The Immigrant (1917)

Charlie is an immigrant who endures a challenging voyage and gets into trouble as soon as he arrives in America.

Director:

Charles Chaplin

Writer:

Charles Chaplin

Stars:

Charles Chaplin, Edna Purviance, Eric Campbell

1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Charles Chaplin	...	Immigrant
Edna Purviance	...	Immigrant
Eric Campbell	...	Head Waiter
Albert Austin	...	Russian / Restaurant diner
Henry Bergman	...	Artist
Kitty Bradbury	...	Edna's mother
Frank J. Coleman	...	Bearded cheating gambler / Restaurant owner
William Gillespie	...	Café violinist
Tom Harrington	...	Marriage registrar
James T. Kelley	...	Shabby man in restaurant
John Rand	...	Tipsy diner
Janet Sully	...	Passenger (as Janet Milly Sully)
Loyal Underwood	...	Pint-sized passenger
Tom Wilson	...	Gambler on ship

Storyline

Charlie is on his way to the USA. He wins in a card game, puts the money in Edna's bag (she and her sick mother have been robbed of everything). When he retrieves a little for himself he is accused of being a thief. Edna clears his name. Later, broke, Charlie finds a coin and goes into a restaurant. There he finds Edna, whose mother has died, and asks her to join him. When he reaches for the coin to pay for their meals it is missing (it has fallen through a hole in his pocket).

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Plot Keywords:

coin | national film registry | slapstick comedy | mother | card game | 

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Genres:

Short | Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 June 1917 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Modern Columbus

Filming Locations:

Chaplin Studios - 1416 N. La Brea Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lone Star Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

25 min 24 min (restored)

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Re-released in France December 1971 in a program including "Charlot à la banque (The Bank), "Charlot boxeur" (The Champion), "Charlot fait une cure" (The Cure) and Charlot policeman" (Easy Street).

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Goofs

At 3:57 Charlie lets the girl take his seat at the table. The cook gives her a dish of soup. Right after Charlie opens the door, the dish is gone.

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Quotes

Edna, Immigrant: Mother has lost her money.

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Alternate Versions

Henry Bergman was originally cast as the Head Waiter and extensive footage was shot before Chaplin recast the role with Eric Campbell. This unused footage appeared in the documentary series The Unknown Chaplin, along with bloopers and alternate takes from this film. A 1960s 8mm home movie release of this film was retitled "Broke" and contained most of the Restaurant sequence, from the Tramp entering the establishment, to realizing he has no money and seeing the Head Waiter beat up a non-paying customer. After the advent of sound, the film was reissued with sound effects added.

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Connections

Featured in Charlie: The Life and Art of Charles Chaplin (2003)

User Reviews

Quintessential Chaplin

Charlie Chaplin is an immigrant who endures a challenging voyage and gets into trouble as soon as he arrives in America.

This is Chaplin and the tramp as you expect him. Innocent, courteous, and having misfortunes come his way. We have a rocking boat that is not unlike the gag in "Gold Rush" (though it makes more sense here). And, of course, there is a girl. The tramp is always after the ladies.

Some people have tried to get a social or cultural message out of this picture. And yes, there most likely is one. But the real joy is just seeing Chaplin in action. The film has been very well preserved and will be enjoyed for years to come. (I write this in 2015, so the film is almost 100 and still holds up just fine.)