1917. Wow. That's a long time ago ! Can't believe it's more than a century old, now.If you're familiar with Chaplin films, then this can be summarized by saying it's got all the typical charm and ridiculous comedic gymnastics and twists he and only he could bring to the big screen: that ability to keep a plot relevant and alive while focusing on filling up vacant scenes with hilarity and potent entertainment; producing something out of nothing put bluntly; while instilling a very subtle sense of humanity and genuine goodness all at the same time. The entire restaurant scene is exactly that: there's basically nothing going on, or little, and yet it's a scene that is undoubtedly memorable."The tramp" persona was well established at the start already it seems, as Chaplin's classic leitmotiv is the crux of the story here: a man miserable financially but with seemingly bottomless affection and enormous emotional wealth. 7.5./10.

way to America. a generous subject. and perfect occasion to give it a lot of nuances. story of love, many gags, it is beginning of Chaplin in cinema world and, in same measure, short synthesis of his work. because each of future elements of his creation is present here. social question, the usual characters, the Charlot mark, the poor young woman and generous hero, the innocence and brutal force, nice gestures and forms of humor, lovely end.it is not a basis or a recipes. only a vision about life.not complicated, not unusual. like a parable, it is only window to reality heart. and good element for reflection about magic of film and the waves of history.

Chaplin had just gained release from Essanay and had control over this production. It resulted in one of his most subtle and funny short films, with much less of the pointless slapstick of his earlier, less shaped work. There are really one two scenes. Chaplin's tramp is on a ship bringing immigrants to America and meets Edna Purviance, his real-life main squeeze. Next, Chaplin, with no money to speak of, finds himself in a restaurant facing the mean, monumentally gigantic form of waiter Eric Campbell.Well, Chaplin does a marvelous job with difficult material. I mean, the material must be difficult when the humor (and sentiment) has to depend on action without any dialog -- and without simple-minded pratfalls.There is a sequence involving a coin that's been dropped on the floor that's as carefully choreographed as any dance involving Gene Kelly and Debby Reynolds in "Singin' In The Rain." So many people claim that Charlie Chaplin was a genius that I can almost believe it. But I wouldn't go that far. I'd just say he's very talented.

The Immigrant (1917)A Sweet Summation of What Chaplin Was--and IsThis short Charlie Chaplin feature, just under half an hour, is easy to love and still modern in its greater sensibility. It plays with familiar attitudes--winning money then having to give it all away, or just boy meets girl--and it keeps them fresh, even now, almost a century later. Chaplin shows off physical comedy with compactness on the boat--the rocking back and forth is just short of frenetic at times, though we never quite get dizzy (at least not on the small screen), I think because his movements counteract the boat's so elegantly. It's no secret what he's doing, and I think that is part of his charm. We can imagine a friend doing the same in a moment of inspiration, no tricks, just comic ballet.Once the poor immigrants are set up as not quite destitute (despite the dying mother), and we pass time just as much as they do, there is the shot of the Statue of Liberty passing, and even Chaplin, himself an immigrant, stops his action and watches. This is as the U.S. is about to enter WWI, immigrants are flooding in, and patriotism is expected. The ending is also classic Chaplin--it shows his big heart, his humble intentions, and his winning charm. He gets the girl (with a little physical assistance in the name of comedy, but she's laughing). A terrific capsule of what the man's comedy is about. And the existing transfer to video is clear, with just a few missing frames evident at the start.