Chaplin's Essanay Comedies Vol. 2 - Classic Silent Film Collection | Perfect for Movie Enthusiasts & Film History Buffs

Charlie Chaplin's progession as artist was very gradual, as it took thought & reflection on his part to create lasting film works such as the ones at Essanay. His early masterpieces at Essanay, Mutual & First National took the basic forms of slapstick, situation & sentiment, and refined screen comedy into an artform that soon became his classic feature films. But let's back up; this collection is about his days at Essanay."The Tramp" may be his first brush with pathos. Infatuated with a lovely country girl, this is first about The Tramp's escapades working on the farm, then getting his loyalties tested when other tramps want to steal her & her father's money. The film ends with heartbreak as The Tramp discovers the girl already has a beau. The short closes with an iconic shot of The Tramp shuffling down the road to his next adventure. "By The Sea" demonstrates Chaplin's talent for taking the most threadbare idea--mischief on the seashore--and expand it into a string of comic encounters & misunderstandings. Pretty much an amusing but "minor" Chaplin tale. "Work" is exactly what the title implies. Chaplin & company spend the short coping with mean, fussy bosses & perilous physical work. "A Woman" actually has Chaplin dealing with more than one woman; even Chaplin himself deceives the males in moments of drag. "The Bank" might be the best offering as the short opens with a "things are not what they seem" gag of Chaplin opening a bank vault with authority..only to get his mop & pail (he's a janitor, of course). The short even delves into some suspense when The Tramp must fend off robbers. The final short, "His Regeneration", isn't really a Chaplin short--The Tramp makes a brief cameo (hence the opening title card's declaration of "assisted by Charlie Chaplin"). Instead, it's a melodrama about two thieves, one of which decides to reform at the end.Yet another fascinating glimpse into early Chaplin. I'm anxiously awaiting Volume 3!