The Cure (1917)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Writers:

Charles Chaplin (screenplay)
Charles Chaplin (story)

Release Date:

16 April 1917 (USA)

Genre:

Short | Comedy

Plot:

An alcoholic checks into a health spa and his antics promptly through the establishment into chaos.

Plot Keywords:

Sanitarium | Revolving Door | Mineral Spring Water | Masseur | Hangover

Cast

Charles Chaplin	...	The Inebriate
Edna Purviance	...	The Girl
Eric Campbell	...	The Man with the Gout
Henry Bergman	...	Masseur
John Rand	...	Sanitarium Attendant
James T. Kelley	...	Sanitarium Attendant
Albert Austin	...	Sanitarium Attendant
Frank J. Coleman	...	Head of Sanitarium

Also Known As:

The Water Cure (USA) (alternative title)

Runtime:

31 min | Germany:24 min (restored version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color (tinted)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Certification:

Germany:6 | Australia:G | Argentina:Atp | Spain:T | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Lone Star Corporation

Trivia:

Outtakes show that the original premise was to have Charles Chaplin play one of the employees at the clinic, but switched the roles with John Rand (who was to play the inebriate) after an uninspired performance. Chaplin himself specialized in drunken characters in the English music hall where he grew up.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When the Man With the Gout (Eric Campbell) falls into the spa well and struggles underwater, it is a stunt man that is struggling. Eric Campbell is one of the people who pull the stunt man out.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Sicko (2007)

a BIZARRE characterization by Chaplin

This is an odd film from the outset, as Chaplin doesn't play the Little Tramp--the poor but decent soul he usually played. Instead, he's a rich alcoholic who goes to a spa to "take the cure"; i.e., rest, drink lots of mineral water and kick his booze habit. It's obvious, though, that he's not the least bit motivated as his luggage consists of dozens of bottles of booze. When the staff find them, they throw them out the window and accidentally into the spring--thus "fortifying" the water significantly. Everyone there gets drunk and Charlie finds, for the first time, he actually LIKES water! Highly ridiculous and silly, but that's slapstick for you. All-in-all, a very good film but quite a departure for Chaplin.

By the way, some time after I first saw and reviewed this movie I saw the documentary "Unknown Chaplin" and a significant portion of the first part of this interesting British show was about THE CURE. It was very interesting to see how the film evolved. In the beginning, Charlie cast himself as a bellhop and another person as the drunk. But after seeing many takes and re-takes, he apparently decided to do the drunk role himself. Many of the bellboy scenes were re-shot--now with Charlie doing them as the drunk. This documentary is a must-see for Chaplin fans.