Chaplin in "Tillie's Punctured Romance"

“Tillie’s Punctured Romance” (1914, Mack Sennett)

“Tillie’s Punctured Romance” was the first feature length comedy released in November 1914. It would be Chaplin’s 33rd film overall and starred all the familiars here and there (Mabel Normand, Chester Conklin, Mack Swain…). What separates this film from the shorter films is all in the length. Yes it uses almost all of the stunts you can see in any one of the other 34 Keystone films made in 1914, such as the inexplicable tripping over non-objects, throwing of bricks, shooting at people, repeatedly slipping on a wet floor, fat person as bowling ball, etc. However, we are also given the first film starring Chaplin where he must carry the film, for the most part as co-stars Marie Dressler (Tillie) and Mabel Normand (Mabel) are also great physical/slapstick comedy actors. The viewer is given an extended look at his character and those around him.

Chaplin is not the sympathetic ‘tramp’ character in this film. He’s that other guy; the deceitful, conning, violent Chaplin. In “Tillie’s Punctured Romance,” Chaplin is a city man who goes to the country and arranges quickly to elope with a very homely looking yet wealthy woman. The object is the money and Chaplin gets it and makes off with his on again, off again girlfriend, Mabel. The story develops further when Chaplin finds out that Tillie stands to inherit a fortune due to the death of a relative and he immediately goes back to her and persuades her to marry him asap before even she knows how much loot she’s just inherited.

Sympathy is best placed with Tillie in this case. Mabel and Chaplin are dirtbags so that’s that. Funny dirtbags, but dirtbags none the less. Tillie may not be the best looking flower in the patch and she may be a little spoiled girl trapped in an imposing woman’s body, but how can we not feel sorry for someone who only wants love and is tricked into love for money. The opportunity for Chaplin to make off with the money comes when Tillie gets drunk. Chaplin and Mabel move in and pick pocket her ‘bankroll.’ Poor Tillie isn’t even a good drunk, leading to some cop-slapping, dancing hilarity.

I’ll admit that anything over an hour, which ever version you happen to watch as there are multiple lengths out there, of these early Chaplin comedies is stretching it a bit but this film is a great piece of history. C’mon folks: 1st Comedy Feature (at least in the US).