Charlie Chaplin’s first film for Mutual is set in a
department store. The store manager (Eric Campbell) and his assistant (Lloyd
Bacon) are trying to embezzle money from the store when a tramp (Charlie
Chaplin) enters. The tramp bears a striking resemblance to the assistant
manager and after getting caught up in his usual trouble, the two men decide to
swap clothes to avoid being caught by those who are chasing them. With the bag
of loot changing hands and an escalator both aiding and hindering their escape,
the two men attempt to get away with the shop’s takings.
Since its release close to one hundred years ago The Floorwalker has gained fame as being
the first film in history to introduce two popular and successful comedic
‘moves’. Charlie Chaplin introduced the escalator to audiences here and also
created the now much copied mirror effect whereby two characters mimic each
others moves as thought they are a mirror image of each other.
