A comedy in three acts, this Chaplin short depicts his tramp as a somewhat more sympathetic character than many of his other films from this period. The tramp's impoverished status is played up here more than in some of his other Essanay films, and it strengthens both his character and the story as a result. Finding a lucky horseshoe outside a gym advertising for sparring partners 'who can take a punch', Charlie decides to give it a go. The horseshoe is put to predictable use and Chaplin suddenly finds himself up against the hulking Bob Uppercut (Bud Jamison). Chaplin would return to the ring in CITY LIGHTS and, while the fight sequence here comes nowhere near to the brilliance of that film's prize fight, it is still an entertaining bout that forms the highlight of the film. Edna Purviance appears once more, and Chaplin acknowledges the audience (and, perhaps, media speculation about their off-screen relationship) when he lifts a beer jug in front of their faces as they kiss. This is one of Chaplin's better early efforts.
Review of The Champion
