The Tramp

Charlie Chaplin's The Tramp will appear in his movies for the next 25 years as America's favorite movie star. More than just a comical character. Chaplin creates his own world, but reacts to events. He belongs to the 19th century in his ideas. But in the early 20th century, in his films, he plays the little man against the malevolent odds. The outsider fighting oppressive villains. He was the comedy of expression, specializing in minute perfection and precision. He alternated comedy and evoked pity and compassion.

The Tramp symbolized a certain class in early 20th century society.

Of course, Chaplin's early career is over-flowing with famous short comedies, but The Tramp is probably one of the most well-known of the early two-reelers, especially since it is one of the most direct studies of the famous character after whom the film is named. A lot of the Keystone and Essanay films have dated pretty badly, and The Tramp is no exception. Many people may find a lot of the plot confusing or pointless, just random slapstick comedy, although I have a feeling that some of it was not meant to be much more than that.

It starts out with the tramp wandering down a dusty road, soon knocked over by the gusts of wind created by two speeding cars, only to pick himself up and dusts his wildly over-sized pants off with the handy little brush that he carries with him, apparently for just such an occasion. There are some clever an amusing sight gags involving things like a pitchfork and huge bags of flour and lot of mallets to the head, but not much in the slapstick department that is entirely memorable.

What the film is more famous for is certain elements of the tramp's personality that we learn here, such as his efforts to be proper and presentable despite being broke and wearing pants big enough for two or three of him, along with a jacket that's too small. We also see him protecting a young woman from the bullies of several oafish men, each of whom could easily have brained the little fellow (as Chaplin later lovingly called him), except that he is too smart for them.

The film is most memorable for the closing shot, however. Things don't go as planned, we are not given a happily ever after ending, and the movie closes with the tramp again wandering alone down a dusty road, at first seemingly depressed, until after a second or two, he perks up and all but dances down the road. He didn't get what he wanted and he's still poor and lonely, but he faces his life with a smile and seems like he's off to make the best of it. In a lot of ways, that sums up one of the recurring themes that Chaplin espoused throughout his lengthy career.

Smile.

Charlie Chaplin's The Tramp will appear in his movies for the next 25 years as America's favorite movie star. More than just a comical character. Chaplin creates his own world, but reacts to events. He belongs to the 19th century in his ideas. But in the early 20th century, in his films, he plays the little man against the malevolent odds. The outsider fighting oppressive villains. He was the comedy of expression, specializing in minute perfection and precision. He alternated comedy and evoked pity and compassion.

The Tramp symbolized a certain class in early 20th century society.

I am very fond of Charlie Chaplin, his films and shorts. And I do love The Tramp. I don't consider it the very best of his shorts, but I do understand its importance and significance, being the short to introduce the iconic character The Tramp. I quite like the comedy in the Tramp. While it is not among the most special or funniest of all the comedy in Chaplin's biography, there are some inspired gags especially the ones with the pitchfork and the bags of flour, not to mentions the bashings on the head with the mallet. The Tramp has a lovely and touching comical-love story and moves along quickly. Some might say that the short may have dated slightly, maybe so though if so I think it is part of the charm, but the photography is very nice with a beautiful and perhaps iconic closing shot and the short is very well-edited. Speaking of the ending, it is one of genuine pathos. Edna Purviance is a cute, sweet and charming love interest, but the real jewel in the crown is the performance of Chaplin who down from his appearance to his mannerisms is excellent as the tramp. All in all, maybe not among the best of Chaplin's efforts but still wonderful and a milestone as well. 9/10 Bethany Cox

A two-reel Charlie Chaplin release, with the famous comic hero a "Knight of the Road" and again rescuing a beauty in distress with the aid of his trusty brick, this latest addition to the Chaplin series is a laugh-getter of the first rank. Nearly all of the situations and bits of business are clean, honest fun, and the few seconds of vulgarity which Mr. Chaplin permits himself should be cut from the film. - The Moving Picture World, May 1, 1915