In 1917 Chaplin had just four shorts released into cinemas. That drop in output again marked a steep rise in quality... while The Cure and The Adventurer are solid but largely unremarkable, The Immigrant and Easy Street are so far in advance of at least 95% of his prior work that it's staggering.
From the still mind-blowing scenes of heroin injection and attempted rape in Easy Street to the slyly political and deftly funny The Immigrant, these are two first class shorts. The Immigrant, while having the least to say (the political subtext is grossly exaggerated) is the funniest, containing a great many visual gags and humorous scenes that fit well amongst the artistry.
From the still mind-blowing scenes of heroin injection and attempted rape in Easy Street to the slyly political and deftly funny The Immigrant, these are two first class shorts. The Immigrant, while having the least to say (the political subtext is grossly exaggerated) is the funniest, containing a great many visual gags and humorous scenes that fit well amongst the artistry.