The Count

• Director: Charles Chaplin
• AMG Rating:
• Genre: Comedy
• Movie Type: Satire, Farce
• Themes: Mistaken Identities, Class Differences
• Release Year: 1916
• Country: US
• Run Time: 2rl minutes

Plot

The Count, filmed during Charlie Chaplin's 1916-17 Mutual period, is a rowdy throwback to his Keystone days. Chaplin plays the assistant to bombastic clothes-presser Eric Campbell. While dallying with the cook at the Moneybags Mansion, Charlie spots Eric, posing as Count Broko. Eric tries to hide his subterfuge by introducing Charlie as his secretary. In this guise, Charlie is invited to a formal dinner dance presided over by lovely socialite Edna Purviance. When the real Count Broko (Leo White) shows up, chaos reigns supreme. The Count was the fifth of Chaplin's "golden dozen" Mutual two-reelers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Cast

Henry Bergman; Eric Campbell - Tailor; Charles Chaplin - Tailor's Apprentice; Charlotte Mineau - Mrs Moneybags; Edna Purviance - Miss Moneybags, Heiress; John Rand - Guest; Eva Thatcher - Cook; Loyal Underwood - Small Guest; Leo White - Count; Albert Austin - Guest; Frank J. Coleman - Policeman and Guest; James T. Kelly - Butler

Credit

Charles Chaplin - Director, Roland H. "Rollie" Totheroh - Cinematographer, Charles Chaplin - Producer

• Formed: 1971
• Disbanded: 1976
• Genres: Rhythm & Blues
• Representative Albums: "It's What's in the Groove", "Golden Classics
• Representative Songs: "Tecalli", "Dedicated Man", "I'm the Music

Biography

In the early '70s, the boundaries of black pop became more fluid. Soul and funk could intermingle with jazz, hard rock, psychedelia, and singer/songwriting. The Counts were not one of the more exceptional outfits that brewed these influences together; for one thing, they never stuck to any one mixture long enough for listeners to get a handle on the group. They were, however, emblematic of the currents sweeping through R&B at the time, even if they were hardly as innovative as, say, Funkadelic, or Marvin Gaye in his What's Going On period. Offering both vocal and instrumental tracks, the group could lay down loping, jazzy instrumental grooves heavy on the sax and organ. In a heartbeat, they could switch gears into spacy novelties like "Flies Over Watermelon!" and "The Munchies." In between there were some sweet soul ballads, and even a sop to the mainstream with a cover of Carole King's "Jazzman."

Originally a Detroit-based sextet, the Counts' first LP was an instrumental outing on Cotillion, with noted Michigan producer Ollie McLaughlin taking the co-writing credits on all of the songs. A few years later, the group moved to Atlanta, paring down to a quartet by the time they recorded the Love Sign album for the Aware label in 1973. An expanded lineup recorded the Funk Pump album for the same company in 1975; the two Aware albums formed the basis for CD reissues of the Counts' work in the mid-'90s, when their brand of soul-funk-jazz was becoming hip again. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

It's What's in the Groove Buy this CD

Golden Classics Buy this CD

What's Up Front That Counts Buy this CD

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