His Prehistoric Past (2 reels) (1914) starring Charlie Chaplin, Mack Swain
In His Prehistoric Past, Charlie the Little Tramp falls asleep on a park bench, and dreams that he’s a caveman.
His Prehistoric Past is a Keystone silent comedy, starring Charlie Chaplin. The little tramp falls asleep on a park bench, and dream that he’s back in prehistoric times — complete with his bowler hat. In the past, “King Lowbrow” rules his tribe with an iron fist. Charlie comes by, and he’s smitten with the loveliest wife of the king’s harem — Sum-Babee. Got to love these names! The king sends his dancing henchman to go hunting, but when he sees Charlie and Sum-Babee, he shoots his arrow … Into Charlie’s posterior!
Soon, he’s chasing Charlie around a large boulder. But unknown to either, the chief joins in. And his own henchman hits him! And Charlie “rescues” the king, who thinks they’re now the best of friends. Soon, the two share a drink in the king’s cave. Then Charlie and Sum-Babee are nearly washed out to sea!
But the king’s getting suspicious. And after Charlie shoots at a chicken in a tree and they both get egged, he’s sure! After a scuffle, Charlie kicks the king over a cliff, and declares himself the new “kink”. But, the first king’s not dead! And once one of his cavemen rescue the king, he sneaks up on Charlie and Sum-Babee, hits him over the head with a rock and …. Charlie wakes up back in the real world, ending the short film.
Cast of characters
- Charlie Chaplin (Limelight; The Great Dictator) … Weakchin
- Mack Swain (The Gold Rush) … King Lowbrow
- May Wallace … The Queen
- Gene Marsh (The Masquerader) … Sum-Babee – Lowbrow’s Favorite Water Maiden
- Fritz Schade (Dough and Dynamite) … Ku-Ku aka Cleo – Medicine Man
- Cecile Arnold (The Face on the Barroom Floor) … Cavewoman
- Al St. John (The Rounders) … Caveman
Additional cast
- Helen Carruthers (A Fair Exchange) … Cave-Woman
- Syd Chaplin (Shoulder Arms) … Cop in Park (uncredited)
- Ted Edwards (Caught in a Cabaret) … Caveman (uncredited)
- Vivian Edwards (Dough and Dynamite) … Cavewoman (uncredited)
- Billy Gilbert (The Music Box) … Caveman Masher (uncredited)
- Charles Lakin (Mabel at the Wheel) … Caveman (uncredited)
- Grover Ligon (Those Love Pangs) … Caveman (uncredited)
- Frank D. Williams … Caveman (uncredited)
Trivia
- This film is among the 34 short films included in the “Chaplin at Keystone” DVD collection.
- In 1916, during the First World war, this film was released in the UK in 2-parts.
- Featured in the documentary “The Funniest Man in the World“