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

An early flop for an absolute genius

Charlie Chaplin is one of only a handful of men in the hundred years of the movie industry to be worthy of the title of genius. Each of his full length (by modern standards) films are excellent, as are many of his shorter earlier works - Mabel's Strange Predicament, however, is not one of these works. It is void of any meaningful social message (for which Chaplin is well known) it is equally, and sadly, also void of any real humor.

By all means watch most of Chaplin's movies; watch them over and over, for they are worthy of many repeated viewings - but do yourself a favor and don't waste your time with this.

By the way, it should be noted that Charlie neither directed nor produced this very early movie. It is doubtful that even he thought the story or scenes were funny, but one has to break into the business somehow.