Chaplin's second film for Essanay he edited, wrote, directed, and starred in with Ben Turpin. This was their second and last collaboration. Turpin's over-reliance on facial expressions made him an obvious second banana to Chaplin, and he probably saw that quickly. As a result he moved on on his own. A Night Out with Chaplin is more of the same from him; he had performed his drunk character multiple times previously in several Keystone films a year earlier to varying effect. A Night Out is merely an extended version of that same character. Only here, Chaplin is not so much of an instigator as he was in prior drunk characterizations. There's mostly slapstick and little else of a plot in this one, as Chaplin attempts to make his way around a hotel and bar area. There are a few sight gags the best of which is the veiled lady revealing herself and Chaplin being tossed out of a hotel window and falling a few stories; the editing is a little tricky there. This was also the first teaming of Chaplin and Edna Purviance, who would star with him in several more films. ** of 4 stars.
Review of A Night Out
