The Bank (1915 silent slapstick comedy)

The Bank is a silent slapstick comedy. It was Charlie Chaplin's tenth film for Essanay Films.

Released in 1915, it is a slight departure from the Tramp character, as Charlie Chaplin plays a janitor in a bank. Edna Purviance plays the secretary on whom Charlie has a crush and dreams that she has fallen in love with him. Filmed at the Majestic Studio in Los Angeles. There doesn't appear to be any evidence that this film was received any differently from the bulk of Chaplin's early work, but today this film is often considered one of his best efforts during his Essanay period.[citation needed]

Synopsis
Charlie, feeling very important, enters the bank where he works. He descends to the vault and works its combination with great panache and opens the door. Charlie hangs his coat inside the vault and brings out his mop and bucket, signifying he is the bank's janitor. He causes typical havoc with his mop and then with his broom. Charlie sweeps one room and the other janitor sweeps the adjacent room. Instead of cleaning, they just sweep the rubbish to and fro from room to room, so it becomes the other's task.

Cast

Charlie Chaplin — Charlie, a Janitor
Edna Purviance — Edna, a Secretary
Carl Stockdale — Charles, a Cashier
Charles Inslee — President of the bank
Leo White — Clerk
Billy Armstrong — Another Janitor
Fred Goodwins — Bald Cashier/Bank Robber with Derby
John Rand — Bank Robber and salesman
Lloyd Bacon — Bank Robber
Frank Coleman — Bank Robber
Paddy McGuire — Cashier in White Coat
Wesley Ruggles — Bank Customer
Carrie Clark Ward — Bank Customer
Lawrence A. Bowes — Bond Salesman