IMDb RATING
7.6/10
9.2K
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Charlie is an immigrant who endures a challenging voyage and gets into trouble as soon as he arrives in America.Charlie is an immigrant who endures a challenging voyage and gets into trouble as soon as he arrives in America.Charlie is an immigrant who endures a challenging voyage and gets into trouble as soon as he arrives in America.
- Awards
- 1 win
Janet Sully
- Passenger
- (as Janet Milly Sully)
- Director
- Writers
- Charles Chaplin
- Vincent Bryan(uncredited)
- Maverick Terrell(uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe scene in which Charles Chaplin's character kicks an immigration officer was cited later as "evidence" of his anti-Americanism when he was forced to leave the United States during the McCarthy "Red Scare" period in the 1950s.
- GoofsWhen the ship arrives in New York harbor, it is moving in a southward direction as indicated by the passing view of the Statue of Liberty, but a ship arriving in New York would be heading north, not south.
- Quotes
Title Card: The arrival in the Land of Liberty.
- Alternate versionsHenry Bergman was originally cast as the Head Waiter and extensive footage was shot before Chaplin recast the role with Eric Campbell. This unused footage appeared in the documentary series The Unknown Chaplin, along with bloopers and alternate takes from this film. A 1960s 8mm home movie release of this film was retitled "Broke" and contained most of the Restaurant sequence, from the Tramp entering the establishment, to realizing he has no money and seeing the Head Waiter beat up a non-paying customer. After the advent of sound, the film was reissued with sound effects added.
- ConnectionsEdited into The Charlie Chaplin Festival (1941)
Featured review
"The arrival in the Land of Liberty"
'The Immigrant (1917)' shows Chaplin really finding his feet as a performer and a storyteller. In this 20-minute comedy, the Little Tramp arrives in New York City following a tumultuous transatlantic journey, throughout which the vessel pitched like an amusement park ride. The ever-resourceful Tramp is first seen sprawled over the side of the ship, as though indulging his sea-sickness, but then emerges to reveal himself with a flailing fish in hand. There's also a very touching scene, foreshadowing an unforgettable moment in 'City Lights (1931),' in which Chaplin surrenders his money to a pretty girl (Edna Purviance) in the most humble way he can manage – only to get accused of pickpocketing!
Following his arrival in America, the broke and lonely Tramp finds some money on the sidewalk and buys a meal, only to realise – too late – that he's lost the coin. Desperate to avoid being beaten up by the burly waiter and kitchen staff, he tries to obscure the fact that his finances are inadequate. Chaplin's timing, as ever, is exquisitely funny, and even then he had mastered the combination of comedy and sentiment that would make him one of Hollywood's most powerful and respected artists. Edna Purviance is delicate and sympathetic as a fellow immigrant, and the massive Eric Campbell is amusingly intimidating as a café head- waiter who's willing to flay a man for being ten cents short of the bill.
Following his arrival in America, the broke and lonely Tramp finds some money on the sidewalk and buys a meal, only to realise – too late – that he's lost the coin. Desperate to avoid being beaten up by the burly waiter and kitchen staff, he tries to obscure the fact that his finances are inadequate. Chaplin's timing, as ever, is exquisitely funny, and even then he had mastered the combination of comedy and sentiment that would make him one of Hollywood's most powerful and respected artists. Edna Purviance is delicate and sympathetic as a fellow immigrant, and the massive Eric Campbell is amusingly intimidating as a café head- waiter who's willing to flay a man for being ten cents short of the bill.
helpful•31
- ackstasis
- Jan 25, 2010
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Also known as
- A Modern Columbus
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime30 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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