The Idle Class [Charlie Chaplin]

The Idle Class (1921) starring Charlie Chaplin, Edna Purviance, Mack Swain

In The Idle Class, Charlie Chaplin plays a double role — both the Little Tramp, and an inebriate husband of the suffering Edna Purviance.

In short, The Idle Class is effectively The Prince and the Pauper, with Charlie Chaplin playing the parts of both Charlie the Little Tramp, and an inebriated rich man — with an unhappy wife. It begins with the wife, Edna Purviance, arriving home on the train. With Charlie the Little Tramp riding underneath, hobo-style.

She’s expecting to be met there by her husband, also played by Chaplin. But he’s drunk, and running late. He dashes out in a hurry … having forgotten his pants! It’s a very funny scene, especially once he realizes it! He tries sneaking back into his room, finally jumping into his bed and under the covers just as his wife arrives.

Edna's inebriate husband has a perfectly good excuse for not meeting her at the train … he was drunk. — **Edna’s inebriate husband has a perfectly good excuse for not meeting her at the train … he was drunk.**

But Charlie the Little Tramp has come here to golf … and so he does, with some funny slapstick on the golf course, at the expense of the other actors. In the meanwhile, the inebriate husband receives a letter from his wife. It informs him that she’s going to leave him if he doesn’t stop drinking. He reacts, with his back to the camera, seemingly weeping profusely. But no! He’s shaking while mixing a drink.

At the same time, Charlie the Little Tramp is sitting on a bench, relaxing after a day at the golf course. But as you can see in the photo below, there’s a pickpocket that’s about to steal the wallet from Edna’s “father”.

**Charlie Chaplin and Mack Swain on a park bench**

Soon, a police officer is chasing Charlie the Little Tramp, thinking that he’s the pickpocket. It’s a comedy chase, that results in the Little Tramp ending up seeking refuge at the masquerade party.

**Policeman Al Garcia about to chase Charlie Chaplin the Little Tramp … to the masquerade party**

At the party, the “mistaken identity” plot comes to the forefront. The alcoholic husband is having trouble putting on his costume – a suit of armor. In the meantime, Edna mistakes the Tramp for her husband. It’s quite bittersweet, since the Tramp doesn’t understand why she’s being nice to him. And Edna doesn’t understand why “her husband” is behaving so nicely.

**Charlie Chaplin the Little Tramp with Edna Purviance at the masquerade ball … where the mistaken identity is about to come to a head!**

Eventually, all is straightened out, and Charlie the Little Tramp is thrown out. After soft-hearted Edna pushes her father to apologize to the poor tramp, Charlie gets a moment of revenge by kicking him in the pants and running off.

Cast of characters

Charlie Chaplin as Tramp / Husband
Edna Purviance as Neglected Wife
Mack Swain as Her Father
Henry Bergman as Sleeping Hobo / Guest in Cop Uniform
Al Garcia as Cop in Park / Guest
John Rand as Golfer / Guest
Rex Storey as Pickpocket / Guest

Trivia

Charles Chaplin underwent a bit of a creative block prior to making The Idle Class. Looking for an idea for his next film, Chaplin strolled through the studio’s prop building grabbing and playing with various items. Ultimately, he stumbled upon a set of golf clubs and envisioned the Tramp playing golf. This sparked the creation of the film.
Lita Grey, Chaplin’s future wife, played a maid at the party.