Charlie Chaplin Carnival #2

We are going to start our second look at Chaplin's work with an early Keystone short from 1914. This film was directed by Mabel Normand (one of the forgotten greats of silent comedy). Chaplin and her did not see eye to eye on comedy. Mabel and Charlie's arguments got so heated that Mack Sennet (Boss at Keystone) considered firing Chaplin. However Sennet got messages asking for more Chaplin shorts, so he couldn't fire Charlie. He instead tried to patch thing up between director and actor. It worked and the film turned out to be a quite enjoyable one. However, in hindsight, you can see where this film differs for Chaplin's sense of comedy. The character he plays here makes it seem like Charlie is doing an imitation of Ford Sterling (leader of the Keystone Kops). The next film with Chaplin would be "Twenty Minutes of Love", which would mark the first time Charlie would direct himself. So from 1914, here is "Mabel At The Wheel".

Before his film career Charlie Chaplin was a part of the Karno Company (Along with Stan Laurel), an English comedy group that performed on stage. One of their most popular skits was called Mumming Birds. In 1915 Chaplin starred in, wrote and directed a film version of this skit, entitled "A Night in the Show", and here it is.

Last for this look at Chaplin is the film that he considered his best short. This is also his last short film (The Pilgrim is technically a feature). While it is hard to say whether or not this is his best short (Some of his other shorts are just too good to say that for sure). This is also a completely comedic film with no drama. While this may seem normal for comedy films, Chaplin was at this time excelling in combining comedy and drama, so it is a bit strange that he would make this film at this time. However funny is funny regardless of drama, and this is a really funny film. So from 1922, and directed by Chaplin himself, here is Pay Day.

-Michael J. Ruhland