THE RINK is simply a fun film. Of course what I’m about to say is in the eye of the beholder, but THE RINK might just be the most fun film Chaplin ever made at Mutual - or maybe ever. It’s just an excuse for Chaplin to show off and do some comic things really well, nothing too deep. I emphasize this because the next short, by Chaplin Mutual standards, if not D.W. Griffith standards, is a relatively serious film. It’s fascinating how Chaplin can switch moods on a whim during this period of his career. But yeah, here? All I can really do is marvel at a few of my favorite comic moments without any rhyme or reason and the virtuosity Chaplin shows with both the staging and performance aspect.
Let’s see, moments to discuss. Well, for a Three Stooges link, there is the bit where Chaplin, as a waiter, can tell what customer Eric Campbell ordered simply by what food is sloppily left on Campbell’s clothing. Larry Fine does a similar gag with Jack “Tiny” Lipson in PLAYING THE PONIES.
The flirting angle is really bizarre here if you use realism as your barometer, but in the world of silent comedy, quite funny. Eric Campbell has this wonderful mating call when trying to woo a certain Edna by popping his finger in and out of his inner cheekbone. I have no idea if it’s supposed to be symbolic of something or just silly, but it’s a pleasant, “What the Hell?” kind of moment I occasionally want out of these things. Chaplin’s raised hat when flirting with the foot girl I think I may know what it is symbolic of. All pleasantly silly stuff.
Speaking of pleasantly silly, we get Henry Bergman dressed as a woman in this short, playing the Mrs. Stout character. Now you regulars know by now the whole comic in drag thing usually weakens a comic’s character in my eyes, but here it works. The reason is because Henry Bergman is supposed to be an actual woman, not a man dressed as one. This really works well in that Mr. Bergman can take some slapstick that wouldn’t work as well with say, Edna Purviance or Charlotte Mineau. Some wonderful falls on the skating rink, Chaplin bouncing off Bergman like a trampoline and my favorite Bergman part - taking that punch Chaplin ducks while he/she is sitting down and giving that big pratfall. That got a huge laugh out of me.
Finally, I just love the staging and virtuosity Chaplin shows in this short. Chaplin’s skating really is a wonder. He was only in his twenties at this point and it’s great seeing how graceful he is on those skates. The scene where he and Edna grab the cane and skate together really is one of those iconic Chaplin moments in my eyes and I love the fact he kicks Albert Austin’s butt while doing this skating because, well, he can. The skating alone with Edna is difficult enough, kicking a guy in the butt while doing it takes a ton of skill. Chaplin was in his physical prime here, heck, even mixing a drink looks graceful when he does it at this point. The staging in parts is also fantastic. During the chase at the end, notice how all the men chasing Chaplin are perfectly symmetrical, as is their crash into the table in the next room. I can’t begin to imagine how many takes that took to get right.
Overall, THE RINK is a fun and delightful short, one of Chaplin’s very best.