A Dog's Life
Encyclopedia
A Dog's Life is a silent film
written, produced and directed by Charlie Chaplin
. This was Chaplin's first film for First National Films
.
Chaplin plays opposite an animal as "co-star". "Scraps" (the dog) was the hero in this film, as he helps Charlie and Edna toward a better life. Edna Purviance
plays a dance hall singer and Charlie Chaplin, The Tramp
. Sydney Chaplin
(Chaplin's brother) had a small role in this film; this was the first time the two brothers were on screen together.
Charles Lapworth
, a former newspaper editor who had met Chaplin when he interviewed him, took a role as a consultant on the film.
Other films where dogs appeared on screen with Chaplin were The Champion
(1915), The Gold Rush
(1925), City Lights
(1931) and Modern Times
(1936).
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
written, produced and directed by Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin
Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I...
. This was Chaplin's first film for First National Films
First National
First National was an association of independent theater owners in the United States that expanded from exhibiting movies to distributing them, and eventually to producing them as a movie studio, called First National Pictures, Inc. It later merged with Warner Bros.-Early history:The First National...
.
Chaplin plays opposite an animal as "co-star". "Scraps" (the dog) was the hero in this film, as he helps Charlie and Edna toward a better life. Edna Purviance
Edna Purviance
Edna Purviance was an American actress during the silent movie era. She was the leading lady in many Charlie Chaplin movies. In a span of eight years, she appeared in over thirty films with Chaplin.-Early life:...
plays a dance hall singer and Charlie Chaplin, The Tramp
The Tramp
The Tramp, also known as The Little Tramp was Charlie Chaplin's most memorable on-screen character, a recognized icon of world cinema most dominant during the silent film era....
. Sydney Chaplin
Sydney Chaplin
Sydney Chaplin was an English actor. He was the elder half-brother of Sir Charlie Chaplin and served as his business manager, and the half-uncle of the actor Sydney Chaplin , who was named after him.-Early life:...
(Chaplin's brother) had a small role in this film; this was the first time the two brothers were on screen together.
Charles Lapworth
Charles Lapworth (journalist)
Charles Lapworth was a socialist activist, journalist and film promoter.Lapworth toured with Eugene V. Debs in 1908, promoting the Industrial Workers of the World and speaking about socialism in Britain...
, a former newspaper editor who had met Chaplin when he interviewed him, took a role as a consultant on the film.
Other films where dogs appeared on screen with Chaplin were The Champion
The Champion (film)
The Champion is a comedy film released in 1915 by Essanay Studios, starring Charlie Chaplin alongside Edna Purviance and Leo White. Essanay co-owner and star, Broncho Billy Anderson can be seen as an enthusiastic audience member in the boxing match scene....
(1915), The Gold Rush
The Gold Rush
The Gold Rush is a 1925 silent film comedy written, produced, directed by, and starring Charlie Chaplin in his Little Tramp role. The film also stars Georgia Hale, Mack Swain, Tom Murray, Henry Bergman, Malcolm Waite....
(1925), City Lights
City Lights
City Lights is a 1931 American silent film and romantic comedy-drama written by, directed by, and starring Charlie Chaplin. It also has the leads Virginia Cherrill and Harry Myers. Although "talking" pictures were on the rise since 1928, City Lights was immediately popular. Today, it is thought of...
(1931) and Modern Times
Modern Times (film)
Modern Times is a 1936 comedy film by Charlie Chaplin that has his iconic Little Tramp character struggling to survive in the modern, industrialized world. The film is a comment on the desperate employment and fiscal conditions many people faced during the Great Depression, conditions created, in...
(1936).
Cast
- Charles Chaplin - Tramp
- Edna PurvianceEdna PurvianceEdna Purviance was an American actress during the silent movie era. She was the leading lady in many Charlie Chaplin movies. In a span of eight years, she appeared in over thirty films with Chaplin.-Early life:...
- Bar singer - MutMutMut, which meant mother in the ancient Egyptian language, was an ancient Egyptian mother goddess with multiple aspects that changed over the thousands of years of the culture. Alternative spellings are Maut and Mout. She was considered a primal deity, associated with the waters from which...
- Scraps, a thoroughbred mongrel - Syd Chaplin - Lunchwagon owner
- Henry BergmanHenry BergmanHenry Bergman was an American actor of stage and film, known for his long association with Charlie Chaplin....
- Fat unemployed man/Dance-hall lady - Charles ReisnerCharles ReisnerCharles "Chuck" Reisner was an American film director and actor of the 1920s and 1930s.He directed over 60 films between 1920 and 1950 and acted in over 20 films between 1916 and 1929...
- Employment agency clerk - Albert AustinAlbert AustinAlbert Austin was an actor, film star, director and script writer, noted mainly for his work in Charlie Chaplin films. He was the brother of actor William Austin....
- Employment agency clerk - Tom WilsonTom Wilson (actor)Tom Wilson was an American film actor. He appeared in 254 films between 1915 and 1963. He was born in Helena, Montana, and died in Los Angeles, California.-Selected filmography:* Little Marie...
- Policeman - M. J. McCarthy - Unemployed man
- Mel Brown - Unemployed man
- Charles Force - Unemployed man
- Bert Appling - Unemployed man
- Thomas Riley - Unemployed man
- Slim Cole - Unemployed man
- Ted Edwards - Unemployed man
- Louis Fitzroy - Unemployed man