I'm surprised there's nothing in the trivia or on the board about this. How was that stunt done? Was I missing some trick effect, or was he on a safety wire or what? How could he skate so close to the edge like that? I mean, Chaplin was great at a lot of things, but that would still be a hell of a risk.
shareChaplin wasn't taking a risk. The floor below was what they call a "glass shot" and the blindfold was made out of a mesh material so that he could see through it.
shareThank you. I knew it couldn't be all that dangerous or crazy, but I wanted to find out more about it.
shareThanks for sharing this info.
This scene was really marvelously executed. I was very surprised at the ease and finesse of his skating. I was so sure Chaplin used a double, until the end of the scene in which it was clear it was actually him (or was it?)
Prog.
I think CHaplin did all his own stunts...in all the movies I've seen of him, there've been no *obvious* stunt doubles.
Canis or Equus?
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Yes, it is one of my favorites. I think the actual shock of the Modern Times skating scene is that not only is he skating, and skating very well, but he's doing it BACKWARDS and BLINDFOLDED next to what appears to be a gaping hole in the middle of the floor. Now THAT is talent I don't see duplicated much today.
Canis or Equus?
Most likely the BACKWARDS action was done with the footage reversed, so I don't think it was THAT challenging..
shareChaplin was forced to learn to skate on the spot for a Karno sketch taking place at a rollerrink. Chaplin quickly mastered the skill and re-created part of the Karno sketch as material in his THE RINK (1916).
Matt
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simply outstanding stuff - one of the best bits in the entire movie
"I talk to god but the sky is empty"
SP
The effect is explained here:
http://gfycat.com/ObviousEuphoricHadrosaurus