Where was In the Park filmed?
1915
City Locations
San Francisco: Golden Gate Park
Location Types
Unusual
Location Styles
Americana
About In the Park
Charlie Chaplin's fourth movie, released in 1915 by Essanay Films, was In the Park. It was his third film created in a park setting and starred Edna Purviance, Lloyd Bacon, Leo White and Bud Jamison. The story revolves around a tramp trying to pickpocket Charlie, but ultimately losing his cigarettes and matches instead. Then, he assists a hot dog vendor to fend off thugs before stealing sausages from Charlie who gets the handbag in exchange. The bag circulates between people until it reaches its rightful owner; an angry boyfriend who had failed to protect his girl initially subsequently attempts to end his life in despair. Thanks to Charlie's help, the situation is ultimately resolved.
A critic from Bioscope lauded Charlie Chaplin's fourth film as a farce that was "wildly funny" and "absurd," noting that he was always a pro at amusing his audiences. Restoration work on the movie was carried out at Lobster Films laboratory in 2014, before being scanned at L'Immagine Ritrovata laboratory.
Fondazione Cineteca di Bologna, Lobster Films and Film Preservation Associates graciously worked together to expertly restore In the Park (1915). This restoration used a nitrate fine grain preserved at The Museum of Modern Art along with two nitrate prints from both The Museum of Modern Art and the Cinemathèque Royale de Belgique. Intertitles have been reconstructed according to the original titling.
In the Park Locations
In the Park (1915) is a silent film starring Charlie Chaplin, and was filmed in San Francisco. The scenes for the film were shot at Golden Gate Park, one of the largest parks in San Francisco. This park provides an idyllic backdrop for the film with its lush vegetation and scenic areas. To the east, viewers can spot numerous landmarks such as the De Young Museum, California Academy of Sciences and San Francisco Botanical Garden. To the west are famous beaches and lookouts such as Ocean Beach, Fort Funston and Baker Beach.
The entire area has an interesting history from Native Americans to Spanish settlements to military posts and post-war developments that can still be seen today. A trip to visit these historic locations for In the Park (1915) would be quite worthwhile. One could explore different trails, landmarks and get a sense of what life was like during that era as well as seeing how it has evolved over time. Additionally, there are plenty of activities available including camping, surfing, bird watching and even hang-gliding or paragliding if one feels daring enough! Not to mention, this region is known for its incredible natural beauty with views of dramatic cliffs towering above the Pacific Ocean which make it an ideal spot for sightseeing or simply strolling along its many paths connecting visitors to places both old and new.
Loving pair sitting on the bench scene in In the Park
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA
Two couples were having romantic moments on two separate benches. The thief attempted to steal one girl's handbag, but failed when Chaplin foiled his plan for a second time. In a remarkable display of dexterity, Chaplin rescued the hot dog vendor from an intimidating thug and deftly nabbed a few sausages with his cane.
Golden Gate Park is a spectacular and beloved natural escape in the heart of San Francisco, bursting with diverse wildlife, vast green open spaces, and plenty of interesting places to explore. This urban oasis boasts a rich cultural heritage and is home to numerous attractions from picturesque gardens to winding trails perfect for outdoor activities. Whether you’re looking for an afternoon picnic or a full day hike, Golden Gate Park has something for everyone.
Getting to San Francisco's Golden Gate Park is as easy as deciding which mode of transportation to use. For those in the area, driving or taking public transit are both popular methods. Those brave enough can even tackle the hilly terrain by bike. For public transit riders, hop onto either Muni lines 1, 4 and 28 or L tarckas 31 and 33 to get within walking distance of the western entrance. Bikers may find that renting one is more convenient than bringing their own along thanks to rental switch stands throughout San Francisco and the West Coast.
Conclusion
Chaplin got into trouble when he showed too much interest in a couple enjoying a romantic moment on the park bench. He fled and was knocked over by an outstretched tree limb, landing in a baby buggy, where he received a beating from the nursemaid. Chaplin then ran into the thief who had stolen the girl's pocketbook, and while the tramp tried to steal some bologna sausage from him, Chaplin snatched back her purse with his cane. A giant arrived on the scene and set off a fight for the treasures. Bricks were thrown about, leaving both giant and tramp unconscious along with the two "spooners."
When they awoke, the girl noticed her pocketbook gone and blamed her sweetheart. Heartbroken, he decided to commit suicide by jumping in the river - but lacked courage to do so. That's when Chaplin stepped in, taking his watch and money before helping him carry out his wish by kicking him into the river. The remaining group soon found a policeman and gave chase down to waterside. While attempting to arrest Chaplin, an intense battle erupted—ending with Chaplin throwing them all into the water.
While not a lot is known about the filming locations of In the Park, a trip to Golden Gate Park may allow you to recreate some of the famous Charlie Chaplin antics!