Sounds of Silents

Setting up Essanay Studios in Chicago, founders George K. Spoor and "Broncho Billy" Anderson at first have a difficult time finding actors willing to be seen in movies, considered "intellectually inferior" to vaudeville

However, film becomes a force. Essanay lures Charlie Chaplin away from Mack Sennett

Chaplin's slapstick, daring and innovation create a new character called The Tramp

His films are a huge success and Essanay attains new heights of popularity

But with success come problems, including jealousies from original Essanay actors left behind in the throes of "Chaplinitis"

A rift forms between Spoor and Anderson which grows more serious when it is found out that Chaplin is looking to get out of his contract

The climactic finale finds Anderson, Spoor and Chaplin revealing brutal truths which break apart the world-famous Essanay Studios

Cast of 11 characters with 2 actors doubling