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| ~The Bank~ 1915 |
| ~Charles Chaplin~ |
| ~Lee Hill & Charles Chaplin~ |
| ~Edna Purviance & Charles Chaplin~ |
| ~Plot Synopsis~ |
Charlie Chaplin's 10th Essanay film marks a further development for him in story construction, gag
development and the use of pathos along with physical comedy. Chaplin enters the bank importantly,
strolls down a staircase and opens a large safe. He emerges carrying a mop and bucket and dons his
janitor's uniform. He wanders into the lobby/reception area and accidentally puts his soaking mop into
the top hat of a bond salesman, (Lawrence A. Bowes) who's waiting for the arrival of the Bank
President. Hitting the salesman and a bank worker (Leo White) with the wet mop, he's chased away to
the back office where he finds fellow janitor Billy Armstrong with whom a series of minor battles occur.
Edna Purviance, a stenographer, arrives at work with a birthday present, a tie, for a cashier whose
name is also Charles, Carl Stockdale. She types a note: "To Charles with love from Edna." Chaplin finds
the note and tie and assumes they're for him, and it's clear he loves Purviance. He brings her a bouquet
of flowers and leaves a note "To Edna with love, Charlie." The bank president arrives and rejects the
bond salesman's pitch and the angry salesman vows revenge. As the salesman stands dazed, Chaplin,
told to mail a letter, indicates that he doesn't look well, takes his pulse and tells him to stick out his
tongue, on which Chaplin moistens the postage stamp. The Cashier comes in to thank Purviance for the
tie and tells her that it wasn't he who left the flowers, but Charlie the Janitor. Angry, Purviance calls
Chaplin a fool and, unaware that he's watching through the door, throws the flowers into a trash
basket. Crushed, Chaplin retrieves the flowers, goes back downstairs to the vault and sits down to rest.
Shortly afterward, the bond salesman along with four seedy crooks enter the bank. Two of them go
upstairs and see the president, Purviance and the Cashier counting money. When Purviance and
Charles head downstairs to the vault, they hold up the president. The other three intercept Charles and
Purviance downstairs. At the first opportunity, Charles pushes Purviance over and runs away, but he's
held at gunpoint by one of the crooks as the other tussles with the president. Meanwhile her screams
have awakened Chaplin and he rescues her, kicking three of the crooks into the safe and locking it as
Purviance collapses. Carrying her over one shoulder, he climbs the stairs and rescues the cashier by
disarming the crook. He then takes care of the other thief, rescuing the president. When the police have
the robbers in custody, Chaplin is congratulated by the president. He wanders into the office and takes
the flowers out of his coat. Purviance enters and picks up the flowers, smiling, and the look of love and
hope on Chaplin's face is truly angelic. They embrace, but just then the camera crossfades -- it was all a
dream, and Chaplin awakens in the vault kissing a mop. As the picture fades, he wanders off screen
holding the flowers.
Plot Synopsis from allmovie.com
development and the use of pathos along with physical comedy. Chaplin enters the bank importantly,
strolls down a staircase and opens a large safe. He emerges carrying a mop and bucket and dons his
janitor's uniform. He wanders into the lobby/reception area and accidentally puts his soaking mop into
the top hat of a bond salesman, (Lawrence A. Bowes) who's waiting for the arrival of the Bank
President. Hitting the salesman and a bank worker (Leo White) with the wet mop, he's chased away to
the back office where he finds fellow janitor Billy Armstrong with whom a series of minor battles occur.
Edna Purviance, a stenographer, arrives at work with a birthday present, a tie, for a cashier whose
name is also Charles, Carl Stockdale. She types a note: "To Charles with love from Edna." Chaplin finds
the note and tie and assumes they're for him, and it's clear he loves Purviance. He brings her a bouquet
of flowers and leaves a note "To Edna with love, Charlie." The bank president arrives and rejects the
bond salesman's pitch and the angry salesman vows revenge. As the salesman stands dazed, Chaplin,
told to mail a letter, indicates that he doesn't look well, takes his pulse and tells him to stick out his
tongue, on which Chaplin moistens the postage stamp. The Cashier comes in to thank Purviance for the
tie and tells her that it wasn't he who left the flowers, but Charlie the Janitor. Angry, Purviance calls
Chaplin a fool and, unaware that he's watching through the door, throws the flowers into a trash
basket. Crushed, Chaplin retrieves the flowers, goes back downstairs to the vault and sits down to rest.
Shortly afterward, the bond salesman along with four seedy crooks enter the bank. Two of them go
upstairs and see the president, Purviance and the Cashier counting money. When Purviance and
Charles head downstairs to the vault, they hold up the president. The other three intercept Charles and
Purviance downstairs. At the first opportunity, Charles pushes Purviance over and runs away, but he's
held at gunpoint by one of the crooks as the other tussles with the president. Meanwhile her screams
have awakened Chaplin and he rescues her, kicking three of the crooks into the safe and locking it as
Purviance collapses. Carrying her over one shoulder, he climbs the stairs and rescues the cashier by
disarming the crook. He then takes care of the other thief, rescuing the president. When the police have
the robbers in custody, Chaplin is congratulated by the president. He wanders into the office and takes
the flowers out of his coat. Purviance enters and picks up the flowers, smiling, and the look of love and
hope on Chaplin's face is truly angelic. They embrace, but just then the camera crossfades -- it was all a
dream, and Chaplin awakens in the vault kissing a mop. As the picture fades, he wanders off screen
holding the flowers.
Plot Synopsis from allmovie.com
| Written & Directed by: Charles Chaplin |
| ~Cast~ Charles Chaplin ...Charlie, a Janitor Edna Purviance ...Edna, a Secretary Carl Stockdale ...Charles, a Cashier Charles Inslee ...Bank President Leo White ...Clerk Billy Armstrong ...Another Janitor Fred Goodwins ...Bald Cashier / Bank Robber with Derby John Rand ...Bank Robber and salesman Lloyd Bacon ...Bank Robber Frank J. Coleman ...Bank Robber Paddy McGuire ...Cashier in White Coat Wesley Ruggles ...Bank Customer Carrie Clark Ward ...Bank Customer Lawrence A. Bowes ...Bond Salesman Lee Hill ...Tall Robber with Moustache (uncredited) |
| ~Remaining Credits~ Production Company: The Essanay Film Manufacturing Company Distribution Company: General Film Company Producer: Jess Robbins Cinematography by: Harry Ensign Film Editing by: Charles Chaplin Assistant Director: Ernest Van Pelt Scenic Artist: E.T. Mazy Props: George Cleethorpe Carpenters: Charlie Gordon Jr., William Gotham, George Green and Shortie Wilson Camera Operator: Jack Roach Secretary to Mr. Chaplin: M.A. Breslauer Unit Publicist: Frank Suttle Length: 2 Reels Runtime: 15 Minutes Released: August 9, 1915 |
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Other Links That You Might Find Helpful to you for this film:
imdb.com - general information (data base form)
allmovie.com - plot synopsis
imdb.com - general information (data base form)
allmovie.com - plot synopsis