TILLIE'S PUNCTURED ROMANCE (Keystone, 1914), directed by Mack Sennett, credited as the "first feature length comedy," also ranks a motion picture first for Marie Dressler (1869-1934), and the initial feature comedy debut of the up-and-rising Charlie Chaplin (1889-1977). Though Dressler, new to the movies, was, at the time, figuratively speaking, a bigger attraction Chaplin, the film remains relatively known simply as a Chaplin comedy. Still under the supervision of Sennett, it offers little material by Chaplin to call his own. Though he does wear a derby during the latter portion of the story as opposed to his straw hat during the opening sequences, Chaplin doesn't sport his legendary tramp costume. Even his mustache is different from his traditional one, physically looking more like another comedian, Charlie Chase (who also appears), than his true persona. By contrast, Chaplin and Dressler are equally matched here in a story structure containing more Sennett formula of physical kicking and slapstick comedy supported by a huge assortment of other notable comics (Charles Murray, Slim Summerville, Hank Mann, Edgar Kennedy and Al St. John), and those participating in the wild chase as the Keystone Kops.
Taken from a musical play, "Tillie's Nightmare," that starred Marie Dressler, Charlie Chaplin gets his introduction as "The stranger - a wise guy who sought country lanes while city streets became too hot for him." Then comes Marie Dressler as Tillie Banks, a farmer's daughter, "the pride of Yokeltown and the apple of her father's eye," or one "built like a battleship," who unwittingly knocks a brick over a city slicker's heat while playing with her dog. As the apologetic Tillie makes amends by inviting the man into her home, Charlie notices her father's (Mark Swain) huge bankroll. Seeing this a chance on getting rich, Charlie proposes marriage to Tillie, who willingly accepts. As she leaves her home with him, Tillie takes her father's savings, refusing to share it with him until after the elopement. Once in the city, Charlie encounters Mabel (Mabel Normand), his "girl confederate partner in crime. After getting Tillie drunk in a restaurant, Charlie takes the money and runs off with Mabel. Unable to pay her bill, Tillie gets arrested and put in jail while Charlie and Mabel seek refuge inside a movie house where, attending the motion picture titled "Double Crossed," they imagine seeing themselves as characters portrayed on screen. Released from jail, Tillie gets a job as a waitress where one of her patrons turns out to be Charlie and Mabel. After running away and resting on a park bench with Mabel, Charlie sees a newspaper article that his Tillie has become the sole heir to $3 million by her rich uncle, Donald Banks (Charles Bennett), who met his fate fate mountain climbing on Mount Baldy. Charlie ditches Mabel, returns to Tillie. Duped once, will Tillie be fooled again? Time will tell. Let the antics begin!
Regardless of its advanced age and certain flaws, TILLIE'S PINCTURED ROMANCE is fun viewing throughout. Considering how many movies from this era have been lost and gone forever, this very early feature comedy is fortunate to have survived at all. It also gives contemporary viewers a hardy glimpse of some outlandish costumes worn its leading ladies, with Normand sporting huge hat and feather. It's also Mabel who gets to have a couple of really worth-while point-of-view close-ups often credited to director D.W. Griffith.
While Chaplin's movie career ranged from developing his craft under Sennett (1914) to starring, directing and writing his own material (1915 onward), Dressler as a silent movie comedienne was short-lived. Having appeared in several comedy shorts/features (1915-1918), two being TILLIE'S TOMATO SURPRISE (Lubin, 1915) and TILLIE WAKES UP (Peerless, 1917), Dressler wouldn't appear in another motion picture until a decade later at MGM in highly successful sentimental comedy-dramas (1927-1933), and a Academy Award before her death to cancer in 1934. It's interesting pointing out the title of TILLIE'S PUNCTURED ROMANCE being used for a 1928 Al Christie/Paramount feature starring WC Fields. The new carnation finds Louise Fazenda playing the new Tillie joining the circus and becoming part of antics set during the World War. The only similarity this and the original contain is the presence of Mack Swain once again cast as Tillie's Father, and Chester Conklin, seen here as Mr. Whoozis, assuming a different character role. Though film historians have long awaited for the rediscovery of the long lost Fields version, it's the original Mack Sennett comedy that remains relatively known today.
