A tough criminal gets in to an argument in a dancehall which
escalates into a fight. When the criminal is shot he is aided by a mysterious
woman and recovers. Once he recovers he burgles a house but gets a surprise
which puts an end to his criminal path.
This is a bit of an oddity amongst my Charlie Chaplin –
Essanay box set in that it isn’t a Chaplin film at all. Instead Chaplin has a
credit as ‘slightly assisted by’ and has a very brief cameo in front of the
camera too. The film was actually directed, written and starred in by Chaplin’s
boss and co-head of Essanay Gilbert M. Anderson (Broncho Billy).
For a Charlie Chaplin fan this is one to ignore as Chaplin
is on screen for all of thirty seconds. He tries to push his way to the front
of a queue, is sent back and then gets pushed around when people start dancing.
The film itself is forgettable and features a confusing and slightly dull
storyline. Its saving grace though is its acting which feels remarkably real
and natural compared to Chaplin’s regular cast. It is this that saves it from
the depths of being a one star movie.
3/10
