TE
The Chicago Herald and Examiner
Praised Chaplin's acting as the "greatest theatrical artist" and Coogan as the "best child actor," calling the film "perfection" and a comedic and emotional masterpiece.
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.
Directed byCharlie Chaplin
Written byCharlie Chaplin
Budget$250,000
Box office$5.45 million (estimated worldwide gross)
Critical Consensus
8.2
IMDb
8.1
TMDB
The Kid was a huge commercial success and is now considered one of the greatest silent films, selected for preservation in the National Film Registry. Early reviews ranged from glowing praise, declaring it a masterpiece, to mixed reactions noting elements of 'vulgarity'.
The Cast
Charlie Chaplin
A Tramp
Jackie Coogan
The Kid
Carl Miller
The Man
Edna Purviance
The Woman
Albert Austin
Car Thief / Man in Shelter (uncredited)
Beulah Bains
Bride (uncredited)
Nellie Bly Baker
Slum Nurse (uncredited)
Henry Bergman
Professor Guido / Night Shelter Keeper (uncredited)
EB
Edward Biby
Orphan Asylum Driver (uncredited)
B.F. Blinn
Assistant (uncredited)
Trivia
The Kid was Charlie Chaplin's first full-length film as a director.
First National initially wanted to release "The Kid" as three two-reel comedies, not a seven-reel feature, which would have meant a smaller salary for Chaplin.
To ensure the film's release as a complete work and to avoid it becoming part of his divorce proceedings, Chaplin re-negotiated his contract with First National.
The film made Jackie Coogan, then a vaudeville performer, into the first major child star of the movies.
In 2011, The Kid was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.
Reviews
0 reviews
Avg: 0.0 / 5
Critics
TM
Theatre Magazine
Found the film to surpass Chaplin's previous work in humor and pathos, noting its balance of tears and laughter, and declared it a "screen masterpiece."
TT
The New York Times
Gave a mixed review, praising Chaplin's performance, plot, and balance of comedy and sadness, but lamented elements of "vulgarity, or coarseness."
Audience
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