Gekidnappt (Short 1915)

Gekidnappt: Directed by Charles Chaplin. With Charles Chaplin, Billy Armstrong, Lawrence A. Bowes, Fred Goodwins. Intent on scuttling his ship, a financially-pressed shipowner conspires with the vessel’s captain to collect the insurance money, unbeknownst to him that his daughter and her beau, Charlie, are aboard. Will they get away with it so easily?

“u0026quot;Shanghaiedu0026quot; has a plot that is rather complicated for such a short film, but as in most of Charlie Chaplinu0026#39;s earlier films, the emphasis is really on slapstick comedy.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe story involves a scheming ship owner and his roughneck captain, who tricks and u0026quot;shanghaisu0026quot; a group of sailors, including Charlie, to form his crew. The ship owneru0026#39;s daughter is in love with Charlie, and comes along for the ride. Itu0026#39;s a bit hard to catch everything in the plot, but the slapstick at sea is easy to follow. Chaplin gets decent mileage out of a few ideas using the shipboard setting, as he and the crew try to handle the cargo and work in the kitchen as the ship rocks back and forth.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWhile not one of Chaplinu0026#39;s best, there are still a few good laughs to be had in u0026quot;Shanghaiedu0026quot;.”