Early Chaplin: Programme 3

Chaplin plays the villain in Mabel at the Wheel, flirts with the ladies and fights the ubiquitous policeman in Twenty Minutes of Love and gets stung as a drunk in Caught in the Rain.

Featuring piano accompaniment by Neil Brand on Sat 23 Aug, and John Sweeney on Tue 26 Aug.

Chaplin plays the villain in Mabel at the Wheel, directed by Mabel Normand. He and Mabel don't seem to have got along well. Nevertheless, there is much to enjoy as Mabel stands in for her kidnapped boyfriend in a thrilling car race. After this experience Chaplin persuaded Sennett to let him try directing himself and he did it competently with Twenty Minutes of Love. Another 'park' film, Charlie flirts with the ladies and fights with Chester Conklin and the ubiquitous policeman over a stolen watch and, of course, everyone ends up in the lake.

In Caught in a Cabaret, humble waiter Charlie saves Mabel from a mugger, and is introduced to her parents as a wealthy gent. He doesn't maintain the pretence for long and is roundly abused by all. Charlie gets stung in Caught in the Rain, too. As a drunk in pursuit of another man's wife, Charlie retreats to his hotel but becomes entangled in the crossfire of nocturnal wanderings, ending up locked out on a balcony in the pouring rain.

Running time:

c95min

Certificate:

U