A tramp cares for a boy after he's abandoned as a newborn by his mother. Later the mother has a change of heart and aches to be reunited with her son.
Acting
Jackie Coogan's face launched child stardom — and tax laws.
Direction
Chaplin's first feature, and he invented the template.
Cinematography
That skylight shot? Still gorgeous over a century later.
Director
Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin
A Tramp
Jackie Coogan
The Kid
Carl Miller
The Man
Edna Purviance
The Woman
Albert Austin
Car Thief / Man in Shelter (uncredited)
Beulah Bains
Bride (uncredited)
Nellie Bly Baker
Slum Nurse (uncredited)
Henry Bergman
Professor Guido / Night Shelter Keeper (uncredited)
B.F. Blinn
Assistant (uncredited)
Kitty Bradbury
Bride's Mother (uncredited)
Frank Campeau
Welfare Officer (uncredited)
Jack Coogan Sr.
Pickpocket / Guest / Devil (uncredited)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was the first feature-length comedy ever made — studios thought audiences couldn't laugh for 60+ minutes. Chaplin proved them wrong and bankrupted their assumptions.
Jackie Coogan's massive paycheck led to the California Child Actors' Bill, aka the Coogan Law — protecting minors' earnings because Hollywood parents were thieves. You're welcome, modern child stars.
US
