Edna Purviance's starring debut premiered in New York 91 years ago today.*
In this excerpt from an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Edna describes how Chaplin directed her in a scene:
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*The film first premiered in Los Angeles on Sept. 26th. Chaplin did not attend this premiere since he was on his way to New York. Edna Purviance, however, did attend but did not appear at the opening in NYC.
In this excerpt from an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Edna describes how Chaplin directed her in a scene:
Charlie would say, "Now if this happened to you in real life, what would you do?" She would answer conscientiously and then be told to go ahead and do it.
"Never mind keeping your face to the camera," said Charlie, "your emotions will be seen and felt through any part of your body at any angle, if you act well." This, said Edna, gave one such a wide scope, left one free to be so natural. (Alma Whitaker, "The New Edna Purviance," Los Angeles Times, Oct. 21, 1923)
*The film first premiered in Los Angeles on Sept. 26th. Chaplin did not attend this premiere since he was on his way to New York. Edna Purviance, however, did attend but did not appear at the opening in NYC.