Mutual Film
Edendale, California | |
Key people | John R. Freuler (1872–1958) Harry E. Aitken (1877–1956) Roy Aitken (1882–1976) |
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Subsidiaries | Keystone Studios Majestic Studios/Reliance-Majestic Studios New York Motion Picture Company (and its subsidiaries:Kay Bee Studios, 101-Bison Company, Broncho Film Company, & Domino Film Company) Signal Film Corporation Vogue Films, Inc. Lone Star Film Company American Film Company |
Mutual Film Corporation was an early American film conglomerate that produced some of Charlie Chaplin's greatest comedies. Founded in 1912, it was absorbed by Film Booking Offices of America, which evolved into RKO Pictures.
Founding
Mutual's predecessor film businesses began with the partnership behind the Western Film Exchange, founded in
In early 1912 the Shallenberger brothers (Wilbert E. and William Edgar), Crawford Livingston, and others as investors including
A releasing and distribution company, Mutual also had numerous subsidiary production units, including Keystone Studios, famed producer of comedies. Mutual is celebrated for signing Charlie Chaplin in 1916; he produced some of his best comedies while working for the company.,[5]: 996 although he felt that the company's tight production schedules led to the films becoming increasingly formulaic. As a result of this concern, Chaplin went with First National Pictures to have a contract that allowed him more flexibile production schedules so he could focus on making better films. [6]
As 1912 progressed, the company included auxiliary units such as Keystone Studios, the Majestic Studios (which would later become the Reliance-Majestic Studios through Harry Aitken's partnership with D. W. Griffith), and the New York Motion Picture Company.[7]
In 1915, the workers of Keystone Studios,
Legal cases
In 1915, the
Productions
In 1916, Charlie Chaplin became the highest paid entertainer in the world when he signed a contract with Mutual for a salary of $670,000 per year. Mutual built Chaplin his very own studio and allowed him total freedom to make twelve two-reel films during this fruitful twelve-month period. Chaplin subsequently recognised this period of film-making as the most inventive and liberating of his career, although he also had concerns that the films produced were increasingly formulaic during the length of his contract.
During 1916 and 1917, the Lone Star Film Company had Charlie Chaplin working at their studio at 1025 Lillian Way, in Hollywood. Charlie Chaplin moved on to found
With the exception of the Chaplin films, most of the Mutual shorts and feature dramas are lost to time and decomposition.
Selected filmography
Year | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
1913 | A Little Hero | |
1913 | The Grand Military Parade | |
1913 | An Accidental Clue | |
1914 | The Cocoon and the Butterfly | |
1914 | Our Mutual Girl | |
1914 | The Life of General Villa | |
1914 | The Property Man | |
1914 | The Face on the Bar Room Floor | |
1914 | His New Profession | |
1914 | Sweet and Low | |
1914 | Fatty's Wine Party | |
1914 | Leading Lizzie Astray | |
1915 | The Devil | |
1915 | The Failure | |
1915 | Father and Son | |
1915 | The Count | |
1915 | The Straw Man | |
1915 | The Deathlock | |
1916 | Fighting the War | |
1916 | The Other Side of the Door | |
1916 | Johnny's Romeo | |
1916 | Father and Son | |
1916 | The Folly of Fear | |
1916 | At Twelve O'Clock | |
1916 | The Turn of the Wheel | |
1916 | The False Clue | |
1916 | Within the Lines | |
1916 | His Guardian Angel | |
1916 | When the Tide Turned | |
1916 | Grouchy | |
1916 | His Uncle's Ward | |
1916 | Admirers Three | |
1916 | Uncle Sam's Defenders | |
1916 | The Pawnshop | |
1917 | Pardners | |
1917 | Rehabilitated | |
1917 | Queen X | |
1917 | The Greater Woman | |
1917 | The Wildcat | |
1917 | Mary Moreland | |
1917 | Bab the Fixer | |
1917 | The Beautiful Adventure | |
1917 | Please Help Emily | |
1917 | The Sea Master | |
1917 | The Serpent's Tooth
|
|
1917 | Souls in Pawn | |
1917 | The Girl Who Can Cook | |
1917 | The Girl from Rector's | |
1917 | The Railroad Raiders | |
1917 | A Daughter of Maryland | |
1917 | American Maid | |
1917 | Her Second Husband | |
1918 | Who Loved Him Best? | |
1918 | Her Husband's Honor | |
1918 | My Wife | |
1918 | Treason |
References
- ^ Bowers, Q David (April 2005). "Chronological Biography of Gertrude Homan Thanhouser" (PDF). Retrieved 16 February 2018.
- ^ Marco Scollo Lavizzari (2004). "Mutual Film Corporation". Enciclopedia del Cinema. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
- ^ "Silent Era : Progressive Silent Film List". Silentera.com. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
- ^ "Thanhouser Company Film Preservation, Inc". Thanhouser.org. Archived from the original on 2 January 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
- ISBN 0-06-273492-X.
- ^ Brownlow, Kevin; Gill, David (1983). Unknown Chaplin. Thames Silent.
- ^ "Silent Era : Progressive Silent Film List". Silentera.com. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
- ^ [1] [dead link]
Bibliography
- Robert S. Birchard, "Silent-Era Filmmaking in Santa Barbara" Charleston: Arcadia Publishing, 2007 ISBN 0-7385-4730-1
External links
- Mutual Film Corporation at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Archived 2014-04-06 at the Wayback Machine