The Rink (1916) User Reviews

Early Tramp

[rmax304823 · 6/10 · 18 May 2012]

Chaplin was almost always amusing but it occurred to me while watching this story of a waiter who woos a girl at a skating rink that in his earlier films he was more often the perp than the vic.

This was released in 1916 and Chaplin is a rude waiter who humiliates guests and steals money. If a stranger happens to be bending over and fastening a lady's roller skate, Chaplin can't help giving him a swift kick in the pants when he passes by. There's nothing here about "the little people." If the tramp is little, it's because that's his most comfortable social niche.

Ten years later, in "The Gold Rush," Chaplin had introduced humanity into his character, an innocent who is more sinned against than sinning.

Ten years after "The Gold Rush", he was sending social messages about worker alienation. (That's what happens when your work permits you to take no pride in having done it well. Anyone up for McDonald's Chicken Nuggets?) But in movies like "Modern Times," the milieu is only a peg from which to hang gags that are more hilarious than ever. And movies about poverty in 1936 were hardly uncommon anyway.

The gags here are sometimes spectacular, and always speedy. The tramp could certainly skate well.

Charlie on the rink

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 14 June 2018]

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 post-Essanay period after leaving Keystone, 'The Rink' 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 and Mutual periods were 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 'The Rink'.

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

On the other hand, 'The Rink' 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, 'The Rink' 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 second half is both hilarious and enchanting.

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 and their chemistry is sweet to watch.

In summary, very good and one of the best from Chaplin's 1916 output. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Light but Bright; Chaplin is a Marvel on Skates

[drqshadow-reviews · 7/10 · 29 May 2020]

A raucous day's work for Charlie Chaplin, who waits tables (poorly) when he isn't absconding to the neighboring roller rink to generate chaos and steal kisses. These two-reel comedies aren't long enough to get much deeper than that, but there's no glaring need to. The spotlight is always, rightfully, on Chaplin's well-orchestrated bits of frenetic energy and fluid pandemonium, a hectic machine-gunning of highly polished comic routines that can adapt to fit the frequent changes of scenery.

In the restaurant, Chaplin bounds wildly between kitchen and dining room, spreading ruin in his wake but always, somehow, skipping out on the punishment. He's more assertive in the rink, sabotaging a rival in pursuit of a pretty girl while showing off his premier skill on a pair of skates. That particular aspect is the short's most striking attribute, a brilliant display of mastery that's just as remarkable in a 1916 film as it would be, twenty years later, in Modern Times.

The Rink may be slapstick through and through - lots of accelerated head-over-heel spills and broken plates - but it's efficient, crafty, and takes great care not to repeat itself. Silly and shallow, perhaps, but also highly entertaining.

Enjoyable Chaplin short

[bob the moo · 30 December 2002]

Chaplin is a waiter in a chaotic restaurant. After he work he visits a skating rink for roller skates where he meets a girl but upsets plenty of others. She invites him to a skating party later – but can he win her heart whilst avoiding others?

Based on a sketch this short required Chaplin to expand the set-up to cover the longer running time and it occasionally shows. The restaurant scene is good but the real meat is in the two skating scenes that are fast and well choreographed to be amusing and skilfully done.

Chaplin is good as the little tramp and is even better when called on physically in the skating scenes. He shows his talent in those scenes much more than the others, however the actual plot needed a little more of the relationship in the wings even if it is just a short film.

Fans, however, will enjoy it regardless.

Chaplin Skates For Laughs

[CitizenCaine · 6/10 · 8 September 2008]

Chaplin edited, wrote, directed, and produced his eighth film for the Mutual Film Corporation. The Rink is a simple comedy contrasting the styles of the slapstick, knock about Chaplin and his talent for elusiveness in chase scenes. Chaplin is a simple waiter who really has no business being a waiter. He has a unique way of adding up the tab, serving a dishrag with a scrub brush on the side, and mixing a drink. While this is going on Edna Purviance's father (James T. Kelley) is making time with Henry Bergman in drag as the wife of comic foil Eric Campbell. Chaplin goes to a party as a big-shot and roller skates to impress Edna. Along the way, the mismatched couples realize their gigs are up so to speak, and Chaplin creates havoc on the roller rink. The police get involved near the end, but of course to no avail. Chaplin's acrobatics on skates is the highlight of the film, as it appears he's inadvertently playing roller derby with the rest of the cast. Chaplin ends up escaping down the street by using his cane to hitch a ride so to speak. Not quite as good as other top Mutual films, but still entertaining nevertheless. **1/2 of 4 stars.

