THE FLOORWALKER is the first of twelve shorts Charlie Chaplin made for Mutual Studios between 1916 - 1917. Before discussing the short, a little perspective on where Chaplin is at this point. Charlie Chaplin’s Mutual contract amounted to about $670,000 a year in 1916 money. This was back then major news as we’re watching, at the time, the highest paid entertainer in the world. He was 26 years old. In addition to being extremely wealthy and popular, this is the third studio Chaplin worked for. His last studio, Essanay, did not give Chaplin the creative control he was looking for. An example would be “Burlesque on Carmen.” Chaplin made that as a two reeler. Essanay released the short as a four reeler with extra footage Chaplin did not even film involving Ben Turpin. So at Mutual, Chaplin had creative control and took his time - something he would do even more so in later years. Here though? Expected to do one short a month, Chaplin finished these twelve shorts in eighteen months.
All that out of the way, THE FLOORWALKER in and of itself is a fun short. The basic story is Chaplin is his little tramp character in a department store. The manager, a.k.a. floorwalker, is played by future Warner Brothers director Lloyd Bacon, who bears a physical resemblance to Chaplin. Bacon and his assistant manager, played by the legendary heavy Eric Campbell, receive a letter saying they are accused of embezzling money and detectives are going to come to investigate. Bacon smashes a drawer over Campbell’s head and knocks him out, trying to leave with the money on his own. Chaplin in the mean time is causing property damage in the store and is also in trouble if his own. When Chaplin and Bacon meet up, noticing their resemblance and unaware of the trouble the other is in, agree to trade places by switching outfits. From there, mayhem ensues.
Comedy wise the first thing I notice is that once Chaplin is on the screen, I can’t take my eyes off him. All he needs is a few simple props and a still camera and the man works magic. The opening scene of Chaplin involves his cane, a water fountain, an escalator, and any item for sale that happens to be laying on the table next to him. He tries shaving products, he bends over and knocks things down with his cane, he dries himself using a dress on a mannequin as a towel - just real simple and funny well timed stuff.
Legend has it that W.C. Fields once referred to Chaplin as a ballet dancer, one he’d like to kill. Well, I’d like to think he said that, anyway. I always think of that when I watch THE FLOORWALKER. Check out Chaplin when he’s dodging the much larger Eric Campbell at the end, he’s literally moving like a ballerina. It’s all so well timed and yes, Eric Campbell, making his Chaplin debut here, is the best heavy Chaplin ever had. Adding to their chemistry, also check out Campbell choking out Chaplin only to have to intermittently stop when the detective catches them. Adding to the ballet stuff, check out Chaplin’s movements on that slide ladder in the bizarre but funny foot fetish scene.
Another well timed bit is a quasi version of the mirror scene without an actual mirror. Yes, when Chaplin and Bacon meet up, they look at each other and do mirror their movements. Overall, a pretty good short that begins the phase of Chaplin’s maturity. Truthfully, it was starting in those late Essanay shorts and further blossoms as the Mutual shorts continue on. Enjoy the ride.
