Review of A Dog's Life (1918) by Byron B — 31 Jul 2013

Charlie and the dog Scraps live similar lives on the streets. There are some laugh out loud slapstick routines, but by and large it didn't tug at my heartstrings as much. Do you find Chaplin co-starring with a kid or a dog more pathetic? The dog seems sadly anesthetized in several scenes.

Chaplin's brother Syd appears as a lunchwagon owner in a great scene. Edna Purviance is a naive singer at the bar where all the poor immigrants hang out. She sings sad songs and is incredibly awkward trying to flirt with the Tramp.

Eventually, the Tramp and Scraps find cash in a wallet stolen by a pair of thieves, then the thieves steal it back. The best bit is when our hero knocks out one thief and thrusts his arms under the thief's armpits to act out a scene that will convince the other thief to give up the money.

I enjoy the fact that very few title cards are necessary when Chaplin is telling a story.