A "Modern Times" cast question

MattBarry · Post by **MattBarry** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 8:12 am

Recently, on the IMDb listing (hardly the most authoritative source, I know), there have appeared some new cast listings for Chaplin's "Modern Times". They are as follows:
Harry Myers as Gypsy in Police Patrol Wagon
J.C. Nugent as Department Store Section Manager
Buddy Messinger as Cigar counterman

I've been doing much research into the cast listings for "Modern Times" ever since I discovered that there were several cast members incorrectly identified in all the published filmographies, the most notable being Stanley Blystone, for years credited as playing "Sheriff Couler", when in fact he is the Gamin's father (Edward Le Saint is clearly the actor playing the sheriff). A few other errors popped up with surprising frequency, including the listing of Lloyd Ingraham as playing the "governor" in the prison, when he is clearly the angry customer in the restaurant at the end.

As for these new listings that appeared on the IMDb, I was wondering if anyone knew their source, or can attest to their accuracy. The cigar counter man does indeed appear to be Buddy Messinger. However, I'm a little skeptical that either Harry Myers or J.C. Nugent appear in the film. The character attributed to Myers simply doesn't look enough like him. And J.C. Nugent was a fairly well-known actor in supporting roles at the time, and it seems that a) his appearance in MODERN TIMES would have been noted before now and that b) it's a rather small role for him in the first place. In addition to that, I simply don't see enough of a resemblance between Nugent and the actor playing the department store manager.

Finally, I hope someone could help me with another question I've had for years: just where does John Rand appear in MODERN TIMES? I've seen him credited in filmographies variously as a "convict" and as a "waiter" in the cafe scene, but I can't spot him in either. I feel like I should be able to recognize him, especially since I've watched the film very carefully to see if I can spot him. I'm beginning to doubt whether or not he appears in the film at all. I've seen filmographies that list him in the cast of THE GREAT DICTATOR as well, and it's been confirmed that he's not in that film at all. Is his listing in MODERN TIMES erroneous as well?

If anyone could point me to a scene in which he appears in the film, it would be much appreciated.

Ray Faiola · Post by **Ray Faiola** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 9:50 am

Harry Myers is not the gypsy in the patrol wagon. The gypsy is played by Russ Powell. Russ was the dockman in KING KONG and he was a prolific day-player.

MattBarry · Post by **MattBarry** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 10:12 am

Ray Faiola wrote:Harry Myers is not the gypsy in the patrol wagon. The gypsy is played by Russ Powell. Russ was the dockman in KING KONG and he was a prolific day-player.

Thanks for this information. Is there a thorough (and accurate) cast listing resource for this film that you could point me to? As I mentioned, I've been fascinated for years by how wildly inaccurate most published filmographies have been when it comes to this film.

I'd tried to access the call sheets through the "Chaplin Archive" website, but they only have the first four or five available for viewing.

Ray Faiola · Post by **Ray Faiola** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 10:31 am

I think probably at the Academy, which is where most of the IMDB cast lists come from I believe. I submitted a correction to IMDB.

Jim Reid · Post by **Jim Reid** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 11:18 am

I saw Harry Myers, again playing a well-dressed drunk. It was in the prize fight scene in Kelly the Second, Patsy Kelly's Hal Roach feature. Can't stand Patsy, but Charley Chase was very good in the film.

Ray Faiola · Post by **Ray Faiola** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 12:00 pm

Harry's also one of the church pew spectators in THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER. He's sitting next to Spring Byington. And what happened to HER role in that picture!?!?!?!

Hal Erickson · Post by **Hal Erickson** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 12:07 pm

I've seen Harry in ZENOBIA, sharing a brief scene with Billie Burke during a party sequence. It must have been his last picture--it was released a few months after his death. Evidently Oliver Hardy was still doing favors for his old Florida coworkers.

Also, I have a muddy VHS copy (with Spanish subtitles) of the uber-bizarre Leon Errol Columbia 2-reeler HONEYMOON BRIDGE. Harry plays Leon's best friend in two scenes, set a year apart. It looks like it was supposed to have been a larger role.

MattBarry · Post by **MattBarry** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 1:17 pm

Ray Faiola wrote:I think probably at the Academy, which is where most of the IMDB cast lists come from I believe. I submitted a correction to IMDB.

It's amazing how many prolific bit players appeared in MODERN TIMES and yet have never appeared in filmography cast listings until just very recently. As many films as I've seen Russ Powell in bit parts, I never recognized him in MODERN TIMES. Buddy Messinger is another familiar face.

I'm still wondering about John Rand, though. If he's in the film, I sure can't spot him.