Charlie on the Roll of Skates

[lugonian · 7/10 · 30 June 2015]

THE RINK (Mutual Studios, 1916), written and directed by Charlie Chaplin, offers the legendary comedian an opportunity in playing something other than a tramp. In fact, though identified mostly as the little tramp, there are numerous times he'd assume other characters in the Charlie Chaplin tradition, but the little tramp is what stays in memory. This time, Charlie plays a waiter with a talent for skating at a rink or social function as well as serving up trouble at the restaurant where he works. On his off hours, he does sport is trademark attire of derby, cane and tramp clothes he keeps in the stove rather than a locker. For his eighth comedy short for the Mutual Studio (Lone Star Corporation in most title card introductions), Chaplin resumes the fine comic support of his staff players of Edna Purviance, James K. Kelley, Frank J. Coleman, Albert Austin, Lloyd Bacon, Charlotte Mineau, and his most frequent adversary of the Mutual days, the late, great Eric Campbell.

The slight plot provides many antics involving a waiter (Chaplin) in a local restaurant writing the bill for one of his customers, Mr. Stout (Eric Campbell), a businessman who's as much of a flirt with the women as his manly looking wife (Henry Bergman in drag) is with the men. At the nearby rink, Stout is seen skating with a young socialite (Edna Purviance), but their union is soon interrupted by the waiter taking a break from his job. As he skates at the rink with Edna, he offers his calling card which reads Sir Cecil Seltzer, C.O.D. Before returning to work, Cecil is invited to social function skating party at Edna's home. As Mr. Stout makes his entrance at Edna's party, he not only encounters his wife with an male escort, but trouble along the way with the rolling skating Cecil.

More in the Mack Sennett slapstick tradition than Chaplin's more familiar technique of his latter years, THE RINK is brisk and funny regardless of its limitation in character development and plot outcome. Best moments occur as waiter Charlie, a/k/a Cecil, unwittingly serving a live cat to one of his customers. Another is the Charlie and Eric encounter, especially at the skating party. Interestingly, however, in Chaplin's other comedy short, THE IMMIGRANT (1917), the tables are turned with Eric playing the waiter and Charlie the customer, to better results. Since good comedy material is often reused and improved upon, Chaplin would recreate his skating technique in his final silent feature length comedy of MODERN TIMES (1936), where he also assumes the job as a singing waiter at one point of the story.

Formerly presented on a frequent level on public broadcast television in the sixties and seventies or beyond, THE RINK did play part of educational television's THE SILENT YEARS (1975), hosted by Lillian Gish, as the second half to the 90 minute timeslot following the 52 minute comedy, PECK'S BAD BOY (1921) starring Jackie Coogan, Chaplin's discoverer and co-star to their classic union of THE KID (1921).

Scoring and length to THE RINK vary, depending on distributor controlling the rights to it. Some prints come with piano scoring: Blackhawk/ Republic Video dating back to the 1980s-90s acquired orchestration and sound effects from 1930s reissue for its VHS releases. Restored prints, from KINO VIDEO, consist of new orchestration and slower silent correction speed. Broadcast history for cable television of THE RINK consists of Arts and Entertainment (1980s)along with Turner Classic Movies (TCM premiere: December 13, 1999), as prime examples. Next Chaplin Mutual Comedy: EASY STREET (1917) with Charlie playing a policeman, but without the use of skates. (***)

Some good bits of comedy.

[Kieran_Kenney · 6/10 · 3 September 2003]

A well made comedy from Charlie Chaplin has some very good moments. Yet, I can't say I'm a big fan of the grotesque-type supporting players or Chaplin's jerky, knock-around body language. This film works best as a record of the period, but as a piece of entertainment, it's also not too bad.

