Gentlemen of Nerve (1914) starring Charlie Chaplin, Chester Conklin, Mabel Normand, Mack Swain
Gentlemen of Nerve is a 1914 Keystone one reel silent comedy short film. It stars Charlie Chaplin, Mabel Normand, Chester Conklin, Mack Swain as four people attending an auto race. Of course, slapstick conflict develops.
In Gentlemen of Nerve, Mabel and Chester Conklin go to an auto race. As they enter, Mack Swain tries to flirt with Mabel. All he gets is a kick in the pants by Chester. Once seated, Chester is flattered by attention from a flirty woman. He even goes so far as to pass her a note! Jealous Mabel doesn’t appreciate this, and has them move … Stomping the flirty woman’s foot in the process!
In the meanwhile, Charlie Chaplin arrives, and is coerced to help Mack Swain sneak into the auto race via a hole in the fence. But Mack’s a big man, and he gets stuck. Charlie pushing, pulling, etc. Mack through the hole is arguably the funniest part of the movie. Complete with Seltzer bottle.
Once inside, Charlie’s antagonistic nature kicks in, and starts a fight with Chester. After Mabel hurries Chester off, Charlie begins a fight with spectators behind a fence. Another very funny scene.
One more Charlie-inspired conflict ends with Charlie sitting sweetly next to Mabel — even though she’s destroyed his hat. And Mack and Chester are led off by policeman Edgar Kennedy, apparently for disturbing the peace.
Cast of characters
- Charlie Chaplin – Mr. Wow-Woe. Charlie the Little Tramp, instigating fights and flirting with pretty girls.
- Mabel Normand – Mabel
- Chester Conklin (Dough and Dynamite) – Mr. Walrus
- Mack Swain (The Gold Rush) – Ambrose
- Phyllis Allen (A Night in the Show) – Flirty woman
- Edgar Kennedy (Duck Soup) – Policeman
[Updated September 2, 2023]