The Immigrant Clippings 32/72
Joshua Lowe, Variety, New York, June 22, 1917.
The Immigrant Scenes
„Speaks volumes for the pantomimic art of the comedian“
Editorial content. „The Immigrant.
There is no way about it – Charlie Chaplin is funny.
If, perchance you are a grouch and resolutely set
yourself in the mental attitude that you won‘t be amused by his nonsensicalities, go to any theatre where The Immigrant
is being shown and, in spite of yourself, you‘ll be carried away
by those about you. The surprising thing about it all is
that nobody ever thought of placing him on board a ship as one
of a load of immigrants. Now that it is brought to your
attention it is as obvious as the historical story of Columbus
and the egg. The two-reeler opens up showing Charlie
leaning over the rail apparently seasick. It develops he is fishing
and lands a one-pounder in mid-ocean. Then he is seen
shooting craps and going through all the gyrations of a baseball
pitcher every time he ,shoots‘ the bones. The rocking
and pitching of the vessel furnishes unlimited opportunity for
his style of comedy. Incidentally there is a little
heart-interest story, when he befriends a young girl and
her mother who have been robbed of their small
board. Later – all too soon, however – he is seen in New York,
broke. He spies a quarter on the street and enters
a restaurant to eat. There he meets the girl he befriended
on shipboard. She is also down and out, her mother
having died. The lone quarter has disappeared through a hole
in his pocket and the stunts through which he goes,
artistically ,fed‘ by Eric Campbell, elicit what are colloquially
described in show business as ,belly laughs.‘ Just how
he emerges from his dilemma it would be sacrilege to attempt
to describe. The $670,000 a year funny man is still
,there.‘ The extremely limited number of titles speaks volumes
for the pantomimic art of the comedian. Jolo.“
Jolo is Joshua Lowe.
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