Chaplin - The Collection, Vol. 5 - Sunnyside / Hot Finish

Rating:
Summary: A pair of substandard early Charlie Chaplin comedies
Review: "Chaplin: The Collection, Volume 5" represents the low point in the series, with a pair of lesser efforts of which the great comedian had no reason to be proud. "Sunnyside" (Released June 15, 1919) was one of the comedies that Chaplin made for First National Pictures, the studio he signed with after his happiest days at Mutual. However, this was the least of those efforts, probably because Chaplin rushed to get it out. Having developed his own way of creating his comedic masterpieces, being under the gun was rather unproductive. The story begins with the Tramp working as a handyman on a farm, where he develops a crush on the pretty girl next door (Purviance). Unfortunately, his Boss (Tom Wilson) is out to work him to death, and then we get to an extended fantasy sequence with lots of nymphs that really does not go anywhere (compare it with the fantasy sequence in "The Kid" to see what happened when Chaplin took his time with the same basic idea). There is one nice little bit with the horse doctor, but overall this is a substandard Chaplin comedy.

"A Hot Finish" (Released April 18, 1914) is more commonly known as "Mabel at the Wheel," and marks the second time Chaplin appeared with leading lady Mable Normand at Keystone, as well as the first time he was in a two-reel comedy. The pair made nine comedies together and Normand directed this one, much to Chaplin's chagrin. The spunky Mabel has a father (Chester Conklin) and a boyfriend (Harry McCoy), while Chaplin actually plays the villain and provides the slapstick. Before the race Mable has a fight with Harry, takes a motorcycle ride with Charlie, and when she makes up with Harry, Chaplin starts a rock fight. Things pick up during the race when Charlie kidnaps Harry and Mable has to drive the racing car to victory despite the efforts of Charlie and his henchmen. Chaplin really has little of consequence to do in this one, acting more like a typical Keystone villain then coming up with any really good bits of comedy, so his fans will be quite dissappointed. The prime attraction is Normand trying to follow in the path of the serial queens like Pearl White and Ruth Roland, but notice that you do not find anybody putting together "Normand: The Collection."