Mabel's Strange Predicament (1914)

In a hotel lobby an inebriated Charlie runs into an elegant lady, gets tied hup in her dog's leash, and falls down. He later runs into her in the hotel corridor, locked out of her room. ... See full summary »

Director:

Mabel Normand

Writer:

Henry Lehrman

Stars:

Mabel Normand, Charles Chaplin, Chester Conklin

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Mabel Normand	...	Mabel
Charles Chaplin	...	Drunk
Chester Conklin	...	Husband
Alice Davenport	...	Wife
Harry McCoy	...	Mabel's Admirer

Storyline

In a hotel lobby an inebriated Charlie runs into an elegant lady, gets tied hup in her dog's leash, and falls down. He later runs into her in the hotel corridor, locked out of her room. They run through various rooms. Mabel ends up in one of an elderly husband where she hides under the bed. Enter the jealous wife and Mabel's lover.

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Plot Keywords:

title directed by female | public domain | character name in title

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Genres:

Short | Comedy

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 February 1914 (USA)

Also Known As:

Pajamas

Company Credits

Production Co:

Keystone Film Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

17 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Banned by Swedish censors, who found it "brutalising" because of the amorous scenes.

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Connections

Featured in Charlie Chaplin: The Little Tramp (1980)

User Reviews

Fair

Mabel's Strange Predicament (1914)

** (out of 4)

A woman (Mabel Normand) is walking her dog through a hotel lobby when a Tramp (Charles Chaplin) takes notice and begins to follow her around. The woman escapes to her room to get into her pajamas but soon she finds herself locked out with the Tramp following her some more. This is an interesting short as we see Mabel at the height of her popularity just as an unknown Chaplin is starting to weave what would become the best known character in film history. Sadly the film isn't that good but there are a few nice scenes to be had. I found the opening sequence in the hotel lobby to be pretty funny in large part to Mabel's reactions to the Tramp. The middle sequence with Mabel running around in her pajamas aren't as funny as they should have been and this is where the movie wonders off. Chaplin doesn't quite have his Tramp character working here but it is a starting point.