"The amorous waiter of the rink "

[Anonymous_Maxine · 10/10 · 26 April 2008]

The Rink, one of Chaplin's most charming early short comedies, starts out with the little tramp working as a waiter, and there is a hilarious short scene where a customer calls him over for his check, and Charlie comes over and writes up the bill based on the food that the guy has spilled all over himself. It seems to me that this was the film that inspired parts of Modern Times, especially the skating and the kitchen scenes. There are some wonderful uses of the IN and OUT doors leading to the kitchen, which do not seem repetitive even after I've seen Modern Times five or six times.

One of the most charming scenes in the whole movie is a short piece where Charlie goes behind the bar to mix someone a drink (shaken, not stirred…). It's one of the famous scenes from Chaplin's early career. When Charlie gets off work, he changes back into his famous outfit and heads out to the bus stop. While he is sitting on the bench next to a woman, he pulls off some truly vintage Chaplin behavior that is so spontaneous and so well acted that it makes me think of Chaplin just goofing off in real life. This is what I imagine he was really like a lot of the time.

With The Rink, it is easy to see that longer, and more genuine stories are slowly evolving in his early films. It is not a deep story by a long shot, and there is still plenty of high-action physical slapstick comedy, but there is much more here than at most of his previous films.

But most of all, the feature skit of the film is the skating scenes in the second half, which are outstanding. It's amazing to me how good Chaplin was on skates, and some of the skits he pulls off here (such as the bouncing up and down on the fat woman) are truly brilliant pieces of slapstick. I have to say that I wish I knew where exactly the film's closing shot was filmed, since it's an outdoor shot and I am always curious to know what parts of Los Angeles are being shown. Excellent show!

skaters gonna skate

[lee_eisenberg · 6/10 · 10 September 2021]

Twenty years before his famous skating scene in "Modern Times", Charlie Chaplin donned roller skates in "The Rink", wherein he plays a waiter who likes to go to the skating rink after work. Much like how in "Saturday Night Fever" John Travolta's character gets to shine on the disco floor, Charlie Chaplin's character in this breezy comedy gets to shine on the skating rink (and woo girls).

Chaplin's career was still in its early stages at this point, so the emphasis is on physical comedy. It would still be a few years before Chaplin's movie's would get political. Even so, you're sure to enjoy this one.

Chaplin on skates

[Petey-10 · 9/10 · 11 January 2011]

Charlie is a waiter who goes roller skating during his lunch break.Then later he is invited to a party at Edna's, known now as Sir Cecil Seltzer.Chaplin's The Rink from 1916 is his eight film for Mutual Films.We see here Charlie showing his rolling skating skills.Edna is his love interest.James T. Kelley is her father.Eric Campbell plays Mr. Stout, Edna's admirer.Henry Bergmann is Mrs. Stout and Angry Diner.Lloyd Bacon is Guest.It's really funny to see Charlie doing his moves in the rink, and making other skaters fall down.And his waiting techniques are something never seen before.Charles Chaplin was a buffoon one of his kind.

"Posing as Sir Cecil Seltzer"

[Steffi_P · 9/10 · 18 February 2010]

We all know about Charlie Chaplin's wit, precision and recklessness when it came to tumbles and pratfalls, but who knows about his delicate grace and balletic poise? The Rink is the earliest of his pictures where he really gets to demonstrate this side to his talent, as he whirls effortlessly across the room with elegance as well as skill.

Does this display of dexterity conflict with the character of crude and clumsy tramp? You would think so, but it doesn't. True, Charlie's function in his own pictures is to spread mayhem wherever he goes, and now that the character was familiar this premise needed no explanation. The Rink contains some fine examples of how Chaplin makes himself the chaotic centre of attention without actually hogging the foreground. In the early scenes when he is waiting tables he often appears bustling about in the background, but we recognise him from his exaggerated comical style of movement, and everything is arranged and timed so that we focus on the trail of destruction he leaves behind him. And yet Charlie himself is immune to all this. He dances through the world leaving others stumbling or egg-spattered in his wake without getting so much as a scratch on himself – except when the big-time pratfall is required, which will always be spectacular. Looked at this way, it may not make logical sense for him to be an ace on skates, but it does fit in with the general style of his comic persona.

