"Shanghaied" has a plot that is rather complicated for such a short film, but as in most of Charlie Chaplin's earlier films, the emphasis is really on slapstick comedy.
The story involves a scheming ship owner and his roughneck captain, who tricks and "shanghais" a group of sailors, including Charlie, to form his crew. The ship owner's daughter is in love with Charlie, and comes along for the ride. It's a bit hard to catch everything in the plot, but the slapstick at sea is easy to follow. Chaplin gets decent mileage out of a few ideas using the shipboard setting, as he and the crew try to handle the cargo and work in the kitchen as the ship rocks back and forth.
While not one of Chaplin's best, there are still a few good laughs to be had in "Shanghaied".
The story involves a scheming ship owner and his roughneck captain, who tricks and "shanghais" a group of sailors, including Charlie, to form his crew. The ship owner's daughter is in love with Charlie, and comes along for the ride. It's a bit hard to catch everything in the plot, but the slapstick at sea is easy to follow. Chaplin gets decent mileage out of a few ideas using the shipboard setting, as he and the crew try to handle the cargo and work in the kitchen as the ship rocks back and forth.
While not one of Chaplin's best, there are still a few good laughs to be had in "Shanghaied".