“Making A Living” is a silent comedy film directed by Henry Lehrman and released in 1914. The film stars Charlie Chaplin in his first film role for Keystone Studios, where he would go on to become a major star.

The film follows the exploits of Chaplin’s character, a swindler named Edgar English, who is trying to make a living by any means necessary. He starts off by trying to sell a fake stock certificate to a wealthy man, but when that fails, he tries his hand at journalism, posing as a reporter to get a scoop on a local murder case.

Along the way, Edgar English gets into all sorts of comical situations, including accidentally sitting on a woman’s hat and getting into a fight with a rival journalist. Despite his best efforts, however, he is never able to make a real success of himself, and by the end of the film, he is back to his old tricks, trying to swindle someone out of their money.

Despite its relatively simple plot, “Making A Living” is notable for introducing many of the comedic elements that would become hallmarks of Chaplin’s later work. The film features Chaplin’s signature tramp costume, as well as his distinctive physical humor and facial expressions. It also showcases his talent for improvisation and his ability to turn even the most mundane situations into comedy gold.

While “Making A Living” was not a huge commercial success upon its initial release, it helped to establish Chaplin as a rising star in the world of silent comedy, paving the way for many of his most famous films in the years to come.

Directors:
Henry Lehrman

Writer:
Reed Heustis

Stars:
Charles Chaplin, Emma Clifton, Chester Conklin

“Cops” is a silent comedy film directed by Edward F. Cline and Buster Keaton, and released in 1922. The film follows the misadventures of a young man, played by Buster Keaton, who accidentally finds himself on the wrong side of the law.

The film begins with Buster Keaton’s character, who is referred to only as “The Boy,” trying to impress a young woman by pretending to be a successful businessman. However, his attempts at showing off his wealth backfire when he accidentally locks himself out of his own house and is forced to climb through a window to get back in. Unbeknownst to him, the house has just been burglarized, and when he emerges from the window, he is mistaken for the thief by a passing policeman.

The rest of the film follows The Boy as he tries to evade the police and clear his name. Along the way, he gets into all sorts of comical situations, including accidentally setting off a chain of events that causes chaos in the streets and inadvertently getting involved in a high-speed chase.

Despite his best efforts, The Boy eventually ends up in jail, where he makes a daring escape and ends up causing even more trouble on the streets. The film culminates in a hilarious chase sequence, as The Boy and a gang of police officers pursue each other through the city streets.

In the end, The Boy is able to clear his name and win the affection of the young woman he was trying to impress at the beginning of the film. “Cops” is considered one of Buster Keaton’s most iconic films, and is notable for its inventive stunts and hilarious physical comedy.

Directors:
Edward F. Cline, Buster Keaton

Writer:
Buster Keaton, Edward F. Cline

Stars:
Buster Keaton, Edward F. Cline, Virginia Fox

“Coney Island” is a 1917 silent comedy film directed by Roscoe Arbuckle and starring Arbuckle, Mabel Normand, and Al St. John. The film is set at the famous Coney Island amusement park in New York, and follows the antics of a group of characters who work and play there.

Arbuckle plays a bumbling waiter named Fatty who has a crush on a beautiful dancer named Mabel (Normand). Mabel is also pursued by a wealthy playboy named Larry (St. John), who competes with Fatty for her affections.

As the story unfolds, the characters become embroiled in a series of humorous misadventures, including mistaken identities, pranks, and a wild ride on a rollercoaster. Along the way, they encounter a colorful cast of supporting characters, including a strongman, a fortune teller, and a pickpocket.

“Coney Island” is known for its slapstick humor and fast-paced action, as well as the chemistry between Arbuckle and Normand, who were frequent collaborators in silent comedy. The film is also notable for its early use of location shooting and its depiction of the vibrant culture and atmosphere of Coney Island during the early 20th century.

Directors:
Roscoe ‘Fatty’ Arbuckle

Writer:
Roscoe ‘Fatty’ Arbuckle

Stars:
Roscoe ‘Fatty’ Arbuckle, Buster Keaton, Joe Bordeaux