Having ended his contract with the Mutual Film Corporation
amicably, Charlie Chaplin signed the world’s first One Million Dollar movie
contract in June 1918. This contract gave him total control over production for
a return of eight films. Chaplin decided to build a new studio off Sunset
Boulevard in Los Angeles.
The famous Chaplin Studios were
designed in the style of English country cottages and contained everything
Chaplin would need to develop, film and cut his movies. Chaplin eventually sold
the studios in 1953 and they are now owned by Jim Henson Company.
Chaplin began work on his first film for First National in
early 1918 and A Dog’s Life was
released in April. Over the next four years Chaplin shot eight films at his new
studio for First National during one of the most turbulent times of his career.
In September 1918 he married the seventeen year old actress Mildred Harris in
what was and still is a highly controversial marriage. Harris lied to Chaplin
about being pregnant and the marriage ended in a messy divorce in 1920. During
the same period the star became frustrated with First National’s impatience and
lack of concern for quality and in 1919, while still under contract with First
National created United Artists with fellow actors and directors Mary Pickford,
Douglas Fairbanks and D. W. Griffith. The venture which was self funded and
offered the Hollywood
stars the chance to work freely and independently although Chaplin himself
didn’t make a film with the company until 1922 as he was still under contract
with First National. 