The Adventurer

In The Adventurer, we find Charlie the Little Tramp as an escaped convict who hides out in a high society party crawling with cops.

The Adventurer  (2 reels) (1917) starring Charlie Chaplin, Edna Purviance, Eric Campbell

The Adventurer – Charlie Chaplin’s an escaped convict, who rescues Edna Purviance, but boyfriend Eric Campbell’s determined to have the police take him away!

Comedy highlights

• Charlie the Little Tramp’s repeatedly escaping from the police at the beginning of the movie is absolutely hilarious!
• After Eric Campbell makes a big deal of bragging to Edna Purviance how strong he is, when her mother is drowning he runs to the dock, takes off his hat and coat, and … yells for help!
• The escaped Charlie comes to the rescue, giving the mother a drink to calm her. And since he’s also rescued Edna and Eric, when he gives pours another drink for Eric — he drinks it himself! And uses Eric’s beard to wipe his lips!
• After helping Edna’s mother with the stretcher to their car, he uses it to … dump Eric back into the ocean! And when Charlie rescues him again, Eric’s not grateful, and kicks him back into the ocean!
• At the party, drinking directly from a bottle, trying to hide it, and spilling it all over the rug.
• Doctoring the photo of the escaped convict in the newspaper.
• At the party, repeatedly sneaking drinks from the butler.
• Then, hiding from the prison guard at the party.
• Accidentally knocking ice cream down the back of a lady’s dress – getting Eric in trouble!

Cast of characters

• Charlie Chaplin (The Gold Rush; The Great Dictator) … The Convict (as Charlie Chaplin)
• Edna Purviance (The Kid) … The Girl
• Eric Campbell (The Cure) … The Suitor
• Henry Bergman (The Immigrant) … The Father
• Albert Austin (A Dog’s Life) … The Butler

Additional Cast

• Phyllis Allen (The Star Boarder) … Governess (uncredited)
• Monta Bell (The Pilgrim) … Man (uncredited)
• Frank J. Coleman (A Night in the Show) … Prison Guard (uncredited)
• Marta Golden (Work) … Mrs. Brown – Girl’s Mother (uncredited)
• James T. Kelley (The Rink) … Old Man (uncredited)
• Toraichi Kono (A Day’s Pleasure) … Chauffeur (uncredited)
• John Rand (Police) … Guest (uncredited)
• Janet Sully (The Cure) … Marie (uncredited)
• Loyal Underwood (The Pilgrim) … Guest (uncredited)
• May White (A Night in the Show) … Lady (uncredited)

Trivia

• The chauffeur was played by Toraichi Kono, who was Charles Chaplin’s own butler, chauffeur, secretary, and bodyguard from 1916 to 1934.
• The last of twelve films Charlie Chaplin made while he was under contract with the Mutual Film Corporation. In Unknown Chaplin, it’s suggested it was not coincidental that the theme of the film was about Charlie escaping prison as Chaplin left for another company that would agree to a more flexible production schedule.
• Eric Campbell’s final film.