''The Bank'' is a silent slapstick comedy. It was

Charlie Chaplin Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin Jr. (16 April 188925 December 1977) was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the era of silent film. He became a worldwide icon through his screen persona, the Tramp, and is consider ...

's tenth film for Essanay Films. Released in 1915, it is a slight departure from the tramp character, as

plays a janitor in a bank.

Edna Purviance Olga Edna Purviance (; October 21, 1895 – January 13, 1958) was an American actress of the silent film era. She was the leading lady in many of Charlie Chaplin's early films and in a span of eight years, she appeared in over 30 films with hi ...

plays the secretary on whom Charlie has a crush and dreams that she has fallen in love with him. Filmed at the

Majestic Studio Majestic or The Majestic may refer to: Arts and entertainment Film * The Majestic (film), ''The Majestic'' (film), a 2001 film starring Jim Carrey * Majestic (film), ''Majestic'' (film), a 2002 Indian film * The main antagonist of 50 Cent's 2005 ...

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

. There doesn't appear to be any evidence that this film was received any differently from the bulk of Chaplin's early work, but today this film is often considered one of his best efforts during his

Essanay The Essanay Film Manufacturing Company was an early American motion picture studio. The studio was founded in 1907 in Chicago, and later developed an additional film lot in Niles Canyon, California. Its various stars included Francis X. Bushman, ...

period.

Synopsis

Charlie, feeling very important, enters the bank where he works. He descends to the vault and works its combination with great panache and opens the door. Charlie hangs his coat inside the vault and brings out his mop and bucket signifying he is the bank's janitor. He causes typical havoc with his mop and then with his broom. Charlie sweeps one room and the other janitor sweeps the adjacent room. Instead of cleaning they just sweep the rubbish to and fro from room to room, so it becomes the other's task. Charlie discovers a package containing a tie with a note attached to it written by the bank's typist. It is addressed "To Charles with love from Edna." Charlie jumps to the wrong conclusion that Edna is in love with him, not realizing the package is intended for another Charles—the cashier. Charlie gets a bunch of flowers and places them lovingly on Edna's desk with a note "love from Charlie. When Edna is told by Charles the cashier that they are not from him but from Charlie the janitor, she coldly tosses them into the wastebasket. Charlie finds them there and is heartbroken. Charlie then has a dream in which he heroically thwarts a bank robbery, rescuing Edna in the process. He turns to kiss the now-adoring Edna—but then he wakes up. Charlie is kissing his mop—while Edna is kissing her cashier boyfriend.

Cast

Charles Chaplin Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin Jr. (16 April 188925 December 1977) was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the era of silent film. He became a worldwide icon through his screen persona, the Tramp, and is consider ...

- Charlie, a Janitor *

- Edna, a Secretary *

Carl Stockdale Carl Stockdale also known as Carlton Stockdale (February 19, 1874 – March 15, 1953) was one of the longest-working Hollywood veteran actors, with a career dating from the early 1910s. He also made the difficult transition from silent fi ...

- Charles, a Cashier *

Charles Inslee Charles E. Inslee (1870 – September 1922) was an American actor. He appeared in 127 films between 1908 and 1921. Biography Born in New York City, Inslee was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Inslee of Jamaica Plain Jamaica Plain is ...

- President of the bank *

Leo White Leo White (November 10, 1882 – September 20, 1948), Leo Weiss, was a German-born British-American film and stage actor who appeared as a character actor in many Charlie Chaplin films. Biography Born in Germany, White grew up in England where ...

- Clerk * Billy Armstrong - Another Janitor *

Fred Goodwins Fred Goodwins (26 February 1891 – April 1923) was an English actor, film director and screenwriter of the silent era. He appeared in 24 films between 1915 and 1921.He most notably worked with Charlie Chaplin during Chaplin's mutual period ...

- Bald Cashier/Bank Robber with Derby * John Rand - Bank Robber and salesman *

Lloyd Bacon Lloyd Francis Bacon (December 4, 1889 – November 15, 1955) was an American screen, stage and vaudeville actor and film director. As a director he made films in virtually all genres, including westerns, musicals, comedies, gangster films, an ...

- Bank Robber * Frank J. Coleman - Bank Robber *

Paddy McGuire Paddy McGuire (né McQuire, 1884 - November 16, 1923) was an Irish actor and comedian. Biography Paddy McQuire was born in Ireland in 1884 or 1885. A burlesque comedian with a rubber face, McQuire was a regular supporting player in the films ...

- Cashier in White Coat *

Wesley Ruggles Wesley Ruggles (June 11, 1889 – January 8, 1972) was an American film director. Life and work He was born in Los Angeles, California, younger brother of actor Charlie Ruggles. He began his career in 1915 as an actor, appearing in a doz ...

- Bank Customer *

Carrie Clark Ward Carrie Clark Ward (January 9, 1862 – February 6, 1926) was an American actress of the silent era. Biography Ward was born in Virginia City, Nevada, in 1862. In 1885 Clark acted in a company at the San Francisco Bush Street Theatre. Wa ...

- Bank Customer * Lawrence A. Bowes - Bond Salesman

External links

* 1915 films Short films directed by Charlie Chaplin American silent short films American black-and-white films American crime comedy films Essanay Studios films 1915 short films Articles containing video clips Works about janitors Films about bank robbery American comedy short films 1910s crime comedy films 1915 comedy films 1915 crime films 1910s American films Silent American comedy films {{1910s-short-comedy-film-stub