Chaplin edited, wrote, produced, and directed The Idle Class, a comedy of distinction between classes. This a theme that audiences seemed taken with during the silent era, especially the Roaring Twenties. Chaplin plays two roles in this film: A rich sot of a husband and the tramp, who wanders into meeting Edna Purviance near a golf course. The tramp hitches a ride to a golf course. Meanwhile, Chaplin as the rich sot reads a note from Edna Purviance his wife, which says she'll avoid him until his drinking ceases. Chaplin, with his back to the audience, pulls off a masterfully deceptive joke. Audience members are fooled as well as being the only ones who are not fooled throughout this film. Chaplin, the tramp, has several funny moments at the golf course hitting someone else's ball and having it land in a large man's mouth. Here Chaplin must hit the ball as it alternately pops out and back into the man's mouth, who's apparently napping on the golf course. Here Chaplin meets Edna Purviance, the rich Chaplin's wife. He dreams of following her, running off with her, and marrying her. However, she's riding a swift horse, and the audience sees Chaplin following her on a donkey, the class distinction readily apparent. The rich sot Chaplin has a wonderful sight gag in which he makes a phone call in a hotel lobby without realizing he's not wearing pants. Getting to the phone and returning to his room are great moments. Chaplin recalls his earlier park comedies when Chaplin the tramp runs into a pickpocket and a cop in a park before fleeing to Chaplin the rich sot's mansion to escape. Here Chaplin the tramp is mistaken as Chaplin the sot because it's a costume party and they look alike of course. Chaplin the sot is dressed as a knight and the helmet's visor has become stuck in the down position. Hilarity ensues as a result. Once discovered, Chaplin the tramp is ignored by the nouveau riche ensemble assembled and has to leave quickly. Chaplin establishes the premise with concise precision very quickly and continues building the parallel world's of the two Chaplin characters in the film before they finally clash at the costume party. It's a very funny film. *** of 4 stars.
Review of The Idle Class
