I'm sure Georgia Hale was a great actress, but this role was truly meant for Virginia Cherrill,may they all rest in peace, City lights is one of my favorite silent film.
This has to be one of the hardest scenes for an actress to pull off. She gave it her best, and probably could have rehearsed it until she got what Chaplin wanted.
Like many others, I'm SO glad that he ultimately kept Virginia Cherrill. Georgia Hale may have been more experienced and trained, but in those screen tests she played this as if she was luring a man to, you know, show him a good time and earn some money in the process. I don't care what Cherrill did before or after City Lights, but there is a gentleness and a warmth about her that is just perfect for this role and especially for this final scene, which is possibly the most beautiful and touching final scene in the history of film.
Hey, quarterbacks! This is a screen test, not a finished shot. For those criticizing the mocking aspect of Georgia’s performance, a little City Lights 101; remember that the flower girl has just said to her co-worker “I’ve just made a conquest!”, while breaking up in hysterics over the hopeless tramp staring at her. IT’S THE SCENE, FOLKS. It exists emphatically in the finished film as well but polished up to a shine.. Is it perfect? No. So what? This is a fascinating document and should be no more judged as definitive than Chaplin’s very out of the ordinary makeup job.
What's interesting about this is that Chaplin hadn't figured out the last scene, yet. That's why the camera doesn't correspond to the movie. This is a different angle and consequently doesn't show the same looks that were achieved later. Whatever she was doing in this, she was directed to do by Chaplin. It looks fine, to me, but evidently not to Chaplin, one of the great perfectionists in any art! Obviously the moment when she understands who the bum is hadn't been worked out, yet, so it's unclear what Hale is doing. I agree that this is fascinating.
One of the reasons Chaplin had picked Virginia Cherrill was due to her ability to look like a blind woman (due to her needing to wear glasses and not) without turning her eyes upward. Also in this clip Georgia Hale is playing the part as almost mocking or teasing the Tramp, similar to her portrayal in Gold Rush before Charlie Chaplin removed some scenes for his reissue in 1942.
Thank you for posting this. A precious piece of film. Georgia, seen here, had NOT been given all the countless hours of rehearsal, (not to mention hair and wardrobe), that Cherrill had acquired by Chaplin so by the time we see Cherrill's end result in the actual film, naturally Virginia Cherrill appears to have been the better choice. It is my belief, had Georgia been given all Cherrill had been given by Chaplin, she would have rocked this part, but unfortunately it wasn't to be Bravo, Georgia!
Interesting comments. I think we have to remember that the uber controller Charlie was directing these takes and (no doubt) was using Georgia (and himself) to an extent to try these variations and different angles of these scenes. Nobody ever just winged it or tried something on Charlie's sets nor did he tolerate anything he didn't like (... except Virginia Cherrill - lol. I LOVE that Marion Davies put Virginia up to demanding a new contract from Charlie for this movie. Hilarious story.)
Georgia couldnt perform as per the need of the scene. All the time it was like she was teasing him. Or like a woman offering something to a kid to come n get it. :-) anyway, love to see these guys again n again in there movies.
Cc looking very tired and tensed..must be deep into the character. .most extraordinary and super multitalented ever dynamic hero of generations..icon of 1910s,20s,30s,40s..and so on..till date 21..rip :#
Chaplin suffered a nervous breakdown a year before this, while filming "The Circus", which turned his salt and pepper colored hair white. It had to do with his marriage to underage Lita Grey and the possible banning of his films.
I am glad this scene didnt make it to the final cut. It would have spoiled the movie. It is completely lack of emotions and feelings. She was teasing him more than anything else.
I think Virginia made it look more natural, such as pressing the coin into the tramp's hand then gradually realising he was in fact her benefactor, whereas Georgia made it appear as though she recognised him simply from their first touch. Also, she seems to drag the whole 'Come here,' thing out too much, though she may have been directed to do so. In all fairness, Georgia was a good actress and Virginia had more time to get to know the plot and the character, so she gave the better performance.
Charlie Chaplin take more takes in the movie 'City Lights ' Because Virginia Cherrill was not cooperative worker. In this video, both Charlie Chaplin and Georgia Hale did not give good performance.
This is not a finished scene. It's basically a rough screen test. We are so used to Cherrill in the finished picture we can't imagine anyone else in it. Hale is not as young and beautiful as Cherrill, but I disagree that she appears simply to be teasing the tramp. Toward the end she has tears in her eyes, which I found even more moving than the actual scene from the final film.
