Zahltag (Short 1922)

Zahltag: Directed by Charles Chaplin. With Charles Chaplin, Phyllis Allen, Mack Swain, Edna Purviance. After a difficult day at work, a bricklayer tries to enjoy his pay day without his wife knowing.

“Altogether amazing little short with the comic at his best as a brick layer who is late on the job and presents a flower to his monstrous boss (MACK SWAIN). Swain looks so much like Billy Gilbert that I thought thatu0026#39;s who it was at first. Swain orders him immediately to work and the fun starts.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eA particularly amusing lunch hour sequence is full of sight gags requiring perfect timing. Charlie gets paid, then has to deal with an overbearing wife who sleeps with a rolling pin in her arms, ready to pounce on him when he doesnu0026#39;t come home from work on time. Instead, heu0026#39;s at the local pub having a night out with the other workers.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe pub sequence leads to other amusing sight gags as he and a fellow worker struggle to get out of the rain and onto a streetcar.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eNo wonder Chaplin considers this one his favorite silent short. Again, Edna Purviance has little to do but it hardly matters. Itu0026#39;s Chaplinu0026#39;s limelight and thatu0026#39;s all audiences wanted.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAll of the stunts are exhibited in perfect timing and are the mark of genius.”