The Kid
The Kid

Movie spotlight

The Kid

1921
Movie
68 min
English

A tramp cares for a boy after he's abandoned as a newborn by his mother. Later the mother has a change of heart and aches to be reunited with her son.

Insights

IMDb8.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes96%
Metacritic96
Google Users94%
Director: Charlie ChaplinGenres: Comedy, Drama, Family

Plot Summary

A tramp finds an abandoned baby and decides to raise him as his own, despite their extreme poverty. As the boy grows, their bond strengthens through shared hardship and comedic mishaps. However, their precarious existence is threatened when the child welfare services attempt to take the boy away.

Critical Reception

Upon its release, 'The Kid' was a critical and commercial success, cementing Charlie Chaplin's status as a global superstar. It was lauded for its innovative blend of slapstick comedy and genuine pathos, bringing audiences to tears and laughter in equal measure. The film is widely regarded as a masterpiece of silent cinema and a landmark achievement in filmmaking.

What Reviewers Say

  • A pioneering blend of heartfelt drama and Chaplin's signature physical comedy.

  • Jackie Coogan's performance as the child is remarkably mature and touching.

  • The film masterfully navigates themes of poverty, hope, and the enduring power of love.

Google audience: Audiences consistently praise 'The Kid' for its emotional depth and timeless humor. Many highlight the touching relationship between Chaplin's character and the child, appreciating the film's ability to evoke strong emotions while remaining incredibly entertaining.

Fun Fact

Jackie Coogan, who played the titular 'Kid,' was so distraught after his character was taken away that he genuinely cried during the filming of that scene, adding an unplanned layer of authentic emotion to the sequence.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

3 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

An impoverished woman (Edna Purviance) feels compelled to abandon her child in the hope that he might find a better life - so she leaves him (with a short note) in the back of a car. The two men who find the little bundle don't want anythin...

barrymost

barrymost

If you enjoy this review, please check out my blog, Old Hat Cinema, at https://oldhatcinema.medium.com/ for more reviews and other cool content. Two Little Tramps The most amazing thing about Charlie Chaplin’s The Kid is that it was r...

Andres Gomez

Andres Gomez

Cute and funny. It is difficult to say anything new from this movie or Charles Chaplin. He just delivers a complete story with a lot of different elements. Remarkable is also the performance of Jackie Coogan.

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