Pay Day (1922 film)

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Pay Day
CC Pay Day 1922.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Charlie Chaplin
Written byCharlie Chaplin
StarringCharlie Chaplin
Edna Purviance
Mack Swain
Syd Chaplin
Cinematography Roland Totheroh
Production
company
Distributed by First National Pictures
Release date
  • April 2, 1922 (1922-04-02)
Running time
28 min.
CountryUnited States
Language Silent (English intertitles)

Pay Day (1922) is an American short film made by First National Pictures. Charlie Chaplin wrote, directed, and starred in the film. It is Chaplin's final two-reel short film.

Contents

Plot

Chaplin plays a laborer on a house construction site. When he gets paid, his wife wants all the money, but he manages to keep enough of it to go out drinking. He returns home just in time to pretend he has just woken up to go to work.

Cast

Reception

According to Chaplin biographer Jeffrey Vance, "Pay Day, is a delightful, polished work that was Chaplin’s last two-reel comedy." He notes that Monta Bell, a future director and producer, was engaged as a general assistant and helped Chaplin develop the film's scenario on paper prior to production. This made it possible for Chaplin to make Pay Day in 31 production days (a sharp contrast to the five months required to complete his previous two-reel comedy, The Idle Class ). [1]

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References

  1. Vance, Jeffrey (2003), Chaplin: Genius of the Cinema New York: Harry N. Abrams, p. 125. ISBN 0-8109-4532-0