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Sail right past the off-putting prologue (which sounds and feels like one of those hideous educational films from the 1950s) of this otherwise satisfying collection of clips from Chaplin's early work, and you'll be in good shape. Assembled by producer Samuel M. Sherman, the program consists of nine generous slices of Chaplin's one- and two-reel output at Essanay Studios, to which the great man fled for a spell in 1915 after feeling creatively constrained at Mack Sennett's Keystone Film Co.
Lots of good stuff here, though none of it is presented in its entirety. The classic "A Night at the Show," a cinematic re-creation of one of Chaplin's most beloved stage routines in England, is still hilarious, with the star playing dual roles as a drunk aristocrat and a disruptive peasant. "A Woman" finds the Tramp shaving his moustache in order to dress in drag (for a good reason, of course). "The Champion" is wonderful knockabout comedy featuring Chaplin's alter ego as a surprisingly effective pugilist, and "The Tramp" finds the star-director constructing one of his most delicate, even mystical, pieces. You can see much of this material in its complete state elsewhere, but this serves as a handy introduction to Chaplin's early growth as a master of broken hearts, belly laughs, and beauty. --Tom Keogh
