Watch Mabel's Strange Predicament (1914) Free Online

Release Date: 1914

Cast: Harry McCoy, Hank Mann, Alfred St. John, Charlie Chaplin, Mabel Normand, Chester Conklin, Alice Davenport

Categories: Movies, Short Film, Comedy, Silent film, Indie, Black-and-white

Mabel's Strange Predicament is a 1914 American-made motion picture starring Mabel Normand and Charles Chaplin, notable for being the first film for which Chaplin donned the Tramp costume. The Tramp was first presented to the public in Chaplin's second film Kid Auto Races at Venice (released February 7, 1914) though Mabel's Strange Predicament, his third film in order of release, (released February 9, 1914) was produced a few days before. It was for this film that Chaplin first conceived of and played the Tramp. As Chaplin recalled in his autobiography: Mabel's Strange Predicament is one of... MORE

Mabel's Strange Predicament is a 1914 American-made motion picture starring Mabel Normand and Charles Chaplin, notable for being the first film for which Chaplin donned the Tramp costume. The Tramp was first presented to the public in Chaplin's second film Kid Auto Races at Venice (released February 7, 1914) though Mabel's Strange Predicament, his third film in order of release, (released February 9, 1914) was produced a few days before. It was for this film that Chaplin first conceived of and played the Tramp. As Chaplin recalled in his autobiography: Mabel's Strange Predicament is one of more than a dozen early films that writer/director/comedienne Mabel Normand made with Chaplin; Normand, who had written and directed films before Chaplin, mentored the young comedian. Interestingly, Chaplin's Tramp is shown swigging from a flask toward the beginning of the film and subsequently becoming so drunk that he staggers when he walks and falls down repeatedly near the end. His portrayal of drunkenness remains convincingly realistic. The Tramp also keeps his derby cocked throughout the proceedings, a touch that Chaplin abandoned later in his career. In a hotel lobby a heavily drunk LESS