Once again as the loveable tramp, Chaplin again plays the part of the working man, which is particularly amusingly clarified in the opening scene. Charlie walks up to a huge vault door, twists knobs to open the combination locks, and after getting through several doors, he enters the impressive vault and comes out with a mop and bucket.
The simple story in this film is overshadowed by the hilarious slapstick comedy, such as the commonplace, fast paced fight scenes. In one scene, Charlie actually hands a guy his coat and hat to hold and then he gives him one of his characteristic punches, sending him rolling over backwards. There is another noteworthy scene in which one guy is looking at himself in a mirror, combing his hair and whatnot, and Charlie uproariously mocks him for prettying himself up like that.
(spoilers) While the slapstick comedy is probably the best element of this film, there is also a well-done love story presented that foreshadows that seen in the great City Lights. There is very good emotion in the scene where Edna, Charlie's love interest, tears up his love letter. The Bank is an example of Charlie's tendency to really keep you guessing, because although he almost always plays the protagonist, his films don't always end in his favor (the same is true for Caught In A Cabaret, another of his early short comedies). Ultimately, Charlie ends up getting the girl and saving the day, but then it turns out that it was all a dream, and he is alone. It's a good thing that he did this, too, because one of the things that made his tremendous amount of early short films remain interesting was that he mixed things around like that. And The Bank is among the best of those early films.
The simple story in this film is overshadowed by the hilarious slapstick comedy, such as the commonplace, fast paced fight scenes. In one scene, Charlie actually hands a guy his coat and hat to hold and then he gives him one of his characteristic punches, sending him rolling over backwards. There is another noteworthy scene in which one guy is looking at himself in a mirror, combing his hair and whatnot, and Charlie uproariously mocks him for prettying himself up like that.
(spoilers) While the slapstick comedy is probably the best element of this film, there is also a well-done love story presented that foreshadows that seen in the great City Lights. There is very good emotion in the scene where Edna, Charlie's love interest, tears up his love letter. The Bank is an example of Charlie's tendency to really keep you guessing, because although he almost always plays the protagonist, his films don't always end in his favor (the same is true for Caught In A Cabaret, another of his early short comedies). Ultimately, Charlie ends up getting the girl and saving the day, but then it turns out that it was all a dream, and he is alone. It's a good thing that he did this, too, because one of the things that made his tremendous amount of early short films remain interesting was that he mixed things around like that. And The Bank is among the best of those early films.