But it isn't all about Charlie, and one of the best things about his Mutual pictures is the time he took to showcase his regular co-stars. In The Rink we have the mighty Eric Campbell, looking decidedly ridiculous with his massive body rolling around on skates. We also get the odd sight of Campbell having a go at "flirting", although I should remind readers that popping your cheek doesn't do it for most women these days. This is probably the most prominent role in a Chaplin film for James T. Kelley, who does a good job as a rather silly father-in-law type. John Rand, perhaps the longest-suffering butt of Charlie's antagonistic streak, gets a few more comical comeuppances. And we also have relative newcomer Henry Bergman doing a superb dame act, looking very convincing but still making the most of the rotund ungainliness that was Bergman's speciality.

And of course, there is Edna Purviance. Edna had been given disappointingly small parts in the Mutual films (with the exception of The Vagabond) as Chaplin concentrated more on prop gags and winding up Eric Campbell than on romantic angles. Here that trend is reversed and she gets a proper role in the story that prefigures the fully-fledged romantic comedies that would eventually become Chaplin's masterpieces. She is introduced in the first scene with a memorable close-up, demonstrating that her character is important, and Chaplin makes the effort to give her some significance to the story, as oppose to simply having her float around as the obligatory heroine. It's nice to see Ms Purviance back in the limelight, to see her naturalistic charm and acting talents. Chaplin really needed someone like her to complement that sense of grace and beauty that his pictures were beginning to acquire.

But let us not forget the all-important statistic –

Number of kicks up the arse: 4 (2 for, 2 against)

Not one of Chaplin's best

[Horst_In_Translation · 4/10 · 30 July 2015]

Charlie Chaplin was probably the biggest film star of his generation and even screen legends like Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd or Stan and Ollie could only dream of his success. "The Rink" is a 1916 23-minute movie directed by the master himself and of course he also plays the lead character. It's black-and-white and silent and considered one of the films made during Chaplin's peak years. He was still in his 20s when he made this and cast several people as co-actors with whom he regularly appeared in films such as the very memorable Edna Purviance and Eric Campbell. The action here takes place at a restaurant (kitchen), at the rink as the title suggests and finally at a party. If you remember a chaotic character like the ones Chaplin always portrays on roller-blades, you already know what you are about to watch. Or maybe not as I found the humor in here sub-par to be honest. All in all, not recommended.

A very funny short

[hausrathman · 16 January 2004]

Charlie plays a waiter with a penchant for roller skating in this very funny short. There isn't much of a plot in this film, but it generates a great many laughs nonetheless. The scenes featuring Charlie as a waiter are amusing enough, particularly as he mixes a drink, but Chaplin really shines in the skating scenes. Although he was always an agile and physical comedian, few of films display his skills as fully as "The Rink." He was so good on skates that one regrets he didn't put them on more often - though he did to great effect in "Modern Times."

Charming

[gbill-74877 · 8/10 · 25 September 2021]

Charlie Chaplin on roller skates is as delightful as you'd expect. He also gets some pretty funny moments in as a waiter. The story isn't terribly interesting, but my god, the sophistication in the physical comedy is immortal.

among Chaplin's most famous shorts

[planktonrules · 9/10 · 21 May 2006]

I've seen this film several times as well as clips from it. It seems that it is among his most famous shorts and it deserves the recognition. However, I must first say that when NOT skating, the movie definitely slows and is less funny. However, seeing Charlie on skates is a rare treat, as he was quite accomplished and seeing traditional slapstick done on skates was an amazing accomplishment. Plus, although Mack Swain (Charlie's nemesis) is shown as a guy who can't skate, it's obvious he was actually quite accomplished on skates as well to take all the wonderful falls. All-in-all, a breezy and fresh comedy short worth your time.

FYI--if you like seeing Chaplin skate, also try watching his full-length silent film CITY LIGHTS (1931). At one point midway through the film, he does a wonderful skating segment while a security guard at a department store. Great stuff.

A nice little short if you can get hold of a good version of it

[adamscastlevania2 · 8/10 · 14 September 2014]

(72%) Chaplin highlights his roller-skating talent in this briskly paced 20 minuter set around Charlie as a waiter. There's some nice somewhat more subtle jokes centred around Charley working out the bill by seeing what customers have split onto their clothes, and a mix-up in the kitchen leading to a diner served a scrubbing brush. Charlie's character is not a complete down and out, or very wealthy, but more fun loving and fancy free, and once he's given an hour of free time he hits the rink. This is very much a standard Chaplin early movie that benefits from his skating ability and charm, although the version I saw is a poor cheap money grab as it needed some restoration.

