“His First Flame” is a 1927 silent comedy film directed by Harry Edwards and starring popular comedian, Harry Langdon. The film follows Langdon’s character, August, a shy and socially awkward young man who is in love with a beautiful woman named Betty (Natalie Kingston).

August works at a department store where Betty is a customer. He is immediately smitten with her and tries to impress her with his clumsy attempts at flirting. However, Betty is uninterested and seems to prefer the attention of a wealthy and arrogant suitor, played by Vernon Dent.

Desperate to win Betty’s affection, August hatches a plan to make himself appear wealthy and successful. He pretends to be the owner of the department store and invites Betty and her friends to a lavish party at a mansion he has rented for the occasion.

The party quickly spirals out of control, with August struggling to keep up the pretense and maintain his elaborate charade. There are numerous hilarious mishaps and misunderstandings, including a scene in which August accidentally sets the mansion on fire.

Despite the chaos, Betty begins to see August in a new light and starts to develop feelings for him. In the end, August’s true identity is revealed, but Betty decides that she loves him for who he is and not his wealth or social status.

“His First Flame” is a charming and endearing comedy that showcases Harry Langdon’s unique style of physical humor and facial expressions. The film was a critical and commercial success, cementing Langdon’s reputation as one of the top comedians of the silent era.

Directors:
Harry Edwards

Writer:
Arthur Ripley, Frank Capra, Al Giebler

Stars:
Harry Langdon, Natalie Kingston, Ruth Hiatt

“A Burlesque on Carmen” is a 1915 American silent film directed by and starring Charlie Chaplin. The film is a comedic parody of the popular opera “Carmen” by Georges Bizet.

The story follows the love triangle between Don José (played by Chaplin), a naive and bumbling police officer; Carmen (played by Edna Purviance), a seductive gypsy woman; and Escamillo (played by Jack Henderson), a dashing toreador. Don José becomes infatuated with Carmen and becomes involved in her criminal activities, leading to a series of comedic misadventures.

Chaplin’s portrayal of Don José is characterized by his signature slapstick comedy, as he bumbles his way through his duties as a police officer and attempts to win Carmen’s affections. Edna Purviance gives a strong performance as Carmen, using her beauty and seductive charm to manipulate the men around her. Jack Henderson’s portrayal of Escamillo provides a perfect foil to Chaplin’s bumbling character, as he exudes confidence and masculinity.

The film is notable for its use of parody and satire to poke fun at the operatic genre, as well as for its innovative use of camera techniques and editing. It was also one of Chaplin’s earliest successes as a filmmaker, helping to establish him as one of the top stars of the silent film era.

Overall, “A Burlesque on Carmen” is a classic example of Chaplin’s comedic genius and remains a beloved film among fans of early cinema.

Directors:
Charles Chaplin, Leo White

Writer:
Charles Chaplin, Prosper Mérimée

Stars:
Charles Chaplin, Edna Purviance, Ben Turpin

“Charlie Shanghaied” is a 1915 American silent comedy film directed by Charles Chaplin and starring Chaplin in the lead role.

The film follows Chaplin’s iconic character, The Tramp, as he travels to a port town and falls in love with a woman named Edna. However, their romance is cut short when The Tramp is drugged and kidnapped by a group of sailors who force him to work on their ship.

As The Tramp adapts to life on the ship, he becomes embroiled in a series of comical mishaps and struggles to avoid the wrath of the ship’s captain. The Tramp ultimately finds a way to escape and make his way back to Edna, with whom he is reunited in a touching finale.

“Charlie Shanghaied” is a classic example of Chaplin’s signature style, featuring slapstick humor, physical comedy, and charming characterizations. It is a testament to Chaplin’s enduring legacy as a master of silent film, and remains a beloved classic of the genre.

Directors:
Charles Chaplin

Writer:
Charles Chaplin

Stars:
Charles Chaplin, Billy Armstrong, Lawrence A. Bowes

“Sherlock Jr.” is a silent comedy film directed by and starring Buster Keaton in 1924. The film is about a projectionist named Buster who dreams of becoming a detective like his hero, Sherlock Holmes.

In the film, Buster is in love with a girl who works in a pharmacy, but her father disapproves of him because he is poor. To impress her and her father, Buster decides to become a detective and solve a crime involving the theft of a pocket watch.

However, while working on the case, Buster falls asleep and dreams that he is Sherlock Jr., a master detective who solves crimes with ease. The dream takes him on a wild and hilarious adventure as he tries to solve the crime and clear his name of false accusations.

The film is notable for its innovative use of special effects, particularly in a sequence where Buster enters the screen of a movie he is projecting and interacts with the characters on screen. This groundbreaking scene has since become a classic in film history.

Overall, “Sherlock Jr.” is considered one of Buster Keaton’s greatest works, showcasing his incredible talent for physical comedy and his ability to blend humor with innovation. It remains a beloved and influential film in the history of cinema.

Directors:
Buster Keaton

Writer:
Jean C. Havez, Joseph A. Mitchell, Clyde Bruckman

Stars:
Buster Keaton, Kathryn McGuire, Joe Keaton

“Behind the Screen” is a silent comedy film directed by Charlie Chaplin in 1916. The film is about a movie studio where Chaplin works as a stagehand. He and his colleague, played by Eric Campbell, are constantly at odds with each other, and their bickering often leads to slapstick mishaps.

