In this film, Charlie Chaplin must break up an undesired arranged marriage for his beloved girlfriend in San Francisco.
Her father wants her to marry a well-to-do count who has requested he make the arrangement for them.
However, she is attracted to Charlie's wit and antics, and asks him to be her knight in shining armour, by whisking her away from this unhappy fate.
At first, Charlie pretends to be the count, wooing both her and her father in the process...that is, until the count shows up and exposes his attempted con.
Run out of the house, Charlie must resort to his back up plan...which involves stealing her away from the count when they go to visit Golden Gate Park.
He puts his plan into action, and it results in a hilarious slapstick chase, as the count, her father and a couple police officers who get caught up in the ordeal, begin to pursue the two lovers as they try to escape through the park.
Culminating with the first filmed car chase sequence in the history of San Francisco...beginning, first, on the speedway, in front of the iconic windmill, and eventually ending up on the Great Highway.
All in all, it's a simple, yet effective, silent romantic comedy...and one of the first films shot in San Francisco, which would later become an iconic filming location for many films to come.
A bit of a prcedent setter, one might argue.
6 out of 10.
Her father wants her to marry a well-to-do count who has requested he make the arrangement for them.
However, she is attracted to Charlie's wit and antics, and asks him to be her knight in shining armour, by whisking her away from this unhappy fate.
At first, Charlie pretends to be the count, wooing both her and her father in the process...that is, until the count shows up and exposes his attempted con.
Run out of the house, Charlie must resort to his back up plan...which involves stealing her away from the count when they go to visit Golden Gate Park.
He puts his plan into action, and it results in a hilarious slapstick chase, as the count, her father and a couple police officers who get caught up in the ordeal, begin to pursue the two lovers as they try to escape through the park.
Culminating with the first filmed car chase sequence in the history of San Francisco...beginning, first, on the speedway, in front of the iconic windmill, and eventually ending up on the Great Highway.
All in all, it's a simple, yet effective, silent romantic comedy...and one of the first films shot in San Francisco, which would later become an iconic filming location for many films to come.
A bit of a prcedent setter, one might argue.
6 out of 10.