Really a Ford Sterling film, not a Chaplin film.

About 15-20 years ago, I made it a point to see very Charlie Chaplin film...both shorts and full-length. I completed this, but a few of Chaplin's shorts were lost and I had no chance to see them. Fortunately, over the last couple decades, the internet has made it easier to find and restore supposedly lost films...and "A Thief Catcher" was found about a decade ago. It's currently on YouTube and I saw it today.

The film is not a Chaplin starring vehicle, as in early 1914, he was a bit player for Keystone films. Amazingly, by the end of the year, he was their top star! In "A Thief Catcher", Chaplin is almost unrecognizable and just plays one of several Keystone Kops against leading man Ford Sterling.

"A Thief Catcher" is, as you'd expect for 1914, a slapstick film...consisting of a lot of slapping, chasing, kicking and wildly shooting off pistols for laughs. There isn't much in the way of plot, just two thugs (one is Mack Swain) chasing poor Ford, who is a sheriff. They eventually capture him and before they can do him in, the Kops arrive and foil their plans. Charlie plays the leader of these Kops.

The way I see this one is that while the film is VERY dated and unfunny by today's standards, it's still an important film as it was only Chaplin's third screen appearance and he had to start somewhere to learn his craft. And, because of this, it's a must-see for die-hard Chaplin fans...but isn't one I'd recommend to the casual viewer. My score of 5 is relative to other comedy shorts of the day.

The slapstick comedy subgenre, a term that originates from a type of wooden paddle with a hinged flap that was used in early comedic performances to create slapping noises during comedic actions, is a form of physical comedy characterized by exaggerated, boisterous, and often absurd actions, situations, and physical interactions. Slapstick humor relies on visual gags, physical stunts, and exaggerated movements to create laughs.

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The comedy genre refers to a category of entertainment that aims to amuse and entertain audiences by using humor, wit, and comedic situations. Comedies are created with the primary intention of eliciting laughter and providing lighthearted enjoyment. They encompass a wide range of styles, tones, and themes, appealing to various tastes and audiences.

Will Ferrell, Angela Grillo, and Lap-Gei Cheung in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

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Charles Chaplin in A Thief Catcher (1914)

Edgar Kennedy and Mack Swain in A Thief Catcher (1914)

Charles Chaplin, Edgar Kennedy, and Mack Swain in A Thief Catcher (1914)

Charles Chaplin and Mack Swain in A Thief Catcher (1914)

A Thief Catcher

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