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Charles Chaplin, Edna Purviance, Eric Campbell, Albert Austin, Henry Bergman ... see more see more... , Charlotte Mineau , John Rand , Loyal Underwood , Lloyd Bacon , Milton Berle , Frank J. Coleman , Tom Wood

Arguably the best of Charlie Chaplin's 12 Lone Star/Mutual comedies, Easy Street gives us a look at the environment in which Chaplin grew up, the slums of South London. Indeed the title of the film is... read more read more... likely a reference to the street where Chaplin was born, East Street in Walworth. Charlie begins this film as he seldom does, as a truly down-and-out derelict, huddled sleeping at the steps of the Hope Mission. The sounds of a service in progress draws him wearily inside. After the sermon, he is entranced by the beautiful mission worker and organist, Edna Purviance and stays after the service. Inspired by their ministrations he vows to reform, returning the collection box he has slipped into his capacious pants. Out on Easy Street a gang is pummeling members of the police department, removing their uniforms for the coins in their pockets. Toughest of all is the Bully, Eric Campbell, who menaces the other toughs, taking the spoils for himself. Charlie, passing the Police Station sees the recruitment sign outside and eventually builds up his resolve sufficiently to apply. His beat is Easy Street. He encounters the Bully who threatens him and is impervious to the blows that Charlie delivers with his nightstick. In a display of his great strength, the bully bends a gas streetlamp in two, whereupon Charlie leaps on the Bully's back, covering his head with the lamp and turns on the gas. (Chaplin was injured during the filming of this scene; the lamp hit him across the bridge of the nose, holding up production for several days).As the Bully slumps to the ground, Charlie takes his pulse and decides to give him one more shot of gas for good measure. The squad is called to retrieve the unconscious Bully and Charlie is, for the moment, cock-of-the-walk, frightening away the other street toughs by simply spinning around to face them. His work also entails charity, as he helps a woman, (who turns out to be the Bully's wife) who has stolen food from a street vendor by stealing more food for her. Edna happens by and helps Charlie get her upstairs to her tenement flat. He's rewarded for his efforts by her ingratitude, nearly dropping a flower pot on his head. Edna takes Charlie across the way to another apartment where a couple have a large brood of children whom Charlie helps to feed by scattering bread crumbs among them as if he were feeding chickens. Meanwhile, the Bully awakens at the Police Station and despite multiple blows from the collective nightsticks of the cops, he escapes and returns to Easy Street. His fight with his wife draws Charlie from across the street and a chase begins, the Bully seeking revenge for his earlier capture. Charlie drops a stove on the Bully from a second-story window, knocking him out, but the street toughs capture Edna and toss her down some steps into a subterranean speakeasy. She is threatened there by a dope addict who injects himself with cocaine. Exiting the Bully's flat Charlie is mugged by the gang and himself tossed down into the cellar. Landing accidentally on the addict's upturned needle, Charlie becomes supercharged, defeating the junkie and all the denizens of the cellar, rescuing Edna. Peace is restored to Easy Street and a new mission is in evidence. The Bully and his wife, dressed in their finest, make their way to the services, under Charlie's approving eye. Edna approaches and Charlie greets her joyously and the pair stroll arm in arm towards the welcoming minister and missionary of The New Mission. ~ Phil Posner, Rovi

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82% liked it

659 ratings

Unrated, 20 min.

Directed by: Charles Chaplin

Release Date: January 1, 1916

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Flixster Reviews (65)

  • ajv2688
    November 26, 2010
    ajv2688
    The story is interesting, not great, but it's funny enough to watch.
  • thmtsang
    December 20, 2008
    thmtsang
    Classic Charlie Chaplin silent movie. Charlie is a tramp who falls in love with the church organist. He gets a job as a policeman in the South London slums, where gangs beat up policemen. Charlie becomes the hero.
  • deano
    August 20, 2008
    deano
    This is my second all-the-time favourite Charlie Chaplin silent comedy film that makes me laugh heaps in the scene of Chaplin as the policeman against the head tough guy of Easy Street at the street. Marvelous!
  • kenstachnik
    March 23, 2008
    kenstachnik
    Chaplin becomes a police officer and cleans up easy street.

    The highlight is Chaplin's first fight with with the bully
  • fb1142797643
    November 14, 2011
    fb1142797643
    I would not have expected a Chaplin film to have a pivotal gag about intravenous drugs. Creepy. My best laugh was his character feeding a room of needy children as if they were chickens.

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Critic Reviews

February 23, 2012
Variety

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Easy Street Trivia

  • What movie stars "easy reader" from the Electric Company and "superhero" that comes from another planet?  Answer »
  • MOVIE QUOTE: "Sometimes we must stand, when standing is not easy."   Answer »
  • "Stop going for the easy buck and start producing something with your life. Create, instead of living off the buying and selling of others." What film?  Answer »
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