The plot follows the misadventures of Chaplin and Campbell as they try to work on the set of a movie, with the former playing the role of a carpenter and the latter as a lumberjack. The two men are tasked with building a set for a movie scene, but their constant fighting and clumsiness lead to the destruction of the set and many comedic moments.

Along the way, Chaplin becomes smitten with the studio’s leading lady, played by Edna Purviance, and tries to impress her with his carpentry skills. However, his attempts at wooing her are constantly interrupted by Campbell, who is also vying for her attention.

The film is notable for its physical comedy and slapstick humor, which was characteristic of Chaplin’s style. It also features a cameo appearance by Chaplin’s real-life brother, Sydney, who plays a drunk in one of the scenes.

Overall, “Behind the Screen” is a classic example of early silent comedy and a prime example of Chaplin’s skill as a filmmaker and comedian.

Directors:
Charles Chaplin

Writer:
Vincent Bryan, Charles Chaplin, Maverick Terrell

Stars:
Charles Chaplin, Edna Purviance, Eric Campbell

“The Pawnshop” is a 1916 American silent comedy film directed by and starring Charlie Chaplin. The film follows Chaplin’s character, the Little Tramp, as he works in a pawnshop. The plot revolves around various comedic situations that arise from the customers and items that come into the shop.

The film features several memorable scenes, including the Little Tramp trying to fix a clock, a customer trying to sell a stolen revolver, and a hilarious confrontation between the Little Tramp and an ornery customer (played by fellow comedian Henry Bergman). The film also includes a romantic subplot involving a beautiful customer (played by Edna Purviance), who catches the Little Tramp’s eye.

As with many of Chaplin’s films, “The Pawnshop” is notable for its physical comedy and innovative use of visual gags. It also features Chaplin’s trademark slapstick humor and his ability to infuse humor into even the most mundane situations.

Overall, “The Pawnshop” is a classic example of early silent comedy and remains a popular and entertaining film today. It is widely considered to be one of Chaplin’s best short films and is a testament to his enduring legacy as a comedic genius.

Directors:
Charles Chaplin

Writer:
Charles Chaplin, Vincent Bryan, Maverick Terrell

Stars:
Stars
Charles Chaplin, Henry Bergman, Edna Purviance

“The Vagabond” is a silent film written, directed, produced by and starring Charlie Chaplin. The movie was released in 1916 and tells the story of a wandering musician who falls in love with a beautiful gypsy woman.

In the film, Chaplin plays the role of a street musician who performs for a living. One day, he comes across a group of gypsies who have been injured in a fight with a rival group. He helps them and is rewarded with a meal and a chance to perform for them.

While performing, the musician sees a beautiful young gypsy woman, played by Edna Purviance. He falls in love with her and decides to stay with the gypsy caravan, leaving his old life behind. However, he soon discovers that the gypsies are being mistreated by a cruel and abusive leader, played by Eric Campbell.

Determined to help the gypsies, Chaplin’s character comes up with a plan to free them from the tyrannical leader. In a dramatic and suspenseful sequence, he fights Campbell’s character and saves the gypsy woman.

The film ends with the musician and the gypsy woman leaving together, while the rest of the gypsies celebrate their freedom. “The Vagabond” was a critical and commercial success, and is considered one of Chaplin’s most important early films.

Directors:
Charles Chaplin

Writer:
Charles Chaplin, Vincent Bryan, Maverick Terrell

Stars:
Charles Chaplin, Edna Purviance, Eric Campbell

“Mud and Sand” is a silent comedy film directed by Gilbert Pratt and starring Stan Laurel, who is most famous for his later work with Oliver Hardy. The film was released in 1922 and is a parody of Rudolph Valentino’s hit movie “Blood and Sand” from the same year.

The film tells the story of Rhubarb Vaselino (Stan Laurel), a poor young man who dreams of becoming a bullfighter like his idol, Rudolph Valentino. He is in love with Teresita (Vivien Oakland), the daughter of the local blacksmith, but she is already engaged to another man.

With the help of his best friend, played by James Finlayson, Rhubarb trains to become a bullfighter and impresses a famous matador, who takes him under his wing. Rhubarb soon becomes a sensation in the bullfighting world, but his success comes at a cost.

As Rhubarb’s fame grows, he becomes more and more arrogant and selfish, neglecting his friends and loved ones. He also becomes entangled with a seductive woman who only wants him for his fame and fortune.

In the end, Rhubarb realizes the error of his ways and decides to give up bullfighting and return to his simple life with Teresita.

“Mud and Sand” is a classic example of a silent comedy, with plenty of slapstick humor and exaggerated physical gags. It is also a satire of Hollywood and the movie industry, poking fun at the trend of making glamorous films about exotic locations and lifestyles.

Overall, “Mud and Sand” is a funny and entertaining film that showcases Stan Laurel’s comedic talents and the wit of the filmmakers behind it.

Directors:
Gilbert Pratt

Writer:
Tom Miranda

Stars:
Stan Laurel, Mae Laurel, Julie Leonard