The reissue of this film, with a musical score and new cut by Sir Charles Chaplin, was the last work of his entire film career. By then, the 87-year-old Chaplin was visibly frail but still walking. His score was aided by arranger Eric James, and he took a small theme from Monsieur Verdoux (1947), but most of the score was Chaplin's. The film was reissued posthumously in 1977 with the new score to overwhelming critical and public praise. At that time, many critics praised it (as in the trailer) as one of the best films ever made.
The first major failure in Sir Charles Chaplin's career. Many believe the film would have been a success if he taken his name off the picture altogether.
On New Year's Day 1924, Edna Purviance was at a party with oil tycoon Courtland Dines and Mabel Normand when Normand's chauffeur, "defending Mabel Normand's honor" shot Dines with a gun owned by Normand. Dines refused to testify at the trial, and the chauffeur (Horace Greer, who was an escapee from a chain gang living under an assumed name) was found not guilty. As a result of Purviance's arms-length relationship to this scandal, this film was banned in several US cities.
First of only two films Sir Charles Chaplin directed in which he did not take a starring role. The second was La comtesse de Hong-Kong (1967).
Sir Charles Chaplin conceived this film to help Edna Purviance's career independent of him. However, while the film did boost Adolphe Menjou's career considerably, it did little for hers.
Charles Chaplin: a railroad worker. He is very easy to spot. He is carrying a huge box over his head, and he is alone.