The Pilgrim

I've only seen this as the 40 minute reissue with Matt Monroe warbling Chaplin's song 'Bound for Texas' all the way through it. There's nothing at all wrong with the tune or the singing, except that it comes on too often and makes you realise just how ordinary the rest of the score is. Maybe the DVD's better - maybe!

The film itself is a pleasure, not a joy, but it does have some typically wonderful Chaplin moments in it: The jig with the collection-boxes, the cake/hat, the sticking on his chin of the little 'beard' to make him look tough (what an expression he put on as well!) The reissue moves swiftly along, and you're borne with it until you sadly realise that it's over - too fast. Personally, the storyline is too thin and the gags though numerous are just too disparate and inconsequential to put this amongst his very best, but on a good second level. Charlie's maturer and lesser efforts like this are still towering achievements in comparison with most of his contemporaries and successors best.