The Rink (1916)

After causing restaurant chaos at work, a bumbling waiter tears up the local roller rink with his skating.

Stars:

Charles Chaplin, Edna Purviance, James T. Kelley

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Charles Chaplin	...	A Waiter - Posing as Sir Cecil Seltzer
Edna Purviance	...	The Girl
James T. Kelley	...	Her Father
Eric Campbell	...	Mr. Stout
Henry Bergman	...	Mrs. Stout
Albert Austin	...	Cook
Leota Bryan	...	Edna's Friend

Storyline

After amusements working in a restaurant, Charlie uses his lunch break to go roller skating. Mr. Stout makes advances toward the unwilling Edna (whose father and Mrs. Stout had earlier carried on in the restaurant). After a roller skate ballet, Charlie (now as Sir Cecil Seltzer) is invited to a party at Edna's. All the "couples", including a new partner for Mr. Stout. show up.

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Plot Keywords:

restaurant | roller skating | party | marriage | rollerskate rink | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Short

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Certificate:

TV-G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 December 1916 (USA)

Also Known As:

Rolling Around

Filming Locations:

Lone Star Studio - 1751 Glendale Boulevard, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lone Star Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min 24 min (restored) 24 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie is best known for showcasing Charles Chaplin's roller skating skills.

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Goofs

When Charlie goes to lunch, he changes out of his waiter's coat and tie into his "Little Tramp" coat and vest. When he buttons his vest, the buttons and button holes are out of alignment. But when he walks through the restaurant and onto the sidewalk, the buttons and button holes are properly aligned.

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Connections

Edited into Charlie Chaplin Cavalcade (1938)

User Reviews

Enjoyable Chaplin short

Chaplin is a waiter in a chaotic restaurant. After he work he visits a skating rink for roller skates where he meets a girl but upsets plenty of others. She invites him to a skating party later – but can he win her heart whilst avoiding others?

Based on a sketch this short required Chaplin to expand the set-up to cover the longer running time and it occasionally shows. The restaurant scene is good but the real meat is in the two skating scenes that are fast and well choreographed to be amusing and skilfully done.

Chaplin is good as the little tramp and is even better when called on physically in the skating scenes. He shows his talent in those scenes much more than the others, however the actual plot needed a little more of the relationship in the wings even if it is just a short film.

Fans, however, will enjoy it regardless.