Not what I expected from Chaplin - mainly because it's not a "Little Tramp" film. The version on the Internet Archive is pretty watchable even if there are some weird artefacts from time to time. Obviously, there's no sound but if you can overlook that, and fancy an insight into Chaplin's early career - this is basically a film version of a show he did with Fred Karno in England - it's well worth a look. And still pretty funny, too, despite being 98 years old :)
Shout by drqshadowBlockedParent2020-06-02T17:19:58Z
Dual roles in a single setting for Charlie Chaplin, who invades an inept theatrical performance as both a snooty, sneering front-row aristocrat and a woefully drunken hobo up in the balcony. Neither has much interest in the show, what with the search for a fitting seat and/or a roaring good time, but it doesn't look like they're missing much. The rest of the house is far more entertained by the clumsy interruptions of their fellow spectators than the main act, and the whole scene quickly flies way off the handle. Despite playing multiple parts, Chaplin actually saves a fair amount of screen time for his support acts: a bumbling orchestra section, a food-toting man child, a nervous singing duo and many more bite-sized bits. The gags never let up, not even for a second, with several laughs greatly enhanced by the rapid film speed. Not a lot of story to go around, but plenty of material, if that makes sense.