Am a big fan of Charlie Chaplin, have been for over a decade now. Many films and shorts of his are very good to masterpiece, and like many others consider him a comedy genius and one of film's most important and influential directors.
From his Essanay period after leaving Keystone, 'A Night Out' is not one of his very best or even among the best of this particular period. It shows a noticeable step up in quality though from his Keystone period, where he was still evolving and in the infancy of his long career, from 1914, The Essanay period is something of Chaplin's adolescence period where his style had been found and starting to settle. 'The Champion' is among the best of his early work and for me it is the first great Chaplin and perhaps something of a turning point for him.
Certainly other efforts of his have more pathos and a balance of that and the comedy than 'The Champion'.
On the other hand, 'The Champion' looks pretty good, not incredible but it was obvious that Chaplin was taking more time with his work and not churning out countless shorts in the same year of very variable success like he did with Keystone. Appreciate the importance of his Keystone period and there is some good stuff he did there, but the more mature and careful quality seen here and later on is obvious here and preference.
'The Champion' is one of his funniest from the Essanay period and the first effort of his to be more than amusing. The boxing match is one of the best sequences from anything in the early part of Chaplin's career. It moves quickly and there is a more discernible and busier story to usual, even if at times it could have had more variety.
Chaplin directs more than competently, if not quite cinematic genius standard yet. He also, as usual, gives an amusing and expressive performance and at clear ease with the physicality of the role. The supporting cast acquit themselves well, with a charming Edna Purviance.
Summing up, surprisingly great. 9/10 Bethany Cox
From his Essanay period after leaving Keystone, 'A Night Out' is not one of his very best or even among the best of this particular period. It shows a noticeable step up in quality though from his Keystone period, where he was still evolving and in the infancy of his long career, from 1914, The Essanay period is something of Chaplin's adolescence period where his style had been found and starting to settle. 'The Champion' is among the best of his early work and for me it is the first great Chaplin and perhaps something of a turning point for him.
Certainly other efforts of his have more pathos and a balance of that and the comedy than 'The Champion'.
On the other hand, 'The Champion' looks pretty good, not incredible but it was obvious that Chaplin was taking more time with his work and not churning out countless shorts in the same year of very variable success like he did with Keystone. Appreciate the importance of his Keystone period and there is some good stuff he did there, but the more mature and careful quality seen here and later on is obvious here and preference.
'The Champion' is one of his funniest from the Essanay period and the first effort of his to be more than amusing. The boxing match is one of the best sequences from anything in the early part of Chaplin's career. It moves quickly and there is a more discernible and busier story to usual, even if at times it could have had more variety.
Chaplin directs more than competently, if not quite cinematic genius standard yet. He also, as usual, gives an amusing and expressive performance and at clear ease with the physicality of the role. The supporting cast acquit themselves well, with a charming Edna Purviance.
Summing up, surprisingly great. 9/10 Bethany Cox