionaire, Chaplin earned only £3O a week when he began his film career with Keystone. Charles Reisner, who worked with Chaplin for eight years and directed many of the famous old two-reelers, has lately revealed some good stories about the comedian. One day when they were making “The Kid,” Reisner had a great idea. Chaplin should feed a baby. His gawky absurdities would be a certain laugh wherever parents saw the picture. But when the star came on the set he was in a melancholy mood. Reisner realised that even a good gag would not amuse him much that day. At the same time ho was determined to see the scene in the picture. The director placed the property in an absurd position on a table and pretended not to look. The preoccupied comedian eventually noticed it, smiled and put it in his pocket. Then he called to Reisner, “I’ve just thought of a great gag.” And for years he really imagined he had thought up that piece of funny business for himself.

Reisner, who is now in London working on a new picture for Cicely Courtneidge, declares that some of the most famous . scenes in Chaplin’s pictures have been put in at a moment’s notice.

That memorable stunt in “The Gold Rush” where the comedian stuck forks in two rolls and made them dance was an old trick that Chaplin used to do for fun in restaurants. He never thought of using it in a picture until the pathetic moment in “The Gold Rush” when he was sitting at the table waiting for the girl to arrive.