Filmed in 1914, “Kids Auto Races in Venice” was Charles Chaplin’s second screen performance. It also marked the very first appearance of his Little Tramp character.
Charlie Chaplin’s film career began with Keystone in 1914, when he was hired by studio director Mack Sennett. In his first film, “Making a Living”, he dressed as an aristocrat in tuxedo tails and a top hat.
The film was a flop, but Sennett decided to give Chaplin another chance despite the skepticism of Keystone owners Kessel and Bauman. Charles Chaplin decided to use the tramp character that had made him so popular during his Vaudeville tours with the London troupe Karno. Legend has it that he borrowed clothes from the actors who shared his dressing room: a large pair of pants from Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle, a jacket a few sizes too small from Chester Conklin, a bowler hat from Mr. Durfee (Fatty’s father-in-law), a mustache from Mack Swain, and big shoes from Ford Sterling, which he wore on the wrong feet to make the Little Tramp’s walk even more comical.
Only Chaplin’s famous cane really belonged to him. With this outfit, the comic drunk routine he had perfected in music halls was enthusiastically received by both the Keystone actors and Mack Sennett.
“Kids Auto Races in Venice” was shot on January 10, 1914, in less than an hour, at Venice amusement park in Santa Monica during an actual kids auto race. The joke is rather banal. But the glimpse at Charles Chaplin’s faltering film debut, knowing the brilliant career that followed, lends “Kids Auto Races” a certain charm.
This print was made from a 1920’s acetate negative which was found through a notary public and collector in Caen, France. He obtained it from the grandson of the director of the laboratory where the film was printed for one of its first European releases. It may be the most complete copy in existence, and the closest to the original negative.
Charlie Chaplin’s film career began with Keystone in 1914, when he was hired by studio director Mack Sennett. In his first film, “Making a Living”, he dressed as an aristocrat in tuxedo tails and a top hat.
The film was a flop, but Sennett decided to give Chaplin another chance despite the skepticism of Keystone owners Kessel and Bauman. Charles Chaplin decided to use the tramp character that had made him so popular during his Vaudeville tours with the London troupe Karno. Legend has it that he borrowed clothes from the actors who shared his dressing room: a large pair of pants from Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle, a jacket a few sizes too small from Chester Conklin, a bowler hat from Mr. Durfee (Fatty’s father-in-law), a mustache from Mack Swain, and big shoes from Ford Sterling, which he wore on the wrong feet to make the Little Tramp’s walk even more comical.
Only Chaplin’s famous cane really belonged to him. With this outfit, the comic drunk routine he had perfected in music halls was enthusiastically received by both the Keystone actors and Mack Sennett.
“Kids Auto Races in Venice” was shot on January 10, 1914, in less than an hour, at Venice amusement park in Santa Monica during an actual kids auto race. The joke is rather banal. But the glimpse at Charles Chaplin’s faltering film debut, knowing the brilliant career that followed, lends “Kids Auto Races” a certain charm.
This print was made from a 1920’s acetate negative which was found through a notary public and collector in Caen, France. He obtained it from the grandson of the director of the laboratory where the film was printed for one of its first European releases. It may be the most complete copy in existence, and the closest to the original negative.
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Short film