The Kid (1921 film) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Kid |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Charlie Chaplin |
| Produced by | Charlie Chaplin |
| Written by | Charlie Chaplin |
| Starring |
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| Music by | Charlie Chaplin (1972 re-release) |
| Cinematography | R. H. Totheroh |
| Editing by | Charlie Chaplin |
| Studio | Charles Chaplin Productions |
| Distributed by | First National |
| Release date(s) | January 21, 1921 (Premiere) February 6, 1921 |
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| Country | United States |
| Language |
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| Budget | $250,000 |
| Money made | $5,450,000 |
The Kid is a famous 1921 American silent comedy-drama film. It was written, produced, directed by, and starred Charlie Chaplin. The movie also features Jackie Coogan as a young boy who becomes Chaplin's adopted son and helper.
This film was Chaplin's first full-length movie as a director. It was a huge hit and earned the second-highest amount of money in 1921. Today, many people think it is one of the best films from the silent movie era. In 2011, the Library of Congress chose it to be saved in the United States National Film Registry.
Story of The Kid
A mother, who is not married, sadly leaves her baby. She places him in a fancy car with a note that says, "Please love and care for this orphan child." Two thieves then steal the car and leave the baby in an alley.
The Tramp, played by Charlie Chaplin, finds the baby. He tries to give the baby to other people passing by. But then he finds the note, and his heart softens. He takes the boy home and names him John. The Tramp even changes his furniture to make a place for the baby. Meanwhile, the mother changes her mind and comes back for her baby. When she learns the car was stolen, she faints.
Five years later, the Kid and the Tramp live in a small room. They don't have much money, but they have a lot of love. They earn money with a small trick: the Kid throws stones to break windows. Then the Tramp, who works as a glazier (window repairer), gets paid to fix them.
At the same time, the mother has become a rich actress. She helps poor children by giving them gifts. By chance, the mother and the Kid almost meet without knowing who each other is.
Later, the Kid gets into a fight with another boy. People gather to watch. The Kid wins, which makes the other boy's older brother angry. The older brother attacks the Tramp. The mother breaks up the fight. But it starts again after she leaves.
Soon after, the mother tells the Tramp to call a doctor because the Kid is sick. The doctor finds out that the Tramp is not the Kid's father. He tells the authorities. Two men come to take the boy to an orphanage. After a struggle and a chase, the Tramp and the boy manage to stay together.
When the mother returns to check on the boy, she meets the doctor. The doctor shows her the note he took from the Tramp. She recognizes it as the note she left with her baby years ago.
The Tramp and the boy become fugitives and stay in a cheap hotel. The hotel owner finds out about a $1,000 reward for the boy. He takes the Kid to the police station while the Tramp is asleep.
The tearful mother is reunited with her son. The Tramp searches everywhere for the missing boy. He can't find him and returns to their small home. He falls asleep and dreams of angels and devils. A policeman wakes him up and takes him to a big house. The mother and the Kid open the door. The Kid jumps into the Tramp's arms, and the Tramp is welcomed inside.
Who's in The Kid?
- Charlie Chaplin as The Tramp
- Jackie Coogan as the Kid ("John")
- Edna Purviance as the Woman (John's mother)
- Carl Miller as the Man (John's father)
- Other actors (uncredited)
- Tom Wilson as the Policeman
- Henry Bergman as the night shelter keeper and others
- Charles Reisner as a neighborhood bully
- Raymond Lee as the bully's little brother
- Lita Grey as an angel in a dream scene
- Jules Hanft as the country doctor
- Frank Campeau as a welfare officer
- F. Blinn as a welfare officer's assistant
- Jack H. Coogan Jr. as a pickpocket and others
- Granville Redmond as the Man's friend
- May White as the Woman's maid and apartment owner
- Silas Merric Hathaway as the baby Kid
- Albert Austin as a man in the shelter and a car thief
- Esther Ralston as an angel
- Arthur Thalasso as a car thief
Making The Kid
Charlie Chaplin did many jobs for The Kid. He wrote, produced, directed, and edited the film. He also starred in it and later wrote the music. This movie was special because it mixed funny parts with sad, serious parts. It is seen as one of the best silent films ever made. Some people say it's Chaplin's most personal film.
The film made Jackie Coogan, who was a vaudeville performer, the first big child star in movies. Some believe the deep bond shown in the film was influenced by the sad death of Chaplin's own baby son, which happened just ten days before filming began.
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The film company, First National, first wanted to release The Kid as three short comedies. But Chaplin wanted it released as one full movie. Releasing it as short films would also mean Chaplin got paid less.
After the movie was finished in 1920, Chaplin faced problems with his first wife, Mildred Harris. She was divorcing him and tried to claim his money and the film. To protect the movie, Chaplin and his team secretly moved the film's original negative to Salt Lake City. They edited it in a room at the Hotel Utah.
To get the full film released and keep it out of his divorce case, Chaplin showed it to First National executives. He used this chance to get a better deal for himself. He negotiated to get more money based on the film's success. This included 50% of the money earned after First National made back $1.5 million. Chaplin would also own the film completely after five years.
Years later, Chaplin took out some scenes he thought were too emotional for modern viewers. He also wrote and recorded new music for the film's re-release in theaters. This new version of The Kid was shown for the first time on April 4, 1972, in New York City. Chaplin himself was there.
Why The Kid is Important
Jeffrey Vance, who wrote about Chaplin, said that The Kid is still important. It showed how Chaplin could use serious parts in a long comedy film. It also tells us a lot about Chaplin himself. When Chaplin wrote that The Kid was "A picture with a smile—and perhaps, a tear," he was thinking about his own art and life.
Mary Pickford, another famous actress, said that The Kid was a great example of how movies can tell a story using actions instead of just words on screen.
In December 2011, The Kid was chosen to be saved in the Library of Congress' National Film Registry. The registry said the film is a "clever mix of touching drama, social comments, and creative comedy." They praised Chaplin's skill in keeping his artistic touch in a longer film. They also noted how he could make audiences feel many emotions by mixing funny slapstick with sad moments.
As of January 2021, The Kid has a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This is based on 50 reviews, with an average score of 8.6 out of 10. The website's main opinion says: "Charlie Chaplin's funny Tramp gets great help from Jackie Coogan as The Kid in this slapstick masterpiece, balancing the laughs with truly touching moments."
See also
- List of United States comedy films
- List of films with a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a film review website
