TheLittleSongbird 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

SnoopyStyle I saw the 20 minutes version. It ends with his bulldog entering the ring biting and Charles Chaplin knocking out his opponent in Round 20. I guess it's missing the romantic ending. I can understand that. This version is strictly a slapstick movie.I like quite a lot of the slapstick. Of course, there is nothing funnier than his boxing sequence in 'City Lights' (1931). Here he's trying out several things. When he's boxing fodder, he puts a horseshoe into his glove. Then during the long boxing match, he's doing a lot of what would recognizable to most people who's seen the boxing match in 'City Lights'.

MartinHafer This is one of 5 Chaplin that are on the first DVD of Chaplin's Essanay Comedies. In general, compared to volume 2, the shorts on volume 1 aren't as well-made--because the DVDs are arranged chronologically. Chaplin's skill as a film maker and actor appeared to improve through his stay with Essanay Studios.This short is not great, but compared to the previous Essanay shorts, it is a major improvement. That's because this short is more like a mini-movie and is very plot-driven--something ALL great Chaplin shorts have in common. The final boxing sequence is funny but makes no sense--just turn off your brain and enjoy.By the way,...I like the dog in the film. Dogs like this are cool.

Snow Leopard With lots of good material, an interesting (if humorously implausible) story, and some secondary characters that are used well, "The Champion" is a very good short comedy, and is easily one of the best of Charlie Chaplin's early comedies.It begins with Charlie answering a prize-fighter's request for sparring partners, and starting from there Chaplin gets involved in some adventures that, though lacking any believability, are quite amusing. Most of the sequences make use of the secondary characters more than is usual for Chaplin's early features. Early in the story, while Charlie and the other fighters are waiting for their turn, it makes good use of the mannerisms and expressions of the others, as well as Chaplin himself. In the main fight scene, the activity in the ring is funny, creative, and well-choreographed - there are moments when it is almost as good as the celebrated boxing scene in "City Lights". That's not to say, of course, that overall this short movie approaches such a standard of greatness, but it is a well-made and entertaining little comedy.