A Day's Pleasure

A Day’s Pleasure (1919) starring Charlie Chaplin, Edna Purviance

A Day’s Pleasure is the story of a family man taking his wife and kids out for a boat ride. And he learns the hard way that anything that can go wrong, will!

Despite his costume, Charlie Chaplin isn’t playing the Little Tramp. Although he clearly has the Tramp’s short temper. Here, he’s happily married, and taking his wife and two sons out for A Day’s Pleasure. They’re going for a boat ride.

Starting the car

There’s a funny bit of prop humor as Charlie tries to start the car. This is the old style vehicle, which was started with a crank. When it starts, it vibrates wildly. But stops when he gets into the car! After several rounds of this, they’re finally on the road to their excursion.

On the boat

Once they get to the boat, there’s a lot of slapstick humor, that’s broken into several parts.

Getting on the boat for A Day’s Pleasure

Charlie using another passenger as a human bridge to get onto the boat

Charlie trying to squeeze in after a large man has stolen his seat — Charlie using another passenger as a human bridge to get onto the boat

Seasickness

Everyone gets seasick on the pleasure cruise. Even the jazz band, entertaining the passengers. And the trombone player massaging the seasick Charlie’s mustache!

Charlie Chaplin fights with a deck chair, and loses. He finally throws it over the side

Miserably seasick, Charlie Chaplin's bothered by the equally seasick band — Charlie Chaplin fights with a deck chair, and loses. He finally throws it over the side

The seasickness leads to a fight shortly. He’s sitting down, and doesn’t have the strength to fight off a steward who’s covering him with a blanket. When he’s sitting by another man’s wife!

Dancing and fighting on the boat

Seasick husband thinks that's his wife's hand - but it's Charlie's! Leading to the fight in "A Day's Pleasure" — Seasick husband thinks that’s his wife’s hand – but it’s Charlie’s! Leading to the fight

Charlie Chaplin fights with the seasick husband in "A Day's Pleasure" — Seasick husband thinks that’s his wife’s hand – but it’s Charlie’s! Leading to the fight

On board the ship, the seasick Charlie gets into a fight with (another) seasick husband. It’s quite funny, and they’re both seasick, and take turns fighting, dodging, and running to the handrail!

Eventually, the seasick Charlie actually gets to dance with his wife Edna — between bouts of seasickness.

Charlie Chaplin dancing with his wife Edna Purviance on board ship in "A Day's Pleasure" — Charlie Chaplin dancing with his wife Edna Purviance on board ship

Can't blame Charlie Chaplin for getting seasick in "A Day's Pleasure" — Charlie Chaplin dancing with his wife Edna Purviance on board ship

Traffic trouble on the way home from A Day’s Pleasure

All good things must come to an end …. And so does Charlie’s boat ride. But, there’s still some trouble waiting for him on the way home. Driving through town, he has trouble at a traffic stop. With the police, impatience, some pedestrians who don’t care that they’re loitering in front of Charlie’s car, and a spilled barrel of tar! The tar traps Charlie’s car, then Charlie, then one police officer — who falls through a manhole — and then another! But eventually, he gets on the road to home.