The Kid (1921)

Charlie Chaplin, simply one of the greatest film personas and auteurs ever in the history of Hollywood. It can perhaps be said that no name grabbed as much attention of audiences around the world a much as seeing “Charlie Chaplin” on a lit marquee. His enduring Tramp character, which was pictured in countless films, would be an icon for the ages.

Chaplin’s Tramp was seen many times in the mass numbers of pictures starring the lovable Chaplin since 1914, but it was the Kid that brought a magnificent new dimension to the character that would make the film an American movie classic. With a tag line of “A picture with a smile, and perhaps a tear,” we see that this particular picture will combine the classic comedy styling of the Tramp with heartfelt drama. In this picture Chaplin would have to share the spotlight with his new sidekick, the Kid (Jackie Coogan), who’s scene stealing acting would make him the first real child star in movie history.

The story follows the story of the Kid as his mother, a rich woman single mother, tries to rid herself of the burden of her baby before the baby is mistakenly taken away from her by men that stole her car, later leaving the infant by trash cans in a poor part of town. Then along comes the Tramp. (A very Chaplin-esque way for thing to fall into his lap.) After first trying to pawn the baby to others the Tramp decides to care for him. The years pass and the two form quite the pair as two support each other, including the Kid breaking windows while the Tramp conveniently comes around to sell replacement windows. The comedic chemistry is wonderful as Coogan’s acting is filled with energy and character, while Chaplin’s performance is only fantastically accented by this mischievous new little tramp in the picture.

The story's plot comes really into play when the Kid becomes ill and a doctor brought to care for him discovers that he is not really the son of the Tramp, but would find out that he is actually the son of now-popular opera singer, the woman who was to give him away at the beginning of the film. The authorities try to take the Kid away from the Tramp. It is a heart tugging chase as Chaplin clamors after his adopted son who is being taken away in a police car. He races across rooftops and down streets to tearfully reunite with his son. This is perhaps the most touching scene in all the film as the two embrace with tears in their eyes. As the two go on trying to find place to sleep the Kid is turned in by another man, but the picture would end happily as the Tramp would be led to a reunion with his loved, adopted son at the mansion of his mother.

This motion picture does a wonderful job in balancing the humor with the drama of forced separation of two loved ones. It can be a picture that could make you laugh and cry. As mentioned before, the picture would launch the career of Jackie Coogan, leading to his hand prints being set in cement in the courtyard of Grauman’s Chinese Theater ten years later in 1931. Unfortunate events would befall his life as his father would be killed in a car accident of which he would survive. A few years later he would sue his mother and step-father for squandering money form is childhood work of which he would be rewarded $126,000 of the $3-4 million he actually made for his childhood acting career. This would lead to California enacting a bill to protect child actors commonly known as the Coogan Bill. In tough times he would receive help from his old friend Chaplin. His later acting career would have him work in television, most notably as Uncle Fester in the 1960s series The Addams Family.

Chaplin, even the perfectionist, worked feverishly over this picture. He would produce, write, direct, and even edit the film. He would rescue the film from the divorce of his first wife, Mildred Harris, by sneaking the reels of unedited to Salt Lake City, where he would finish editing it in a hotel room in effort to keep Harris from taking it away from him in the divorce proceedings. Decades later Chaplin would revisit his loved film as he would reedit the picture a little as well as compose a score for the film for a re-release in 1971. The following year Chaplin, after being keeped out of the US for decades, would return for short visit where he would be honored at the Academy Awards and visit for the final time his old friend Jackie Coogan.

The film shows an interesting view of a historic part of Los Angeles as the rooftops in which Chaplin runs across are those of the famous Olvera Street, before it would be turned into a Hispanic tourist destination that can be seen to this day. Chaplin's (and his Tramp character') impact in Hollywood lives on to this day as one of my personal favorite icons in Hollywood at the Jim Henson Studios. Sitting on the former site of Chaplin's Studios, Henson Studios honors the site of the former icon with its current icon as on top of one of the old buildings from Chaplin's day stands Kermit the Frog dressed as the Tramp, welcoming people to the gates of the studios.

This motion picture was one that disappeared for many years until it resurfaced in the 1970s finding its new audience appreciation and to this day remains a classic, along with its interesting history. The Kid is just one film in the legacy of Charlie Chaplin, the giant among giants in Hollywood.