During the years of home video, TILLIE'S PUNCTURED ROMANCE had been available from public domain editions with no scoring to 50-minute 1938 reissue with new scoring, new opening titles listing cast and crew. There's also been availability through Blackhawk/Republic Home Video containing piano scoring by William Perry; and KINO Video on VHS and later DVD with clear visuals and organ score, but minus some descriptive inter-titles and Chaplin's opening character introduction. Often broadcast on Turner Classic Movies since October 1995 as part of either Chaplin or Dressler tributes, TILLIE'S PUNCTURED ROMANCE is another reason why this old-styled comedy should not ever disappear from public viewing for that Tillie's romance may be punctured, but she is no flat tire. (***)
Taken from a musical play, "Tillie's Nightmare," that starred Marie Dressler, Charlie Chaplin gets his introduction as "The stranger - a wise guy who sought country lanes while city streets became too hot for him." Then comes Marie Dressler as Tillie Banks, a farmer's daughter, "the pride of Yokeltown and the apple of her father's eye," or one "built like a battleship," who unwittingly knocks a brick over a city slicker's heat while playing with her dog. As the apologetic Tillie makes amends by inviting the man into her home, Charlie notices her father's (Mark Swain) huge bankroll. Seeing this a chance on getting rich, Charlie proposes marriage to Tillie, who willingly accepts. As she leaves her home with him, Tillie takes her father's savings, refusing to share it with him until after the elopement. Once in the city, Charlie encounters Mabel (Mabel Normand), his "girl confederate partner in crime. After getting Tillie drunk in a restaurant, Charlie takes the money and runs off with Mabel. Unable to pay her bill, Tillie gets arrested and put in jail while Charlie and Mabel seek refuge inside a movie house where, attending the motion picture titled "Double Crossed," they imagine seeing themselves as characters portrayed on screen. Released from jail, Tillie gets a job as a waitress where one of her patrons turns out to be Charlie and Mabel. After running away and resting on a park bench with Mabel, Charlie sees a newspaper article that his Tillie has become the sole heir to $3 million by her rich uncle, Donald Banks (Charles Bennett), who met his fate fate mountain climbing on Mount Baldy. Charlie ditches Mabel, returns to Tillie. Duped once, will Tillie be fooled again? Time will tell. Let the antics begin!
Regardless of its advanced age and certain flaws, TILLIE'S PINCTURED ROMANCE is fun viewing throughout. Considering how many movies from this era have been lost and gone forever, this very early feature comedy is fortunate to have survived at all. It also gives contemporary viewers a hardy glimpse of some outlandish costumes worn its leading ladies, with Normand sporting huge hat and feather. It's also Mabel who gets to have a couple of really worth-while point-of-view close-ups often credited to director D.W. Griffith.
While Chaplin's movie career ranged from developing his craft under Sennett (1914) to starring, directing and writing his own material (1915 onward), Dressler as a silent movie comedienne was short-lived. Having appeared in several comedy shorts/features (1915-1918), two being TILLIE'S TOMATO SURPRISE (Lubin, 1915) and TILLIE WAKES UP (Peerless, 1917), Dressler wouldn't appear in another motion picture until a decade later at MGM in highly successful sentimental comedy-dramas (1927-1933), and a Academy Award before her death to cancer in 1934. It's interesting pointing out the title of TILLIE'S PUNCTURED ROMANCE being used for a 1928 Al Christie/Paramount feature starring WC Fields. The new carnation finds Louise Fazenda playing the new Tillie joining the circus and becoming part of antics set during the World War. The only similarity this and the original contain is the presence of Mack Swain once again cast as Tillie's Father, and Chester Conklin, seen here as Mr. Whoozis, assuming a different character role. Though film historians have long awaited for the rediscovery of the long lost Fields version, it's the original Mack Sennett comedy that remains relatively known today.
During the years of home video, TILLIE'S PUNCTURED ROMANCE had been available from public domain editions with no scoring to 50-minute 1938 reissue with new scoring, new opening titles listing cast and crew. There's also been availability through Blackhawk/Republic Home Video containing piano scoring by William Perry; and KINO Video on VHS and later DVD with clear visuals and organ score, but minus some descriptive inter-titles and Chaplin's opening character introduction. Often broadcast on Turner Classic Movies since October 1995 as part of either Chaplin or Dressler tributes, TILLIE'S PUNCTURED ROMANCE is another reason why this old-styled comedy should not ever disappear from public viewing for that Tillie's romance may be punctured, but she is no flat tire. (***)