The Rink

Starring: Charlie Chaplin, Edna Purviance , James T. Kelley, Eric Campbell, Henry Bergman, Albert Austin, Lloyd Bacon (uncredited)
Directed by: Charlie Chaplin
Rating: Not rated
Genre: Short, Comedy
Length: 24 minutes
1916

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A waiter (Charlie Chaplin) creates havoc at his restaurant, as well as a skating rink.

Review:

Tim: It's hard to describe how much I love this short film. It features Charlie Chaplin delivering some of his most incredible physical stunts while telling a humorous, entertaining story. The film really has two distinct parts, both equally enjoyable. It's a well made film and it's a great showcase for why Chaplin was so great.

Many of the scenes take place inside a restaurant, where Chaplin is a bumbling waiter. The pratfalls, the gags, these scenes are just so well filmed. A lot of laughs come from a door mix up, as well as the difficulties in getting dinner to an unruly diner. It's all just great fun and wildly entertaining. I watched the movie with my five year-old son and we were both just laughing so hard at Chaplin's crazy antics. He had this genius ability to frame a shot and then execute the delivery.

As good as the restaurant scenes are, this film truly shines when you get to the skating rink. Chaplin was obviously a master roller-skater and his skills are on wonderful display here. It helps that others are so bumbling, but it's stunning to see how he literally skates circles around others. These are the best scenes of the film- they're so humorous and well-executed. Scenes like this make you realize what a genius Chaplin could be.

This short film is interesting also because Chaplin used both the restaurant ideas and the skating ideas in his masterwork, Modern Times. You can see the influence this short had on that movie. He takes the ideas and expands on them, but it's obvious those scenes were heavily borrowed from this one.

I've never been a huge fan of short films, although I recognize greatness when I see it. The Rink is one of my favorite short films. It's excellent.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- N/A



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Modern Times