Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsABFFPride MonthOutfest OutfrontsSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Police

  • 1916
  • 34m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
1.9K
YOUR RATING
Charles Chaplin and John Rand in Police (1916)
ComedyShort

Charles Chaplin, a convict, is given $5.00 and released from prison after having served his term. He meets a man of the church who makes him weep for his sins and while he is weeping takes t... Read allCharles Chaplin, a convict, is given $5.00 and released from prison after having served his term. He meets a man of the church who makes him weep for his sins and while he is weeping takes the $5.00 away from him. Chaplin goes to a fruit stand and samples the fruit. When he goes ... Read allCharles Chaplin, a convict, is given $5.00 and released from prison after having served his term. He meets a man of the church who makes him weep for his sins and while he is weeping takes the $5.00 away from him. Chaplin goes to a fruit stand and samples the fruit. When he goes to pay for it he finds his $5.00 is missing. This results in a battle with the fruit deale... Read all

  • Director
    • Charles Chaplin
  • Writer
    • Charles Chaplin
  • Stars
    • Charles Chaplin
    • Edna Purviance
    • Wesley Ruggles
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.4/10
    1.9K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Charles Chaplin
    • Writer
      • Charles Chaplin
    • Stars
      • Charles Chaplin
      • Edna Purviance
      • Wesley Ruggles
    • 16User reviews
    • 6Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos44

    John Rand in Police (1916)
    Charles Chaplin in Police (1916)
    John Rand in Police (1916)
    Charles Chaplin and Edna Purviance in Police (1916)
    Charles Chaplin, George Cleethorpe, Fred Goodwins, Edna Purviance, and Leo White in Police (1916)
    Charles Chaplin and John Rand in Police (1916)
    Charles Chaplin in Police (1916)
    Charles Chaplin, Edna Purviance, and Wesley Ruggles in Police (1916)
    Charles Chaplin, Edna Purviance, and Wesley Ruggles in Police (1916)
    Edna Purviance and Wesley Ruggles in Police (1916)
    Charles Chaplin in Police (1916)
    Fred Goodwins and Leo White in Police (1916)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Charles Chaplin
    Charles Chaplin
    • Convict 999 Alias Charlie
    Edna Purviance
    Edna Purviance
    • The Girl
    Wesley Ruggles
    Wesley Ruggles
    • The Crook
    John Rand
    John Rand
    • The Cop
    Billy Armstrong
    Billy Armstrong
    • The Miser
    George Cleethorpe
    • Policeman at Station with Moustache
    • (uncredited)
    Fred Goodwins
    • Honest Preacher
    • (uncredited)
    • …
    Bud Jamison
    Bud Jamison
    • Third Flophouse Customer
    • (uncredited)
    James T. Kelley
    James T. Kelley
    • Drunk with Pockets Picked
    • (uncredited)
    • …
    Paddy McGuire
    Paddy McGuire
    • Fifth Flophouse Customer
    • (uncredited)
    'Snub' Pollard
    'Snub' Pollard
    • First Flophouse Customer
    • (uncredited)
    Leo White
    Leo White
    • Fruitseller
    • (uncredited)
    • …
    • Director
      • Charles Chaplin(uncredited)
    • Writer
      • Charles Chaplin
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    The Bank
    6.7
    The Bank
    The Champion
    6.7
    The Champion
    The Fireman
    6.5
    The Fireman
    The Tramp
    6.9
    The Tramp
    Shanghaied
    6.2
    Shanghaied
    A Night in the Show
    6.4
    A Night in the Show
    The Vagabond
    6.8
    The Vagabond
    The Floorwalker
    6.6
    The Floorwalker
    A Woman
    6.4
    A Woman
    A Burlesque on Carmen
    6.0
    A Burlesque on Carmen
    The Pawnshop
    7.0
    The Pawnshop
    Work
    6.2
    Work

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      After Charles Chaplin left Essanay, the studio reedited this film.
    • Alternate versions
      In 1952 in Spain was released a dubbed version cut to 17 minutes.
    • Connections
      Edited into Chaplin's Art of Comedy (1966)

    User reviews16

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Charlie the convict
    Am a big fan of Charlie Chaplin, have been for over a decade now. Many films and shorts of his are very good to masterpiece, and like many others consider him a comedy genius and one of film's most important and influential directors.

    From his Essanay period after leaving Keystone, 'Police' is not one of his very best but is one of his best early efforts and among the better short films of his. It shows a noticeable step up in quality though from his Keystone period, where he was still evolving and in the infancy of his long career, from 1914, The Essanay period is something of Chaplin's adolescence period where his style had been found and starting to settle. Something that can be seen in the more than worthwhile 'Police'.

    The story is more discernible than usual and is never dull, but is sometimes a bit too busy.

    On the other hand, 'Police' looks pretty good, not incredible but it was obvious that Chaplin was taking more time with his work and not churning out countless shorts in the same year of very variable success like he did with Keystone. Appreciate the importance of his Keystone period and there is some good stuff he did there, but the more mature and careful quality seen here and later on is obvious.

    While not one of his most hilarious or touching, 'Police' is still very funny with some clever, entertaining and well-timed slapstick and has substance and pathos that generally were not there with Keystone. It moves quickly and there is no dullness in sight. The ending is great fun.

    Chaplin directs more than competently, if not quite cinematic genius standard yet. He also, as usual, gives an amusing and expressive performance and at clear ease with the physicality and substance of the role. The supporting cast acquit themselves well, particularly a charming Edna Purviance.

    In summary, very good and one of the best from Chaplin's Essanay period. 8/10 Bethany Cox
    helpful•1
    0
    • TheLittleSongbird
    • Jun 10, 2018

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 27, 1916 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Instagram
    • Languages
      • None
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Charlie in the Police
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • The Essanay Film Manufacturing Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      34 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Silent
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Charles Chaplin and John Rand in Police (1916)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Police (1916) officially released in Canada in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2023 by IMDb.com, Inc.