1921 Directed by Charlie Chaplin
Considered one of Charlie Chaplin's best films, The Kid also made a star of little Jackie Coogan, who plays a boy cared for by The Tramp when he's abandoned by his mother, Edna. Later, Edna has a change of heart and aches to be reunited with her son. When she finds him and wrests him from The Tramp, it makes for what turns out be one of the most heart-wrenching scenes ever included in a comedy.
Charlie Chaplin Jackie Coogan Edna Purviance Albert Austin Beulah Bains Carl Miller Henry Bergman Kitty Bradbury Nellie Bly Baker F. Blinn Frances Cochran Frank Campeau Bliss Chevalier Elsie Codd Jack Coogan Sr. Estelle Cook Dan Dillon Philip D'Oench Lillian Crane Robert Dunbar Edward Biby Sadie Gordon Lita Grey Jules Hanft Kathleen Kay Raymond Lee Clyde McAtee John McKinnon Lew Parker Show All…
A Tramp and Uncle Fester share a special bond in this timeless classic from Charlie Chaplin. Burned photograph. Crying babies scare gangstas. Pimpin' cigarette box. The way Charlie Chaplin tips his hat. Umbrella beatdown. The letter. Bootleg baby bottle. Street hustling like a boss. Rocks break windows. Charlie's giggle. The little kid runs faster than a jaguar. Smooth lobby boy. Charlie Chaplin's mustache is crooked. Booger picker. I'm still cracking the fuck up because the little kid grew up to be Uncle Fester from the Addams Family. Bully beatdown. The even bigger badder bully's muscles. Brick knockout. Ass kick. Quack doctor. The way Charlie Chaplin pushes a motherfucker. The kid is crying and I want to cry. Such passion. Such…
Charlie Chaplin's first feature-length theatrical is one of the greatest achievements of silent era of filmmaking that paints one of the most heartfelt portrait of father-son relationship on the silver screen, presents the gifted talent at the prime of his creativity, and despite being nearly a century old classic, can still put most comedies of today to shame.
A comedy with a smile & perhaps a tear, The Kid tells the story of a tramp who after coming across an abandoned baby takes him under his care after which the film jumps five years in the span of which the grown child now works as his father's sidekick, helping his glazing business by breaking windows around the town. But an unfortunate…
Insert Here: Standard opening about how I don't deal well with silent films and how impressive it is that my fascination with Chaplin's comedies continues. These films are a great access point for audiences looking to broaden their horizons beyond sound film.
The Kid is easily the most melodramatic of Charlie Chaplin's work. This isn't particularly strange since despite their roots in slapstick comedy, Chaplin's films have always had a deeper side grounded in sympathetic emotionalism. But The Kid has a sad side which is darker than most.
It opens with a young mother abandoning her newborn baby played over a melancholic string arrangement that will make your heart wrench before you even know what's happening. The Tramp takes the…
Film #1 of Project 20
”A film of small smiles... and perhaps a tear."
The Kid is so beautiful, fresh, goodhearted, comically rich and emotionally striking that it’s hard to believe it’s 93 years old. Charlie Chaplin designs a very simple yet incredibly joyous film about love, emotional attachments and small glories of life which never stops amusing its viewers, the child actor, Jackie Coogan – who later became involved in a lawsuit trying to retain his earnings from his parents which resulted in Coogan Act or Child Actor’s Bill – gives an unbelievably fascinating performance and it’s fair to say that sometimes he even steals the show from Chaplin himself. The score is written by Chaplin himself, it is…
"A comedy with a smile--and perhaps a tear"
Charlie Chaplin's first self-produced feature film, The Kid, is a tender and sweet tale that once again manages to balance those emotional moments with a great amount of slapstick comedy. The master of pantomime surprised me here by taking a step out of the spotlight and letting it shine on the young newcomer, Jackie Coogan, who steals every scene he is in. Coogan is extremely cute and he held his own next to Chaplin in the comedic department as well. As the title suggests, the main character in this film is the kid who has given the character of the tramp something to live and fight for. The scene that stands out…
Chaplin was an absolute genius and he’s by far one of my favorite directors of all time. The scenarios crafted in all of his films are incredibly well-written and thought out. He hasn’t disappointed me yet.
i didn't plan it, but this was actually a really great film to watch on father's day (also that kid is so cute lol)
I finally got around to watching this movie and I am super glad I did. Such a simple story but it’s told and delivered perfectly. The comedic and dramatic elements both work flawlessly. I’m so surprised that the end sequence was included, but also very happy that it was because it adds another layer to the story in my honest opinion.
Enjoyed it a lot but it ended suddenly. Apparently Chaplin cut 15 mins of footage for the 1972 re-release which has essentially become the "official" version. I wouldn't mind watching the original cut if it's out there somewhere. The score, which was composed for the re-release, is great though.
Easy to follow, creative, affordable, written, directed, produced, and composed by Chaplin who stars in it? How is this not a perfect 5 from everyone?
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