Silent Film of the Month: A Woman of Paris (1923)

 

Run Time: 78 minutes. Studio: Untied Artists.  Director: Charlie Chaplin. Writer: Charlie Chaplin. Producer: Charlie Chaplin Cinematographers: Roland Totheroh, Jack Wilson. Main Cast: Edna Purviance, Clarence Geldart, Carl Miller, Lydia Knott.

In 1919 the United Artists studio was formed. It was created by four of the most important names working in film at that time. These were Mary Pickford, D.W. Griffith, Douglas Fairbanks and Charlie Chaplin. Despite Charlie Chaplin being one of the founders of the studio, he couldn't make films there right away. This was because he was still under contract with First National. Because of this his first film for United Artists was not released until 1923. The other owners of the studio were however disappointed by Chaplin's choice for a first film for the studio. Rather than doing a film with his world famous Tramp character, he decided instead to do a drama, that he would barely appear in. This film would be my Silent Film of the Month, A Woman of Paris.

Rather than staring Chaplin himself this film stared Edna Purviance. Purviance was Chaplin's leading lady from 1915 to 1923. However she would remain on Chaplin's payroll for the rest of her life. Charlie felt Edna had a future as a dramatic actress. Because of this he wanted to make this film to promote her as such. Despite her talent her career as a dramatic actress would not take off. She would star in another film called The Sea Gull which would be produced by Charlie Chaplin, and directed by famed director Josef von Sternberg. That film was never released because Chaplin was not happy with it. It is unfortunately a lost film today.

Because of this the film opens with a letter to the audience written by Charlie Chaplin to make sure they know that this film is not a comedy and that Charlie will not be appearing in this film (though he does make a short cameo in which he is barely recognizable). This film's story was loosely based off of the romances of actress Peggy Hopkins Joyce, who Chaplin had recently had an affair with. The film stars Marie (played by Edna Purvince) who wants to leave her country home and run off with her finance Jean (played by Carl Miller). Marie and Jean plan to take a train to Paris. However after Jean's father dies, he is unable to make the train, and Marie leaves by herself. In Paris Marie becomes a high society lady and the mistress of the well respected Pierre Revel (played by Adolphe Menjou). Jean comes to Paris and is shocked to find what Marie has become. I will not give away what happens after this but it leads to a very shocking and effective ending that Chaplin spent a long time tring to work out.

A Woman of Paris is a fantastically well made film. Charlie Chaplin was still a great director even when he is not appearing in the film. Chaplin shows here that he was not just a great comedy filmmaker but a great filmmaker no matter what type of film he was making. However Chaplin's direction isn't the only great thing about this film. The acting is great. Enda Purviance and Adolphe Menjou are piticurally fantastic in this movie. Also this film has beautiful cinematography by Roland Totheroh and Jack Wilson, both of whom were regular cinematographers for Charlie Chaplin (in fact they worked on very few films that weren't Charlie Chaplin films). The story of this film is not anything groundbreakingly original, but it is told very well, and it is still a good story. 

A Woman of Paris faired very well with critics. Critics especially praised it's direction and cinematography. However it did not do well at the box office, most audiences were unhappy to see a Charlie Chaplin film with so little Charlie Chaplin. They simply wanted something very different from what they got. However that does not make this film any less great. The next Charlie Chaplin film would be The Gold Rush which would more than satisfy those wanting another Little Tramp picture (and with good reason The Gold Rush is a masterpiece).

-Michael J. Ruhland

Resources Used
My Autobiography by Charlie Chaplin
http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/442072/A-Woman-of-Paris/