Work (1915)

One of my all time favorites.

Instant Favorite.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

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, 'Work' 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. Something that can be seen in the more than worthwhile 'Work'. 'Work' is not one of his all-time funniest or most memorable, other efforts also have more pathos and a balance of that and the comedy. The story is still a little flimsy, there are times where it struggles to sustain the short length, and could have had more variety and less more of the same repeition.On the other hand, 'Work' looks pretty good, not incredible but it was obvious that Chaplin was taking more time with his work (even when deadlines were still tight) and not churning out as many 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.While not one of his funniest or original, 'Work' is still very entertaining with some clever, entertaining and well-timed slapstick. It moves quickly and there is no dullness in sight. 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, particularly Billy Armstrong.In conclusion, pretty good. 7/10 Bethany Cox

"Work" is a black-and-white silent short film from 1915, so this one is another work directed by and starring Charlie Chaplin from over a century already. You won't find too many of his regular cast members in here this time. The version I watched ran for 25 minutes roughly, but I see here on imdb that versions of 31 and even 41 minutes exist apparently too. Not sure if some scenes were lost, but I think it's rather all about the frames per second. Anyway, it's not important anyway as regardless of how long it is, simply too much happens in here for the film to feel authentic and realistic and more than shoving us one (not so) funny scene in the face. In this one Charlie's shenanigans, but also the other characters' messing up in their rage mostly have an impact on that and maybe a guilt too. It's a long and (in the truest sense of the word) messy road to that as a lot of dirty stuff happens in here (but not in the sexual sense obviously, hey these are the 10s, kissing was controversial back then already). Overall, I think the script was the main problem here as Chaplin and also others are far better actors and the constant shots at comedy made it difficult for the cast to shine or the movie to deliver in any genre as the chance was definitely there, but it almost seemed like they did not want it to happen. The slapstick just gets too much at some point, which is no surprise really as the mere quantity of jokes almost rules out that all, or even most, of them could have been convincing. One of the more known Chaplin shorts, not most known probably, but definitely not one of the best. Only watch if you really love Him (then you will also understand the capitalized H). I give this one a thumbs-down though.

Work is a rather messy Chaplin short but feels overlong as some of the situations drag on.Chaplin plays a workman on his way to decorate a house, we see him pulling his boss on a cart who also whips him, there are several scenes where he crosses a train track just before the train passes through and then he struggles to get up a hill. In one scene the boss invites a friend to hop on the cart. You can see Chaplin is already taking a stand against exploitative capitalism already!Once they arrive at the middle class house, there is all kinds of slapstick as they try to wallpaper the house, there is an exploding stove, Chaplin takes a shine to the maid, and the householder's wife is visited by her secret lover.This is the first Chaplin short I have seen in some years, they just do not get repeated as often as they used to be on television. In Work Chaplin has not found his 'tramp' persona but there is some good skills used to for the slapstick but it gets too repetitive.

Chaplin again edited, wrote, directed, and starred in this film where Chaplin plays a put upon paper hanger. Chaplin has fun poking jabs at authority figures and upper-crust hypocrisy in a film more heavily plotted than his other films of the era. The film opens with visual gags of Chaplin pulling a work cart with his boss literally cracking the whip and the difficulties he faces. They arrive at a home of a snobby husband bossing his wife around. Once the wall-hanging paste is mixed, Chaplin plays with it like a musical instrument, creating havoc in the house while taking a shine to the maid (played by Edna Purviance). Chaplin's boss is literally up to his ears with wall-hanging paste (which appears more like plaster), the stove explodes several times, and the wife's secret lover (hilariously played by Leo White), dressed like a 19th century dandy, arrives much to the chagrin of the snobby husband. More chaos ensues as Chaplin, his boss, the lover, and the couple participate in a melange of slapstick punctuated by the husband firing shots, the stove exploding, and the house's interior reduced to rubble. The film is well edited, paced, and directed with a balance of plot and slapstick. **1/2 of 4 stars.