"The Immigrant" is one of Charlie Chaplin's most beloved short films, and while it's highly enjoyable, that probably has more to do with its representation of American ideals. Himself British, Chaplin and Edna Purviance play immigrants. The first part of the film has them aboard a ship set for the states. These scenes are mostly Chaplin's typically refined slapstick and pantomime, but there's also a tendency towards a style of actuality, or documentary-like scenes--rather like the social realism pictures, such as with the opening shots of the immigrants.
There are also the sweet, tender moments and the pathos. By now, Chaplin had realized the tramp as a sympathetic protagonist whom audiences could root for, which is quite a transformation from his earlier incarnations. Once again, Chaplin balances seemingly perpendicular approaches fluently. There are very funny moments, such as in the restaurant and the gambling scene; sweet moments such as the ending; and of the actuality-like aspects, many have remarked on the shot of the Statue of Liberty.
Additionally, the happy ending with the artist represents the ideal of America as the land of opportunity. Some see a hint of social commentary, or slight criticizing, of America, as well, in "The Immigrant"; the scene where the tramp kicks an immigration officer in the bum having supposedly aroused FBI director J. Edgar Hoover to eventually revoke Chaplin's visa, as represented in the biopic "Chaplin" (1992). Besides some generally politically neutral commentary on poverty and such, I don't see it; it's completely the opposite: "The Immigrant" is an undisguised tribute to America as the land of opportunity (as it certainly was for Chaplin) and other such ideals. And, if "The Immigrant" seems episodic at times, it's only indicative of the need for him to make longer films to better entertain and more fully express his ideas, which he would at First National.
There are also the sweet, tender moments and the pathos. By now, Chaplin had realized the tramp as a sympathetic protagonist whom audiences could root for, which is quite a transformation from his earlier incarnations. Once again, Chaplin balances seemingly perpendicular approaches fluently. There are very funny moments, such as in the restaurant and the gambling scene; sweet moments such as the ending; and of the actuality-like aspects, many have remarked on the shot of the Statue of Liberty.
Additionally, the happy ending with the artist represents the ideal of America as the land of opportunity. Some see a hint of social commentary, or slight criticizing, of America, as well, in "The Immigrant"; the scene where the tramp kicks an immigration officer in the bum having supposedly aroused FBI director J. Edgar Hoover to eventually revoke Chaplin's visa, as represented in the biopic "Chaplin" (1992). Besides some generally politically neutral commentary on poverty and such, I don't see it; it's completely the opposite: "The Immigrant" is an undisguised tribute to America as the land of opportunity (as it certainly was for Chaplin) and other such ideals. And, if "The Immigrant" seems episodic at times, it's only indicative of the need for him to make longer films to better entertain and more fully express his ideas, which he would at First National.