Pleasure on Roller Skates

[sbibb1 · 10 January 2004]

This film is laugh out loud funny. Who knew Charlie Chaplin was so graceful (and funny) on roller skates? This short film is watchable by all ages, and despite being close to 90 years old, it is still downright funny. Lookout for a character called Mrs. Stout played by a man in drag.

Chaplin At His Early Best!!

[MissyH316 · 9/10 · 17 November 2011]

This is one of my top favorite Chaplin shorts, because of the abundance of slapstick action and of course Charlie's jaw-dropping roller skating skills! Another reviewer mentioned that this left us wishing he'd have put the skates on more often. It'd be 20 years before we'd see the likes of this again in "Modern Times". But I absolutely LOVE this one!

In that context, I thought this might be a good example of how my overall opinion of Chaplin's earlier work differs from some other fans & critics. I don't subscribe to the notion that his Tramp character wasn't so "likeable" in the early days as he became more even-tempered so over time. His aggressive tendencies when aggravated or impatient were much less restrained early on.

But I actually enjoy seeing this in the Tramp; the aggression, to me, actually makes him more attractive in a "manly" way and I like/love him no less for it. Chaplin's little guy has a lot of backbone and is no pushover (figuratively). An adversary's size (or sometimes gender) made no difference to him; he's no more afraid of the monstrous Eric Campbell than he is of anyone else. You didn't mess with Charlie! As a fairly short and un-intimidating woman, I've often wished *I* had that kind of chutzpa in the face of bullies. ;-)

The 3 Stooges were often the same way: after a point, you didn't mess with them, either! Several key players who worked with the Stooges like director Del Lord and supporting stars Bud Jamison and Vernon Dent, all cut their teeth in Sennett's silent movie slapstick. Jamison is in several of Chaplin's early shorts, and Del Lord was once the driver of the Keystone Cops. So you can see it's possible that the little Tramp's persona in some ways foreshadowed and shaped those of the Stooges.

One of Chaplin's best comedies.

[alexanderdavies-99382 · 10/10 · 5 August 2017]

A lot of Charlie Chaplin comedies are overdone with pathos and sentiment. He seemed to think that his public should constantly be reminded of poverty and deprivation in his films. This grows irksome rather quickly and his legacy has been affected. Fortunately, his short films still contain his best work overall. "The Rink" is one of them as there is no pathos, just comedy. Chaplin plays a waiter who after causing utter chaos at the restaurant, does the same at a local roller skating rink. We have Chaplin's usual cast of actors: Edna Purviance, Eric Campbell, Henry Bergen and Albert Austin. The slapstick takes place at the restaurant and roller skating rink and it is excellent. Chaplin uses the various props to the best of his advantage. A masterpiece!

Chaplin's Skating Marvel

[springfieldrental · 10/10 · 14 July 2021]

Charlie Chaplin was hitting his comedic stride late 1916 when he produced three highly praised films. Professional skaters were hired for December 1916's "The Rink" to play as extras for the rink scenes. These skaters coached Chaplin thoroughly, who hadn't been on roller skates for quite some time. Spending almost an entire week to hone his skills, Chaplin, in "The Rink," displays his adeptness and fluidity on the rollers skates that continue to amaze today's viewers.

Chaplin plays a waiter who causes both the restaurant management and customers great consternation by his antics. His bartending skills shown are unquestionably remarkable. Upping his skills beyond the kitchen was the waiter's passion for roller skating, which occupied him during his lunch breaks.

Chaplin regular, Eric Campbell, who is romantically pursuing Edna Purviance, proved to be totally inept on the rink in real life. For his scenes, a crew member would push the bulky actor off camera onto the rink, where Chaplin applied all sorts of moves and kicks to Campbell. Purviance also knew the blueprint to the comedian's planned maneuvers, but once the cameras rolled, it was anyone's guess where and what Chaplin would do with his spontaneous improvising on the rink.