She’s horrible. Virginia was much better and natural. Georgia comes off like she’s coaxing a slow person to come to her. It’s teasing and almost mean. The character was supposed to be sweet. Watching this it confirms why she was a one hit wonder on Gold Rush.
Chaplin avait licencié Virginia Cherryl pour un motif pas pas trop objectif disant qu' elle arrivait en retard ou qu' elle n avait pour lui la pureté de la petite aveugle. Pourtant il y avait beaucoups de scènes de tournés et l actrice qui a remplacé jouai peut être bien mais ne convenait elle pas du tout. Alors Charlie conscient de son erreur rappela Virginia mais elle accepta mais demanda une somme très importante pour reprendre le tournage et Chaplin accepta la somme faramineuse sans bronché. Virginia reconnu que ça avait été un très grande affaire financière pour elle.
I'm sure Georgia Hale was a great actress, but this role was truly meant for Virginia Cherrill,may they all rest in peace, City lights is one of my favorite silent film.
She may have been a pain but Virginia Cherrill was perfect as the blind girl. So perfect, I can't accept someon else in the role.
ua-cam.com/video/9OD_CgN4ti4/v-deo.html
You can not deny the genius of Charles Chaplin...
This has to be one of the hardest scenes for an actress to pull off. She gave it her best, and probably could have rehearsed it until she got what Chaplin wanted.
Even though Virginia Cherrill was a problem on set, she was perfect in the role....her performance is quite good.
Like many others, I'm SO glad that he ultimately kept Virginia Cherrill. Georgia Hale may have been more experienced and trained, but in those screen tests she played this as if she was luring a man to, you know, show him a good time and earn some money in the process. I don't care what Cherrill did before or after City Lights, but there is a gentleness and a warmth about her that is just perfect for this role and especially for this final scene, which is possibly the most beautiful and touching final scene in the history of film.
After seeing this screen test Chaplin made the right choice when he cast Virginia Cherrill as The Blind Flower Girl.
Hey, quarterbacks! This is a screen test, not a finished shot. For those criticizing the mocking aspect of Georgia’s performance, a little City Lights 101; remember that the flower girl has just said to her co-worker “I’ve just made a conquest!”, while breaking up in hysterics over the hopeless tramp staring at her. IT’S THE SCENE, FOLKS. It exists emphatically in the finished film as well but polished up to a shine.. Is it perfect? No. So what? This is a fascinating document and should be no more judged as definitive than Chaplin’s very out of the ordinary makeup job.
What's interesting about this is that Chaplin hadn't figured out the last scene, yet. That's why the camera doesn't correspond to the movie. This is a different angle and consequently doesn't show the same looks that were achieved later. Whatever she was doing in this, she was directed to do by Chaplin. It looks fine, to me, but evidently not to Chaplin, one of the great perfectionists in any art! Obviously the moment when she understands who the bum is hadn't been worked out, yet, so it's unclear what Hale is doing. I agree that this is fascinating.
despite her lovely looks , Virginia Cherrill is more suitable than her for the role :) .
Incredible this footage even exists.
A beautiful woman. But this role was not for her. There is no magic in her perfomance. In "The Gold Rush" she was a queen.
The Lita Grey
One of the reasons Chaplin had picked Virginia Cherrill was due to her ability to look like a blind woman (due to her needing to wear glasses and not) without turning her eyes upward. Also in this clip Georgia Hale is playing the part as almost mocking or teasing the Tramp, similar to her portrayal in Gold Rush before Charlie Chaplin removed some scenes for his reissue in 1942.
Thank you for posting this. A precious piece of film. Georgia, seen here, had NOT been given all the countless hours of rehearsal, (not to mention hair and wardrobe), that Cherrill had acquired by Chaplin so by the time we see Cherrill's end result in the actual film, naturally Virginia Cherrill appears to have been the better choice. It is my belief, had Georgia been given all Cherrill had been given by Chaplin, she would have rocked this part, but unfortunately it wasn't to be Bravo, Georgia!
Cheryl M no. She is to cold.
I absolutely love Charlie Chaplin❤
@MrsLedgerDepp This footage is available both on the 'Unknown Chaplin' documentary and on the City Lights MK2 dvd.
Interesting comments. I think we have to remember that the uber controller Charlie was directing these takes and (no doubt) was using Georgia (and himself) to an extent to try these variations and different angles of these scenes. Nobody ever just winged it or tried something on Charlie's sets nor did he tolerate anything he didn't like (... except Virginia Cherrill - lol. I LOVE that Marion Davies put Virginia up to demanding a new contract from Charlie for this movie. Hilarious story.)
