Charlot vagabond

This is the short feature in which Chaplin introduced his famous "Tramp" character, and it would be worth watching for that alone. The character is pretty well-defined, and is already recognizable as the one who would appear in many later films. The movie itself is pretty good, although not one of Chaplin's best, and it features the kinds of material that Chaplin would soon afterward learn to film as well as anyone of his time.

The story takes "The Tramp" through a series of events, from his desperate efforts to scratch up some food, to finding a sympathetic family, to facing up to his lot in life. It has some good comic moments, a little bit of excitement, and also some worthwhile thoughtful moments, just as in all of Chaplin's best movies. Here, the main thing keeping it from being better is that the best material is interspersed with some more routine sequences.

On the whole, there's certainly enough to make it worth watching in itself, and it is also one that all Chaplin fans will want to see so that they can watch the origins of Charlie's trademark role.

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.

This film is pretty typical of the earlier incarnation of The Little Tramp character. Charlie is a hobo and is drawn to helping a lady who is being harassed by bad hobos intent on stealing her money. At first, Charlie is somewhat inclined to do the same thing (something the earlier Tramp shorts might have had Charlie doing and something the later version never would have even thought of doing). But very quickly he realizes this is wrong and devotes much of the movie helping her. The Tramp thinks that the girl is in love with him so he sticks around even after the evil hobos have departed. However, eventually he discovers she actually has a boyfriend and so he excuses himself from her life--leaving a note to that effect. In effect, this script is an early version of Chaplin's full-length film, THE CIRCUS--where Charlie again is in love with a young lady who he helps from danger but he eventually walks away when he realizes she loves another. Nice stuff and a good introduction to this character.

'The Tramp' is Charles Chaplin's first great cinematic achievement. Not only because here we see The Little Tramp first time in the way the audiences love him now but it is a very well put together movie overall. The story is great and the setting up of the scenes is good. While watching Chaplin's works (almost) chronologically it is good to see how he progresses - leaving the rough slapstick out and concentrating more on the storytelling and the subtlety of the visual gags. One can say that 'The Tramp' is a milestone in Charles Chaplin's career.

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