The Kid

1921 "6 reels of Joy."
The Kid
8.2| 1h8m| NR| en| More Info
Released: 21 January 1921 Released
Producted By: Charles Chaplin Productions
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
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Synopsis

A tramp cares for a boy after he's abandoned as a newborn by his mother. Later the mother has a change of heart and aches to be reunited with her son.

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Charles Chaplin Productions

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framptonhollis Today, Charlie Chaplin is known primarily and exclusively for his silent, slapstick humor, but one mustn't forget that he was also a master at tearjerking drama. The Kid is perhaps the finest example of the classic comedy master's ability to tug at our heartstrings. The Kid is a film that is only about sixty minutes in length, and yet it has far more dramatic impact than most films that are twice as long! Although I seem to only be acknowledging the film's more emotional qualities, there is also no doubting that The Kid is also an extremely funny movie, possibly even among the funniest films ever made. Even within this tale of melancholy, Chaplin is able to inject some of his most clever and creative slapstick routines. With the help of child co star Jackie Coogan, Chaplin is able to get laughs that will please almost anyone's sense of humor, from the infantile to the elderly. Jack Coogan in particular has surprisingly solid comedic ability and timing, despite his obvious young age. The image of Chaplin picking up Coogan by his overalls as Coogan is in the midst of a fight is just precious, because of Coogan's reluctance to stop fighting. Instead of calming down and succumbing to his father's orders, he wiggles around vigorously, throwing out useless punches and kicks. Chaplin's ability to fairly balance extreme emotions is the stuff of cinematic legend. As the famous title card so accurately describes: The Kid is "A picture with a smile-and perhaps, a tear."
Anssi Vartiainen One of the earliest feature-length Charlie Chaplin films. Once again his famous character, The Tramp, has to deal with the ever changing and ever challenging world while still retaining good humour and a stiff upper lip about it. This time he faces the most heinous of challenges: parenthood!The film is rather similar to so many other Chaplin classics. Because let's face it, they're all the same. Tramp does something funny, Tramp faces a challenge, rinse and repeat as needed, a happy ending. The central conflict always changes, but the general structure remains the same. That being said, there are several good things going for this film. I really like Jackie Coogan as the eponymous kid, for example. The boy has charisma and it tickles my fancy that years later he ended up playing Uncle Fester in the original Addams family TV series. You can sort of see it even here.It's also notable that most of the humour segments serve the story. This is quite often not the case with Chaplin films, or with silent era comedies in general. There is one segment near the end that's purely there just for slapstick and funny situations, but for the most part all the humour also drives the plot forward. Which I really like.Not the best Chaplin film I've seen, but easily in the Top 5.
sol- Taking care of an abandoned baby changes the life of a tramp in this iconic silent comedy. The film has a place in cinema history as Charles Chaplin's first feature length film, but it is even more noteworthy as a rare comedy in which Chaplin does not dominate every scene with Jackie Coogan turning in a fine performance as the boy at age five. In addition to having great chemistry with Chaplin, Coogan has several authentic emotional moments that ring true as he cries and wails when well-meaning authorities try to separate him from his adoptive father. The film has quite a solid dramatic backbone too with Chaplin's tramp gradually coming to truly love the baby who he initially tried to pass on to someone else. That said, 'The Kid' is also an inventive and funny film with some great routines in which the two protagonists scurry about and confuse those chasing after them. In fact, were it not for a rushed, unrealistic ending and an overlong, out-of-place dream sequence, a good case could be made for this being Chaplin's finest film. Flawed as it may be though, it is easy to see why the film has won the hearts of many over the years and has become a sentimental favourite for lots of viewers.
shiner310 What can be said about Chaplin that hasn't been said before. He truly helped invent the art of cinema. I always remember a film teacher of mine telling me that sound came too quickly - that silent films were just coming into their own and that the rush to include sound prevented silent films from reaching their full potential. For those who say they don't like silents - then you can't say you love film. That said and done, THE KID does the near impossible. It has you laughing one minute and crying the next. But the emotions elicited by this film are real. There's no manipulation here. That's the sign of a true genius.