That Springtime Feeling

This movie starred Charlie Chaplin's half-brother, Syd--a popular stage comedian who never gained the notoriety as his famous younger sibling. However, had the film been made just a bit earlier, then it probably would have starred Charlie, as he was very popular at Keystone Studios in 1914 and often played mashers in the park--essentially the same type character Syd played in this film. In 1915 Charlie left to go to Essenay and a couple years later Mutual Studios before finally branching out on his own, so Keystone tried a variety of actors in films that were originally slated for Charlie. While I know many will think I am a moron for saying this, but substituting others for Chaplin wasn't that big a deal as the sweet Little Tramp character really wasn't firmly established in his Keystone films.

In this film, Syd plays a masher and a cop responds by bonking him on the head. Then, Syd bonks the cop and vice-versa and this goes on for some time. There really isn't much plot and had this been made just a few years later, I probably would have scored it lower--but for 1915 this was a typical comedy! Pretty sad, huh?

One of the Keystone comedies that has special laugh-getting qualities. It has plenty of strenuous action, and abounds with good situations. Syd Chaplin is the funny man, supported by various other funny people. - The Moving Picture World, March 13, 1915