"The Champion" is double the length of the short films Chaplin did in 1914 which allowed for more characters and more silliness. In this one Chaplin plays a tramp who spars Spike Dugan (Ernest Van Pelt) in order to make some pocket change. Chaplin becomes a sensation when he surreptitiously places a horse shoe in his glove and knocks out Dugan. That act put him on a collision course with Bob Uppercut (Bud Jamison), the prize fighting champion. How would Chaplin beat Uppercut? Would Chaplin beat Uppercut?
Chaplin would have to do some Chaplin style training to get ready while also warding off a shady character (Leo White) who wanted him to throw the fight for $500. It's funny how long this short seemed in relation to the other ten to fifteen minute films he'd done. It was all a work in progress.
Chaplin would have to do some Chaplin style training to get ready while also warding off a shady character (Leo White) who wanted him to throw the fight for $500. It's funny how long this short seemed in relation to the other ten to fifteen minute films he'd done. It was all a work in progress.