The Kid (1921)

The Kid (1921) is Charlie Chaplin’s first feature-length film — a silent, black-and-white blend of broad comedy, tender melodrama and social observation. Playing his iconic Tramp, Chaplin finds an abandoned infant and raises him as his own, creating a ragged but loving household. Years later, the boy has grown into a clever kid who helps the Tramp in small cons and games; when the boy’s biological mother, now a famous opera singer, discovers the child’s fate, the fragile family is threatened and a dramatic fight to keep them together unfolds. Watching The Kid, you’ll experience a constant swing between laughter and heartbreak: physical comedy and gentle gags (the Tramp’s improvisations, the window-smashing scam) sit alongside deeply human, emotional moments (the child’s discovery, the wrenching custody chase, and the eventual reunion). Chaplin’s mime, timing and expressive face carry the story without dialogue, so the film communicates through movement and gesture; modern presentations often add a musical score that underlines the film’s moods. The movie also acts as a quiet social critique — it captures poverty, slum life, and the cruelty of institutions with warmth and sympathy rather than cynicism. Technically and artistically, The Kid showcases Chaplin’s developing skill as writer, director and actor: it balances humor and pathos in ways that felt new to audiences at the time and still feel affecting today. Expect about an hour of gentle, emotionally rich storytelling rather than fast-paced thrills. The Kid is family-friendly but bittersweet — viewers will laugh, be moved, and leave with a strong sense of Chaplin’s empathy and the power of human connection.

Actors: Charles Chaplin, Edna Purviance, Jackie Coogan

Director: Charles Chaplin

Runtime: 68 min

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Family

8.4 /10 8.2 /10 8.3 /10