Movie Review: The Immigrant (1917)
The Basics
Title: The Immigrant
Release year: 1917
Director: Charlie Chaplin
Writers: Charlie Chaplin, Vincent Bryan, and Maverick Terrell
Stars: Charlie Chaplin, Edna Purviance, and Eric Campbell
Rating: Unrated
Running time: 22 minutes
Language: Silent film with English intertitles
Genre: Short, Silent, Comedy, Romance
Movie Synopsis
Atlantic Ocean, 1917. Chaplin’s trademark character, the Tramp, is aboard a steamship bound for America. From rough seas to pickpocketing gamblers, he has his share of mishaps and comical inconveniences, but his entire voyage is not dogged by misfortune. He meets and forms a connection with a fellow passenger, an unnamed woman traveling with her ailing mother. Once the ship docks, the two go their separate ways until reuniting by happenstance at a restaurant, but just like their journey to America, their reunion is not smooth sailing. Mischief, misunderstanding, and mirth ensue.
My Review & Overall Thoughts
TLDR: Humor, heart, and substance: this short film has it all.
In The Immigrant, Chaplin elevates slapstick, transforming an otherwise middlebrow comedic form into a conveyance of social commentary. Through exaggerated situations and visual gags, he draws attention to societal issues of the day, ranging from poverty to the mistreatment of immigrants, and despite the overtness of the delivery, the message itself never feels heavy-handed. He masterfully blends humor and commentary, enabling him to voice his opinions in a satirical, nonconfrontational manner.
One scene that perfectly illustrates this skill is the immigrants’ arrival in America. As the ship passes by the Statue of Liberty, an intertitle with the text “Arrival in the land of liberty” appears on screen. Shortly thereafter, the passengers are seen being corralled and manhandled into a corner before being roped off like a herd of cattle. In typical Chaplin fashion, some levity is then added to the moment by having the Tramp kick the backside of an immigrant officer amidst all the chaos. It is a poignant, perfectly executed satire of American xenophobia and the immigrant experience in the early 20th century, and it is achieved without the utterance of a single word.
Speech, or rather, the lack thereof, is not a hindrance to Chaplin in this film (nor in any of his films). He thrives in the silence. With sound quite literally out of the picture, his creativity and mastery of visual comedy are on full display. From expressive mannerisms and faces to inventive camera tricks and well-timed actions, he has an arsenal of tools at his disposal that all but guarantee your laughter.
More impressively still, he is able to form an emotional connection between the audience and the Tramp, a nameless man with only the shallowest of backstories. How? Why, through humor, of course. Within the first minute of the film, the Tramp endears himself to viewers through a comical misdirection, and his well-intentioned but bungling ways serve to only further endear him as the movie progresses. He is the underdog you can’t help but root for.
The not so good
I have no major criticism.
Overall
Pathos, humor, and commentary: in just 22 minutes and without any dialogue, The Immigrant achieves all three. It is not only a testament to Chaplin’s prowess as a filmmaker but also proof that silent films still have a place in our modern world. They still have relevance. Their entertainment value has not diminished, nor has their ability to provide societal and cultural insights. They endure. The Immigrant endures.
-Julia
P.S. On a less philosophical note, The Immigrant is a great choice if you are new to silent films and looking to dip your toes into the genre.
