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Henry Bergman, Charles Chaplin, Ted Edwards, Louis Fitzroy, Edna Purviance ... see more see more... , Sidney Chaplin , Tom Wilson , Albert Austin , Charles "Chuck" Riesner , Rob Wagner , Dave Anderson

A Dog's Life was Charlie Chaplin's initial release for First National Studios, and also his first three-reeler. Chaplin plays a tramp (duh!), who shambles around the cold, cruel world with his dog Scr... read more read more...aps. Unable to land a job, Charlie and Scraps cadge a meal from lunchwagon proprietor Syd Chaplin (Charlie's brother). Things take a turn for the better when Charlie befriends down-and-out singer Edna Purviance. After routing a gang of crooks, Charlie and Edna head down the road "Where Dreams Come True" for a deliberately improbable happy ending. Together with Shoulder Arms and The Idle Class, A Dog's Life is one of the best examples of Chaplin's wildly uneven First National output. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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483 ratings

Unrated, 30 min.

Directed by: Charles Chaplin

Release Date: April 14, 1918

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Flixster Reviews (41)

  • fb1619601747
    July 9, 2011
    fb1619601747
    Another humorous, if not forgetable, Chaplin film,
  • fb208103125
    April 14, 2012
    fb208103125
    A very fast paced silent three-reeler from the legendary Charles Chaplin, it was also the first film ever to make a million dollars upon it's release! The film follows Chaplin as a tramp who saves a poor pup named Scraps and the two form a friendship and stick together. Scraps ... read moreeventually finds and digs up a wallet that a local thief has stashed in the ground near the tramp's sleeping lot (literally an abandoned lot) and makes the tramp rich. Of course a couple other thugs oversee the tramp's new fortune and decide to steal it from him and split it for themselves. Along with a down and out girl named Edna and Scraps, the tramp sets out to get his money back and eventually ends up escaping the madness and confusion of the local bar and leave with Edna and Scraps. The film then cuts to the future where Edna and the tramp have their own little farm and home along with Scraps who has a litter of pups alongside her. This is a very fun and touching short and Chaplin shows his perfect metronome like timing and physical flexibility and skill. Not to be missed is the performance that the pup who plays Scraps gives as she puts up with a lot of the tramps antics and is highly trained. This is a great early look at Chaplin's style and skill and a fun watch, keep an eye out for his stunningly accurate and timed editing throughout as well!
  • Ivan6655321
    September 27, 2009
    Ivan6655321
    The best in "the Chaplin Revue", with a story that felt like a prototype of either "The Kid" or "Modern Times" when it comes to the bond between the 2 main characters(In this case, a dog). Many genuinely funny moments, and maybe has the happiest ending of all Chaplin's works.
  • Dracula787
    January 9, 2009
    Dracula787
    The package starts strong with a thirty minute short featuring Chaplin as the tramp who comes across a stray dog. The symbolism is obvious, the life of the tramp is related to the life of the dog. The film takes place almost entirely within about one city block as the tramp is ... read morechased by cops and gangsters. It?s a very gag dependent film with a lot of really clever physical set pieces and chases, though the film falters at one point with a gag about a woman crying all over someone. The filmmaking is quite strong for something made during the Woodrow Wilson administration, a good start to my journey through the films of Chaplin.
  • fb731241198
    January 11, 2012
    fb731241198
    So, after watching only 3 of his films, I've come to the conclusion that Chaplin can do no wrong. He and his movies are just too lovable. I mean, yes, this one and Pay Day aren't full length features, but they're still great fun (Modern Times is prolly gonna stay my favorite til ... read moreI finally see The Great Dictator or City Lights). Some great symbolism and metaphors in this movie between him and the dog. Some fun facts: they looked for several dogs to play the role of Scraps, but they ended up just finding this stray and using it. Charlie befriended the dog and ended up keeping him. This is his 1st 3 reel film (which makes it about 30 mins). The studio, for which this was his first movie, paid him an unprecedented $1 million...that's uhh, a lot of mula for 1918!

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Dennis Schwartz
December 5, 2010
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

It was the first film to make $1 million. Full Review

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