Ben
What a wonderful story by Charlie Chaplin.In it, a poor, young mother gives up her newborn in a car in front of a mansion. Through a series of unlikely events, the young child ends up in the care of the Tramp. After a few funny attempts to rid himself of the child, he finally accepts his role as caretaker, naming his adopted son John.A few years pass, and the two make a wonderful duo - scheming and scamming people together in hilarious ways. But things take an unexpected turn for the worse when John becomes ill.I can't speak of this film highly enough. The performances of all the actors involved are wonderful. A young Jackie Coogan plays John and does so brilliantly, I can not name a finer child actor. Most child actors are sub-par, if not whiny and annoying. This film will make you laugh, cry and most importantly, think.
framptonhollis
Today, Charlie Chaplin is known primarily and exclusively for his silent, slapstick humor, but one mustn't forget that he was also a master at tearjerking drama. The Kid is perhaps the finest example of the classic comedy master's ability to tug at our heartstrings. The Kid is a film that is only about sixty minutes in length, and yet it has far more dramatic impact than most films that are twice as long! Although I seem to only be acknowledging the film's more emotional qualities, there is also no doubting that The Kid is also an extremely funny movie, possibly even among the funniest films ever made. Even within this tale of melancholy, Chaplin is able to inject some of his most clever and creative slapstick routines. With the help of child co star Jackie Coogan, Chaplin is able to get laughs that will please almost anyone's sense of humor, from the infantile to the elderly. Jack Coogan in particular has surprisingly solid comedic ability and timing, despite his obvious young age. The image of Chaplin picking up Coogan by his overalls as Coogan is in the midst of a fight is just precious, because of Coogan's reluctance to stop fighting. Instead of calming down and succumbing to his father's orders, he wiggles around vigorously, throwing out useless punches and kicks. Chaplin's ability to fairly balance extreme emotions is the stuff of cinematic legend. As the famous title card so accurately describes: The Kid is "A picture with a smile-and perhaps, a tear."
Bones
Yes, this is my favorite movie. No, it's not perfect, but I still love it.This was Charlie Chaplin's first, and--still my opinion--best film.The Kid is a marvelous mixture of both humor and drama. It's about a little man (called The Little Tramp) who finds a baby on the street. The Little Tramp reluctantly takes the child, begins taking care of it--and soon enough, the baby is a kid, more or less.The child is taken from him, but they still attempt to get back to each other in this captivating tale of companionship and togetherness.Go watch the movie--if you already have--then watch it again.
Takethispunch
The Kid is a 1921 American silent comedy-drama film written by, produced by, directed by, and starring Charlie Chaplin, and features Jackie Coogan[5] as his adopted son and sidekick. This was Chaplin's first full- length film as a director (he had been a co-star in 1914's Tillie's Punctured Romance). It was a huge success, and was the second-highest grossing film in 1921, behind The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. In 2011, The Kid was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." Innovative in its combination of comedic and dramatic elements,[6] The Kid is widely considered one of the greatest films of the silent era.
AD
