A shipowner intends to scuttle his ship on its last voyage to get the insurance money. Charlie, a tramp in love with the owner's daughter, is grabbed by the captain and promises to help him shanghai some seamen. The daughter stows away to follow Charlie. Charlie assists in the galley and attempts to serve food during a gale.
Direction
Chaplin orchestrates gale-force slapstick with zero dialogue.
Practical Effects
That rocking ship set deserves engineering respect.
Director
Charlie Chaplin
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Chaplin shot this during his explosive 1915-1916 period where he directed and starred in over a dozen shorts. The man never slept.
"Shanghaiing" was genuine maritime practice — kidnapping men to crew ships — and Chaplin makes it slapstick while barely acknowledging the horror. Peak 1915.
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