His Regeneration (1915)

An unrepentant crook enters a dance hall and gets in a fight over a girl. As he, unknowingly, breaks into her house, another bloody mess stains the residence's thick carpets. Can a simple act of kindness pave the way for his regeneration?

Director:

Gilbert M. 'Broncho Billy' Anderson (uncredited)

Stars:

Gilbert M. 'Broncho Billy' Anderson, Lee Willard, Marguerite Clayton

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Gilbert M. 'Broncho Billy' Anderson	...	The Regenerate (as G.M.Anderson)
Lee Willard	...	His Partner
Marguerite Clayton	...	The Girl
Hazel Applegate	...	The Maid
Charles Chaplin	...	A Customer

Storyline

A rough criminal gets into an argument over a girl in a dance hall. The argument turns into a fight, and the criminal is shot. As everyone else looks on, a young woman comes to his aid, and it turns out that he is not seriously wounded. He still remembers the woman who helped him when, later, he is committing a burglary and gets a surprise that will change his life.

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Plot Keywords:

directed by star | 

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Genres:

Short | Western

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Certificate:

TV-G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 May 1915 (USA)

Also Known As:

Jego regeneracja

Filming Locations:

Niles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Essanay Film Manufacturing Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

15 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Charles Chaplin who appears uncredited as a customer in the bar, was a business associate of 'G.M. Anderson', who appeared in a cameo in Chaplin's film The Champion (1915). The main titles to this film read "...slightly assisted by Charles Chaplin", which suggests that Chaplin possibly hand a hand in the story or direction of this film, especially as he used the same story again for his later comedy Police (1916).

User Reviews

Rough and surprising regeneration

The main reason why 'His Regeneration' was seen in the first place was for Charlie Chaplin. Am a fan of his and consider him an important influence in film responsible for some masterpieces like 'City Lights', 'The Gold Rush' and 'Modern Times'. There were misfires in his career, namely the worst Keystone shorts but other talents have had far bigger misfires.

Although still fairly early on in his career and this being made during the Essanay period of his career where he properly started to grow, he is always worth watching and even his early films have interest value. Actually found his Essanay period to show a vast step up in quality than his variable Keystone efforts overall, all up to this point worth watching and a few very good even.

Chaplin is certainly the best thing about 'His Regeneration' as well as its notable interest point. He shows the most personality and is amusing and expressive.

The film also looks pretty reasonable while not amazing, and there are a few amusing and charming moments.

Having said that, Chaplin's appearance is short, for a talent of his calibre too short, it's only a few minutes at most and that didn't do him justice, and not some of his best material. Actually felt that it belonged somewhere else, it stuck out like a sore thumb quality-wise and holds little relevance. That's even when it's the most interesting and funniest 'His Regeneration' gets.

Elsewhere it is pretty dull with not much interesting going on in the over-stretched and thin story, lacks charm and is too predictable and clumsy to get any freshness or proper fun from it. The rest of the cast don't have anywhere near as much charisma or personality and struggle to keep the lacking material afloat.

All in all, lacklustre. 4/10 Bethany Cox