CHARLIE CHAPLIN is an escaped convict mistaken for the new pastor upon arriving in a small Mexican town and greeted by Deacon MATT SWAIN and a few members of his congregation.
Although there are pratfalls for the comedian right from the start, this is a mistaken identity comedy that depends more on sight gags than frantic slapstick and has some charming moments.
One of the funniest sequences has him delivering his first sermon at the church, based on the tale of David and Goliath, amusing mainly for the young boy who doesn't find the sermon boring. Some funny business with baking a cake while distracted and pouring the dough over someone's bowler hat stands out, as does the business with his former jailmate who wants to steal money from the Deacon but meets with resistance from Charlie who has fallen in love with an innocent girl (EDNA PURVIANCE) and wants to go straight. There's also the scene with the hyperactive little brat, a boy who drives Chaplin and brother SYD CHAPLIN insane with his unrelenting pranks.
Chaplin was still polishing his craft at this time, but it's not one of his best comedies. Needless to say, even lesser Chaplin is worth watching and so is this one, given a brisk background score including a ballad written by Chaplin.
Although there are pratfalls for the comedian right from the start, this is a mistaken identity comedy that depends more on sight gags than frantic slapstick and has some charming moments.
One of the funniest sequences has him delivering his first sermon at the church, based on the tale of David and Goliath, amusing mainly for the young boy who doesn't find the sermon boring. Some funny business with baking a cake while distracted and pouring the dough over someone's bowler hat stands out, as does the business with his former jailmate who wants to steal money from the Deacon but meets with resistance from Charlie who has fallen in love with an innocent girl (EDNA PURVIANCE) and wants to go straight. There's also the scene with the hyperactive little brat, a boy who drives Chaplin and brother SYD CHAPLIN insane with his unrelenting pranks.
Chaplin was still polishing his craft at this time, but it's not one of his best comedies. Needless to say, even lesser Chaplin is worth watching and so is this one, given a brisk background score including a ballad written by Chaplin.