Behind the Screen (1916)

In the heart of the glimmering movie industry, a hopeful actress, Edna, seeks her chance at stardom, only to face immediate dismissal from a preoccupied director. Concurrently, three films are being shot under the same roof, leading to a whirlwind of chaos. At the centre of it all, Charlie, an overly zealous stagehand, sweats and toils amidst the bedlam, while his lazy foreman lounges, expecting to be served on a silver platter. Despite the foreman's indolence, Charlie's fervor often leads to spectacular disasters, resulting in the obliteration of multiple stage sets. As the tension escalates, the overworked shifters, save for the relentless Charlie, decide to strike, leaving the studio in turmoil. Amidst this chaos, a mysterious young man steps forward, offering an unexpected lifeline to our beleaguered protagonist. However, all is not as it seems. The young man turns out to be Edna in disguise, her determination leading her to unconventional methods to infiltrate the film industry. As Charlie unearths her true identity, a spark ignites between them, leading to a delightful romance. Yet, their relationship is misunderstood by the bullying foreman, leading to a hilarious misunderstanding and an ensuing battle that propels them into a riotous pie-throwing scene from one of the films in production. As the narrative unfolds, the disgruntled workers' patience wears thin, and they decide to take extreme measures. What follows is a dramatic climax that threatens to tear the very fabric of the tumultuous film studio. In the end, "Behind the Screen" promises an enchanting blend of love, comedy, and chaos, a captivating journey through the golden age of cinema that will leave audiences thoroughly entertained.

Behind the Screen is a comedy movie featuring Charlie Chaplin.

Behind the Screen is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Cineverse, Kanopy and The Film Detective and it's also available on realeyz.