Early Chaplin: Contrasting Styles

[Cineanalyst · 9 August 2005]

I have and always will hold this short film in high regard. I don't recall when I first saw "The Rink", but I remember being taken aback by the graceful eloquence of Chaplin's skating. It has figured prominently in my memory since--especially in playing back the first moment when Chaplin rolls onto the rink. This must be what the French critics were referring to when they compared him to ballet dancer Vaslav Nijinksy. Chaplin skated again in "Modern Times" (1936), but for some reason, perhaps because there's so much more going on in that feature-length film, it hasn't had the same affect on me.

"The Rink" also reminds me of the earliest film I've seen of Chaplin's comedic forerunner and prominent influence Max Linder. In that very short film, of which no two sources seem to agree on the date or the exact title, Max skated on the ice, or, rather, attempted to skate; the humor supposedly being in the many pratfalls. There are plenty of pratfalls in Chaplin's film, but they're in addition to his elegant movements on the rink floor.

In "The Rink", the agile skating makes for a nice contrast to the knockabout slapstick that the film is otherwise. Chaplin, by now, had managed to balance these two contrasting styles, and it makes for a very entertaining short. The direction almost seems intended to point out the differences in the styles; there are, as common then, many jump cuts when Chaplin's causing mayhem at the restaurant, but when he's skating, there are flowing, seamless camera movements. The restaurant gags, for the most part, aren't bad, either. Edna Purviance, Eric Campbell and other regulars aid in the fun, including Henry Bergman in the oft done but still funny drag role.

Roller madness

[michaelchager · 8/10 · 18 April 2023]

Only seasoned pros populate this large Chaplin cast, Henry Bergman as Mrs. Stout and Eric Campbell as Mr. Stout stray in their affections. Chaplin reprises the waiter on a lunch break theme from Caught in a Cabaret, but here the combat is conducted on roller skates. In a Keystone mode, Chaplin throws these veteran scene stealers into the mix around his float like a butterfly choreography. True to farce, Bergman and Campbell, Kelly, Edna and Chaplin line up in a mutual recognition of being caught in the act, among the lasting scenes, also masterful roller skating capped by Chaplin's stunt of hitching himself to a ride on the street while chased by skaters. Ante Keaton and Lloyd.

how to stage 'hijinks' and action

[Quinoa1984 · 10/10 · 18 May 2016]

This is an excellent example of what the Tramp could do; the premise is simple as the Tramp is working as a waiter (and there's some wackiness there with misunderstandings with a customer), and when he gets a few cents he goes to the roller rink. The stunts that he does over and over show off just how keen he was to get a gag just right, but it all comes down to us believing that Chaplin can really do this. I don't know if this took the number of takes that he would later do on his features (he could be a perfectionist actually as far as doing dozens of takes if he didn't like something), and it's amazing to think that he made this short, as he did for a lot of his films at the time, in a relatively short amount of time. The logistics for how he goes on the skates makes me almost think watching it 'Tony Hawk, eat your heart out!' That it's all consistently funny and charming, that it doesn't let up for 24 minutes, is the icing on the cake.

Fun Chaplin Comedy

[Michael_Elliott · 27 September 2018]

The Rink (1916)

*** (out of 4)

Charles Chaplin plays a waiter who when he isn't causing destruction he passes time as a great skater. Everything leads up to him being invited to a party where he runs into a man that he had an issue with earlier.

THE RINK is a pretty darn good film from Chaplin who certainly gets to show off a lot of talent here. I think most people probably remember this film today because certain elements of it ended up being used in MODERN TIMES including some of the cafe gags as well as the skating. Speaking of the skating, man what a talent Chaplin was on the skates! His skating here is certainly the highlight of the picture and especially when you see how graceful he was on them. There are some nice laughs that happen inside the cafe as well.

Entertaining Slapstick

[Snow Leopard · 27 November 2001]

There isn't a lot of subtlety to "The Rink", but it does have some entertaining slapstick and some traces of some of Chaplin's favorite themes. The first part in the restaurant has both good moments and routine stretches, and then things liven up when everyone gets their skates on - the action combines tangled relationships with tangled limbs. Although he has his character take a good assortment of slips and falls, in so doing Chaplin also demonstrates his physical skill, and his performance anticipates his more famous roller skating scene in "Modern Times". It's probably not among his best short features, but all the same it's one that Chaplin fans will want to see.