Charlie Chaplin's "Making A Living"

Making a Living (also known as Doing His Best, A Busted Johnny, Troubles and Take My Picture) is the first film starring Charlie Chaplin.<></> It premiered on February 2, 1914.< name="Neibaur"></> Chaplin plays Edgar English, a lady-charming swindler who runs afoul of the Keystone Kops. It was written and directed by Henry Lehrman.

Plot
Chaplin's character attempts to convince a passerby (director Henry Lehrman) to give him money. Chaplin is then shown flirting with a woman; Lehrman enters to present the woman with flowers and sees Chaplin. A slapstick fight between the two ensues. Later, Lehrman's character takes a photograph of an automobile accident; Chaplin's character steals the camera whilst the journalist is helping a trapped motorist and rushes back to the paper with it to claim the photograph as his own. A short pursuit with the Keystone Kops follows.< name="Neibaur" />

Chaplin's performance
Chaplin wore a large moustache and a top hat in this film, he also carries a walking cane. Chaplin's famed screen persona of "The Tramp" did not appear until his next film, Kid Auto Races at Venice, but his character in this film is somewhat similar, having hat, cane, moustache and baggy trousers.< name="Maland"></> In later accounts Chaplin lamented that the best of his performance had been left out of the final cut.< name="Okuda"></> Lehrman later admitted to deliberately mishandling the cutting of the film out of spite for Chaplin.< name="Weissman"></>
The Fremont Hotel, Los Angeles is shown briefly in the background of a fighting scene in the road.

Cast

Charlie Chaplin - Swindler
Virginia Kirtley - Daughter
Alice Davenport - Mother
Henry Lehrman - Reporter
Minta Durfee - Woman
Chester Conklin - Policeman / Bum

See also
Charlie Chaplin filmography

Category:1914 films
Category:American films
Category:American silent short films
Category:Black-and-white films
Category:1910s comedy films
Category:Films directed by Henry Lehrman
Category:American comedy films
Category:Films produced by Mack Sennett