Linda is an American researcher who is making fascinating discoveries on Edna Purviance (Chaplin's leading lady 1915-1923, see the amazing ednapurviance.org) and we added a few more little bits thanks to the collection (white gloves donned), which I have been wanting to see since the days of my now defunct ChaplinUK website and its Edna section.
The festival itself was wonderful. We met up with some old Chaplin Society friends including Dominique (and Emeline) from the south of France, and Dave Johnson who runs Famous Flying Films (check out The Koala Brothers on Wednesday mornings, BBC2), as well as Peter Jewell of the Bill Douglas Centre. The festival itself consisted of short discussions with Paul Merton, Carl Davis and Kevin Brownlow and the film showings, of course, all accompanied live by the London Philharmonic Orchestra and conducted by Carl Davis - 'City Lights', 'The Circus' and 'The Kid', with the shorts - 'The Cure', 'The Adventurer' and 'The Immigrant', as well as rare screenings of 'How To Make Movies' and 'Kid Auto Races'. The Festival Hall was packed every night with everyone in stitches, absolutely the best way to see Charlie Chaplin.
Charlie and Edna in The Immigrant (1917)