Georgia couldnt perform as per the need of the scene. All the time it was like she was teasing him. Or like a woman offering something to a kid to come n get it. :-) anyway, love to see these guys again n again in there movies.
Wonderful to see this. I love Georgia, but in this role, Virginia was perfect.🩵
Cc looking very tired and tensed..must be deep into the character. .most extraordinary and super multitalented ever dynamic hero of generations..icon of 1910s,20s,30s,40s..and so on..till date 21..rip :#
Chaplin suffered a nervous breakdown a year before this, while filming "The Circus", which turned his salt and pepper colored hair white. It had to do with his marriage to underage Lita Grey and the possible banning of his films.
My grandma had that hair style when she married my grandpa as a young lady! My grandpa had my strawberry blonde hair that you see in my picture!
Para mim esta cena com Virgínia Cherrill é uma das melhores do cinema mundial. De Criciúma SC Brasil
I am glad this scene didnt make it to the final cut. It would have spoiled the movie. It is completely lack of emotions and feelings. She was teasing him more than anything else.
Tem que ficar perfeito....à essa hora dá coceira...o casaco incomoda...até o ar fica diferente.....
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻💌
Despite she wasn't right for the part, Georgia was still adorable
Beautiful. She had charisma. Unfortunately Charlie didn’t have time or probabilities all the finance to reshoot the whole movie.
I think I'd agree that she does look like she's mocking him a little bit too much...
I think Virginia made it look more natural, such as pressing the coin into the tramp's hand then gradually realising he was in fact her benefactor, whereas Georgia made it appear as though she recognised him simply from their first touch. Also, she seems to drag the whole 'Come here,' thing out too much, though she may have been directed to do so. In all fairness, Georgia was a good actress and Virginia had more time to get to know the plot and the character, so she gave the better performance.
Charlie Chaplin take more takes in the movie 'City Lights ' Because Virginia Cherrill was not cooperative worker. In this video, both Charlie Chaplin and Georgia Hale did not give good performance.
Her performance is a lot less ambiguous than Cherrill's.
This is not a finished scene. It's basically a rough screen test. We are so used to Cherrill in the finished picture we can't imagine anyone else in it. Hale is not as young and beautiful as Cherrill, but I disagree that she appears simply to be teasing the tramp. Toward the end she has tears in her eyes, which I found even more moving than the actual scene from the final film.
thank you... NEXT!
Georgia Hale is lovely! Beautiful woman of that time.
She’s horrible. Virginia was much better and natural. Georgia comes off like she’s coaxing a slow person to come to her. It’s teasing and almost mean. The character was supposed to be sweet. Watching this it confirms why she was a one hit wonder on Gold Rush.
Oh, thank you so much!!! I love this!!
Well, thank god she was not in this film.
genial, es interesante ver cómo trabajaba Chaplin
Very nice
She was a good looking woman back then 🙂
No...she never married. She was in love with Charlie all her life.
Chaplinssmile1 who??
+Re Ham Georgia Hale
Virginia fue la mejor, aportó femeneidad y poema al film. Hermosa pelicula
Wow, Georgia Hale had lost a great deal of the physical attractiveness she had had in "The Gold Rush".
@MrsLedgerDepp Hey you're welcome! From one Chaplin fan to another! ;)
Chaplin avait licencié Virginia Cherryl pour un motif pas pas trop objectif disant qu' elle arrivait en retard ou qu' elle n avait pour lui la pureté de la petite aveugle. Pourtant il y avait beaucoups de scènes de tournés et l actrice qui a remplacé jouai peut être bien mais ne convenait elle pas du tout.
Alors Charlie conscient de son erreur rappela Virginia mais elle accepta mais demanda une somme très importante pour reprendre le tournage et Chaplin accepta la somme faramineuse sans bronché.
Virginia reconnu que ça avait été un très grande affaire financière pour elle.
ALASBUENAS siento romper el capicúa pero Charles Chaplin..... APASALOBIEN TØS Y TÃS
Thank God for Virginia Cherrill!
Ahahah!yes..
Unsuitable indeed, more extrovert. .
she resembles a young Joan Crawford!
👍
@MsJenniferParker DITTO!
Virginia Cherrill (Mrs Cary Grant).....was better the right choice
She was a bad girl.
I always thought this movie would be more interesting if it were performed by rabid, diseased warthogs instead of human actors.
I €all me*