''The New Janitor'' was the 27th comedy from
Keystone Studios to feature
Charlie Chaplin. The film is arguably one of his best for the studio, and a precursor to a key
Essanay Studios short, ''
The Bank''. The film also demonstrates the differences that Chaplin had with Keystone comedy in that it is a coherent whole in which the stock characters actually fill some emotional center. Chaplin brings a certain complexity to his janitor, unusual to the comedy factory of
Mack Sennett
Mack Sennett (born Michael Sinnott; January 17, 1880 – November 5, 1960) was a Canadian-American film actor, director, and producer, and studio head, known as the 'King of Comedy'.
Born in Danville, Quebec, in 1880, he started in films in the ...
. The film, which stars among Sennett's bit players
Jess Dandy
Jess Dandy (November 9, 1871 in Rochester, New York – April 15, 1923 in Brookline, Massachusetts) was an American actor during the silent movie era in Hollywood. His real name was Jesse A. Danzig. While working at Keystone Studios in 1914, D ...
,
Al St. John
Al St. John (also credited as Al Saint John and "Fuzzy" St. John; September 10, 1892 – January 21, 1963) was an early American motion-picture comedian. He was a nephew of silent film star Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, with whom he often performed on ...
,
John T. Dillon, and
Helen Carruthers
Helen Carruthers (1892–1925) was an American actress of the silent film era. Carruthers is best known for her work in Keystone comedies.
Career
Carruther's career in film began in 1914. That year she appeared in no less than 35 Keystone ...
, is far more centered and clear in direction. Comedy mostly flows from the core of the story instead of being a by-product of it. After all this is a typical bank robbery storyline.
Plot
The Tramp
The Tramp (''Charlot'' in several languages), also known as the Little Tramp, was English actor Charlie Chaplin's most memorable on-screen character and an icon in world cinema during the era of silent film. '' The Tramp'' is also the title ...
, a janitor in this film, is fired from work for accidentally knocking his bucket of water out of the window and onto his boss, the chief banker (Dandy). Meanwhile, one of the junior managers (Dillon) is being threatened with exposure by his bookie for his unpaid gambling debts, and thus decides to steal from the company. He is caught in the act of raiding the vault by the bank secretary (Carruthers), who is threatened with a gun and therefore presses the janitor button for help. The Tramp comes to the rescue and gets hold of the manager’s gun, only to be misjudged by the chief banker and a policeman as the thief. The secretary explains the truth to the chief banker. In the end the manager is arrested and the Tramp is rewarded by the chief banker for his heroic act.
Reviews
''
Moving Picture World
The ''Moving Picture World'' was an influential early trade journal for the American film industry, from 1907 to 1927. An industry powerhouse at its height, ''Moving Picture World'' frequently reiterated its independence from the film studios.
I ...
'' commented, "...A ripping good comedy number with Chas. Champman
icplaying the part of the janitor. He interpolates a lot of his inimitable funny business and the plot is better than usual."
''
Motion Picture News
The ''Motion Picture News'' was an American film industry trade paper published from 1913 to 1930.
History
The publication was created through the 1913 merger of the ''Moving Picture News'' founded in 1908 and ''The Exhibitors' Times'', founded ...
'' also got Chaplin's surname wrong in its review: "The comical Charles Chapman
icin a laughable farce that will arouse peals of laughter from any audience."
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 consid ...
– Janitor
*
Jess Dandy
Jess Dandy (November 9, 1871 in Rochester, New York – April 15, 1923 in Brookline, Massachusetts) was an American actor during the silent movie era in Hollywood. His real name was Jesse A. Danzig. While working at Keystone Studios in 1914, D ...
– Bank president
*
John T. Dillon – Villainous manager
*
Al St. John
Al St. John (also credited as Al Saint John and "Fuzzy" St. John; September 10, 1892 – January 21, 1963) was an early American motion-picture comedian. He was a nephew of silent film star Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, with whom he often performed on ...
– Elevator boy
*
Helen Carruthers
Helen Carruthers (1892–1925) was an American actress of the silent film era. Carruthers is best known for her work in Keystone comedies.
Career
Carruther's career in film began in 1914. That year she appeared in no less than 35 Keystone ...
– Bank secretary
External links
*
1914 films
1914 comedy films
1914 short films
American black-and-white films
Short films directed by Charlie Chaplin
American silent short films
Keystone Studios films
American comedy short films
Films produced by Mack Sennett
Silent American comedy films
Articles containing video clips
Works about janitors
1910s American films
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