Uno Asplund's book CHAPLIN IN SWEDEN

[Smari1989]

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.

[Brent]

This is fascinating stuff but I guess most here are limited in being much help due to the language barriers. As is so often the case it's left to enthusiastic 'amateurs' like yourself to fill in our gaps in film knowledge. I'd suggest making direct contact with some of the many Chaplin authors and experts around, not to mention potentially interested parties closer to home...

[Smari1989]

Thanks. Yes, you're probably right... If anyone, for any reason, should need some info on newspaper coverage of a silent star in Norway, though, feel free to notify me.

For what it's worth, I've found plenty of articles on Max Linder as far back as 1909...

[tthacker]

In looking through the forward of the American edition of the book, Asplund says that he had access "to the complete archives of Swedish and foreign films imported into Sweden which were first set up by the Swedish State in 1911." He was probably referring to the State Film Archives and I would assume that was the source of his information about Chaplin's debut in Sweden.

[Smari1989]

Thanks. It is possible, I assume, that Chaplin made his "official" debut in Sweden in August 1915 (that is, that was the first time his Essanays appeared there, and the first time the press made a big deal out of him) but that some Keystone-films were screened more anonymously prior to that.

[Smari1989]

A bit Off Topic: one thing I haven't managed to find one single example of, is mention of the Arbuckle-case of 1921-22 in Norwegian papers. Not a one-sentence notice; nothing whatsoever. On the other hand, Max Linder's tragic death in 1925 was noted (if rather briefly). Granted, the search engine on the Library's pages isn't completely reliable, so I have to be a bit imaginative to find what I'm looking for.

[boblipton]

Have you checked under "Fatty Arbuckle", "Roscoe Arbuckle" and various movie titles during the relevant period?

Bob

[Rick Lanham]

If anyone, for any reason, should need some info on newspaper coverage of a silent star in Norway, though, feel free to notify me.

I would be interested to know if they had an article about the death of musician Gaston Borch. He was born in France, but his father was born in Norway, and Gaston said that he had dual Norwegian-French citizenship. Despite living in the United States for a number of years, he died in Stockholm, Sweden on February 14, 1926.

Full name was Gaston Louis Christopher Borch.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaston_Borch" target="_blank

Rick

[Smari1989]

Have you checked under "Fatty Arbuckle", "Roscoe Arbuckle" and various movie titles during the relevant period?

Yup. I've tried several different options of that kind. I've found some ads (among them the Norwegian release date of LOVE, which I added to the Imdb). However, just now I tried just "Fatty 1921" -- and did indeed find one mention in a small paper, dated Sept. 14, 1921, which reads approximately, as translated: "San Fransisco: The well-known film actor Fatty is arrested, suspected of having murdered a film actress." So apparently, outside of the States, he wasn't even allowed to have a last name. 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.

I would be interested to know if they had an article about the death of musician Gaston Borch. He was born in France, but his father was born in Norway, and Gaston said that he had dual Norwegian-French citizenship. Despite living in the United States for a number of years, he died in Stockholm, Sweden on February 14, 1926.

Full name was Gaston Louis Christopher Borch.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaston_Borch" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

Rick

He's mentioned in papers several times throughout the 1890s/early 1900s, but I found no article on his death, unfortunately.

[Rick Lanham]

He's mentioned in papers several times throughout the 1890s/early 1900s, but I found no article on his death, unfortunately.

Thanks for looking. His death doesn't show up in the US online newspsper archive (GenealogyBank) that I checked either.

Rick

[Smari1989]

The largest newspaper in Norway (Aftenposten) notes on August 9, 1916 that DOUGH AND DYNAMITE was initially banned in Norway as the censors considered it to showcase a "shameful waste of dough." After "days of negotiations" a compromise was apparently reached, and the film was allowed.

[Spider]

So apparently, outside of the States, he wasn't even allowed to have a last name. 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.

This may have been common in Europe. I've seen him referred to as "Fatty" in French newspapers from the era too. I wonder if it was just considered easier for non-English speakers.