The Vagabond (1916) starring Charlie Chaplin, Edna Purviance
The Vagabond has a plot line similar to Chaplin’s feature-length film, The Circus. Charlie the Little Tramp hides out in the country from his fellow musicians, only to rescue a girl (Edna Purviance) from a band of gypsies (led by Eric Campbell). The girl later has her picture painted by an artist, which a rich woman recognizes as her long-lost granddaughter. The women are reunited, but Charlie mistakenly thinks that the girl and the artist have fallen in love. He leaves, forsaking his own feelings for the girl for her happiness.
Charlie the musician
The Vagabond begins with Charlie the Little Tramp, playing his violin outside of a bar for tips. However, another band of musicians is already playing there, outside the main entrance. So where Charlie the Little Tramp goes inside to collect their tips, a fight quickly breaks out. Soon, Charlie is on the run, afd after helping himself to a “free” drink, he heads out to the country.
In the country
In the country, and old gypsy woman and the gypsy chieftain are abusing a young girl, forcing her to work for them. Charlie comes upon the scene, and starts playing his violin or the girl. he’s delighted, but the gypsy chieftain isn’t. He assaults Charlie, and proceeds to whip the girl, abusing his own people along the way. But Charlie picks up a club …
In the meanwhile, we see a pair of woman in a house, one morning for her long-lost daughter.
But back at the gypsy camp, Charlie takes out the chieftain with a blow to the head from behind. And then, one by one, the other gypsies, in a funny bit. He then rescues the girl, and off they run. But the chieftain recovers, and pursues them. And while he’s drowning Charlie in a washtub, the girl rescues him! And off they go in a stolen gypsy wagon. Thankfully, the pursuit by the gypsy tribe is comically short-lived.
The fleeing couple rest, and then Charlie the Little Tramp washes up the girl in a comic bit.
The Artist arrives
As Charlie finishes up the wash job, and artist comes to the country to paint. While Charlie tries to cook some eggs — with a hammer — the girl and the artist find each other. And he’s inspired to sketch her portrait. And the girl is quickly smitten with the good-looking artist. His painting of her soon becomes a sensation, and a woman soon recognizes the subject of the painting! It’s her long-lost daughter, stolen by the gypsies many years ago!
Conclusion
The mother and daughter are soon reunited. Charlie bows out, thinking that the girl loves the artist, and he’s off on his own again …
Cast of characters
- Charlie Chaplin (The Idle Class) … Street musician
- Edna Purviance (The Pilgrim) … Gypsy drudge
- Eric Campbell (The Count) … Gypsy chieftain
- Leo White (The Champion) … Old Gypsy woman
- Lloyd Bacon (The Floorwalker) … Artist
- Charlotte Mineau (His New Job) … Girl’s mother
- Albert Austin (A Dog’s Life) … Trombonist
- John Rand (Police) … Trumpeter
- James T. Kelley (The Cure) … Musician / Gypsy
- Frank J. Coleman (The Rink) … Musician / Gypsy
Additional cast
- Phyllis Allen (Caught in a Cabaret) … (uncredited)
- Henry Bergman (Modern Times) … (uncredited)
- Fred Goodwins (A Night in the Show) … Percussionist / Gypsy (uncredited)