Uno Asplund's book CHAPLIN IN SWEDEN
Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2016 3:03 pm
I somehow doubt this post will be of much interest to anyone but me, but for the sake of other Chaplin diehards out there:
As some of you know, one Swedish writer named Uno Asplund wrote a superb book entitled CHAPLIN IN SWEDEN in the 1970s, detailing how Chaplin's films were received there, when they were released, etc. Especially because I live in Norway myself, I really treasure that book (Norway and Sweden are neighboring countries, as you may know).
However, in Asplund's book, it is claimed that Chaplin made his debut in Sweden in August 1915, with the films THE CHAMPION and HIS NEW JOB; his Swedish debut was apparently noted even in British press at the time. In the last few weeks, I've been fortunate to discover that much of the Norwegian National Library is open online; so I've been searching for Norwegian newspaper coverage of Chaplin (and other silent stars) from the 1910s as a relaxation pastime, being curious how they were received in my own country (thanks to this service, I've been able to add a few Norwegian release dates of silent films on Imdb).
Anyway, my longwinded point is this: it appears from the Norwegian newspaper articles/ads I've found that Chaplin was WELL established as a phenomenon in Norway by the time he made his apparent Swedish debut. One ad confirms that CAUGHT IN A CABARET was screened in February 1915, LAUGHING GAS in March. There may even be earlier releases I've yet to find. This may not sound so spectacular, but the thing is that, until the last few decades or so, Norway was generally considered the unsignificant "little brother" of Sweden; Sweden got "everything" before it came to Norway (TV, radio, you name it). I find it odd that Chaplin took at least six months longer to reach Sweden than Norway.
Thus, I'd be curious if anyone should know what Mr. Asplund based his assuption on that Chaplin didn't make his Swedish debut until Aug. -15. Of course, the book was written long before libraries were available online, so possible mistakes like that are quite forgivable.
Oh, as a bonus to anyone who made it this far: one Norwegian article from 1916 claims Chaplin was currently visiting Norway's capital city (then named Kristiania) and the paper had been able to interview him in person. Balooney, of course, and the interview was quite certainly taken from somewhere else, but still.
As some of you know, one Swedish writer named Uno Asplund wrote a superb book entitled CHAPLIN IN SWEDEN in the 1970s, detailing how Chaplin's films were received there, when they were released, etc. Especially because I live in Norway myself, I really treasure that book (Norway and Sweden are neighboring countries, as you may know).
However, in Asplund's book, it is claimed that Chaplin made his debut in Sweden in August 1915, with the films THE CHAMPION and HIS NEW JOB; his Swedish debut was apparently noted even in British press at the time. In the last few weeks, I've been fortunate to discover that much of the Norwegian National Library is open online; so I've been searching for Norwegian newspaper coverage of Chaplin (and other silent stars) from the 1910s as a relaxation pastime, being curious how they were received in my own country (thanks to this service, I've been able to add a few Norwegian release dates of silent films on Imdb).
Anyway, my longwinded point is this: it appears from the Norwegian newspaper articles/ads I've found that Chaplin was WELL established as a phenomenon in Norway by the time he made his apparent Swedish debut. One ad confirms that CAUGHT IN A CABARET was screened in February 1915, LAUGHING GAS in March. There may even be earlier releases I've yet to find. This may not sound so spectacular, but the thing is that, until the last few decades or so, Norway was generally considered the unsignificant "little brother" of Sweden; Sweden got "everything" before it came to Norway (TV, radio, you name it). I find it odd that Chaplin took at least six months longer to reach Sweden than Norway.
Thus, I'd be curious if anyone should know what Mr. Asplund based his assuption on that Chaplin didn't make his Swedish debut until Aug. -15. Of course, the book was written long before libraries were available online, so possible mistakes like that are quite forgivable.
Oh, as a bonus to anyone who made it this far: one Norwegian article from 1916 claims Chaplin was currently visiting Norway's capital city (then named Kristiania) and the paper had been able to interview him in person. Balooney, of course, and the interview was quite certainly taken from somewhere else, but still.
I've also found an ad from December 5, 1922, which advertises the showing of two old "Fatty"-films. So it's apparently true that his films still made business in Europe after the scandal.