The Kid (1921)

Director: Charles Chaplin

This Early Chaplin classic starts with a mother and her newborn baby boy exiting a foreboding hospital. The mother is ashamed and worried that she cannot take care of the child. She attempts to leave the baby with a rich family but instead the baby is left in the hands of two criminals who choose to leave the baby on the side of a rundown street. The child is then discovered by Charlie Chaplin, appearing in his usual lovable tramp persona, who has no choice but to keep and raise the child. Chaplin and the kid (now around age 7 or 8) face many challenges including town bullies, a watchful police officer and the threat of having the child taken away by the authorities. The mother continues to play a role in the film as a wealthy but generous member of the community who unknowingly has a few brief interactions with her child. The film's rundown setting seems realistic and provides a major part in setting the tone of the movie.

This was my second viewing of the film and while it may not have been as effective for me the second time around it was still very entertaining and poignant. "The Kid" may not be Chaplin's out and out funniest venture but this story of fatherly love is one of Chaplin's most touching films. The movie lacks in the jaw-dropping comedic stunts that we expect from silent-era comedy but this is made up for by the exceptional comedic and serious acting not only from Chaplin but also from Jackie Coogan, who plays the kid. The two work together playfully and with fluidity. Chaplin and Coogan were so good that at times it felt like the two were competing for my affection. After the viewing it remains difficult to say who the star was.

Chaplin also dabbles in surrealism in "The Kid". This takes place during a lengthy dream sequence in which the familiar faces of the town are now angels and sin lurches around, influencing jealousy and lust. The scene is bizarre and a little unnecessary to the advancement of the plot but it is interesting nonetheless. The film has a pretty weak ending, and we know that Chaplin is capable of powerful endings (I.E., "City Lights" and "The Circus") but this only hurts the film slightly.

"The Kid" may be my favorite of the classic Chaplin feature lengths that I have seen. It is short but sweet and is still funny some 88 years later. The most important aspect for me is that the film has a great sense of purpose and meaning that goes beyond the gags.

My Rating: 8.5/10

The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog (1927)

Director: Alfred Hitchcock




The Lodger follows a young man looking to stay in a room that is being rented out by a working class family in London. The man is mysterious and has a lot in common with a killer who has murdered several young blonde women recently around the city. The mysterious lodger strikes up a seemingly innocent relationship with Daisy, the blonde daughter of the family. This relationship and the mystery of whether or not the lodger is the sought after murderer create most of the drama and suspense in the film.

I'm a very big fan of Alfred Hitchcock's work so to watch what is considered to be the first true Hitchcock film was always going to be fun for me. Hitchcock's earlier films don't always do it for me but The Lodger kept me interested and entertained the most of the way through. What I think is most notable about this silent-era film from Hitchcock is the fact that a number of Hitchcockian themes are already set into place. There is the familiar blonde leading lady, the threat of the police, and the wrong man scenario (although it isn't quite fully developed). Fetishism and perversion make several appearances; a quick but noticeable gaze at Daisy's form by the lodger, handcuffs that are played with by a young couple, and a bath scene in which the lodger comes very close to walking in on Daisy at an inopportune moment. There is also a clear influence of German Expressionism, with it's interesting use of shadows and lighting. There are also several fun camera tricks including an invisible ceiling and a small flashback that is shown in a puddle that a police officer is solemnly looking into.

The Lodger is an interesting look into the mind of the young Hitchcock and makes for a good viewing experience if you're ready to take on an old silent. The acting is great, especially from Ivor Novello who plays the lodger, the suspense works and there is rarely a dull moment. Overall I'd rate this movie highly if you're a Hitchcock fan but I would not recommend it as a starting point for someone interested in getting to know the master of suspense.

My Rating: 7.5/10