Author
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Topic: Easy Street - Mountain and Walton Versions
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Melvin England
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 707
From: Hull, East Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Feb 2016
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posted August 08, 2018 11:39 AM
I have just been comparing the Walton and Mountain 200' "sound" versions of this classic Chaplin movie and am quite astounded at the variations of each edit.
The Walton version starts off with Charlie deciding to apply for a job at the police station, having been kitted out he comes out of the front door and promptly clobbers a man with his truncheon stick for laughing at him. He then proceeds down "Easy Street."
This is where the Mountain version starts. Both versions feature the telephone box / gas lamp and chase routines but the Mountain includes more footage including footage of Charlie inside what appears to be a children's home. At the point where Charlie pushes a piece of furniture out of the window and it lands on the bully's head is where both versions go off in different directions completely. The Mountain, after an on screen title, fast forwards to a now smart and redeemed ex bully accompanying his wife to the Mission Hall. Charlie meets up with his lady,they link arm and walk off into the distance. The End.
The Walton version then features the lady being kidnapped,and taken to a cellar where Charlie eventually rescues her and the final shot is of them hugging each other.
Undoubtedly, the Walton version is the better of the two, even though some of the shots have been shortened slightly, (EG plate hits the head of a man hanging out of the window,this version doesn't show the next 3 seconds where he is knocked out.) There is much more content, a slightly longer running time, and MUCH better music which includes the sound effects of the truncheon hitting various heads. Mountain is just a generic piano piece that could fit anything.
-------------------- "My name is for my friends!"
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Melvin England
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 707
From: Hull, East Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Feb 2016
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posted August 13, 2018 04:32 AM
Maurice - I see where you are coming from but, quite honestly, I would end up with a bit of a mess. Basically, the Walton version is the better of the two as it starts earlier in the story, and finishes later. Some small portions of the Mountain could be spliced in but it is only short sequences, some lasting a couple of seconds, which would only make the print heavily spliced. That isn't even taking into account the different musical soundtracks which would make it more obvious, or, dare I suggested it, potentially different frame lines. I will just have to keep both copies. .
-------------------- "My name is for my friends!"
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