“Get in line and wait your turn!”
Charlie Chaplin works double duty in front of and behind the camera in the 1915 silent classic A Night In The Show. Chaplin wrote and directed the film, basing it upon Mumming Birds, a stage play that Chaplin worked on while with the Karno Company in London. In the film, Chaplin portrays Mr. Pest and Mr. Rowdy. The film is also the debut of Edna Purviance, who would go on to appear in over thirty films with him and remain a loyal friend.
In the film, Mr. Pest has a number of comedic encounters. He makes getting a seat in the theater a laugh-out-loud moment, and goes on to attempt to woo a female patron (Purviance), battles it out with the stage manager, has run-ins with other attendees, and interacts with the performers on the stage. Up in the balcony, Chaplin makes pratfalls and gags as the slightly drunk Mr. Rowdy. His biggest moment in the film is when a fire eater appears on the stage and Mr. Rowdy “saves” everyone by extinguishing the flames and soaking everyone around and beneath him.
The film features a number of notable silent film actors. Paddy McGuire, Dee Lampton, Charlotte Mineau, and Charles Inslee are just a few of the cast members that appear in the film. The film runs just over twenty-four minutes, so it’s an easy silent film to watch if you’re new to the genre. It’s a very funny film and I highly recommend it.
Thanks for checking out my post! A Night In The Show is available through a number of streaming services, many of which are free.
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