Kid Auto Races at Venice (1914)

Director 

Henry Lehrman

Cast

Charlie Chaplin - The Tramp

Henry Lehrman - The Film Director

Frank D. Williams - Cameraman

February should be dedicated to comedian, actor, director, and producer, Charlie Chaplin. 

On February 7, 1914 - 109 years ago this month - Chaplin debuted his famous "Little Tramp" character in his second film, "Kid Auto Races at Venice." In his first film, "Making a Living," a one-reel comedy also released in February of 1914, Chaplin plays a con man who tries to convince a passerby to give him money. It turns out this stranger comes from a wealthy family. That leads to a bunch of shenanigans involving a newspaper scoop, and hilarity ensues. 

Chaplin appears in his first movie with a top hat, frock coat, monocle, and droopy handlebar mustache. It's a film full of pantomime and action. Though Chaplin's character is largely different in appearance from the character he introduces in his next film, the act of obtaining easy money, trying to court the pretty daughter of this wealthy family he intrudes upon, and trying to make a good impression on the mother is typical of the "Tramp" who would introduce himself to the world soon after the release of "Making a Living." 

In his book "My Autobiography," Chaplin says in regard to his "Little Tramp" character, "I had no idea what makeup to put on. I did not like my get-up as the press reporter [in "Making a Living"]. However, on the way to the wardrobe I thought I would dress in baggy pants, big shoes, a cane and a derby hat. I wanted everything to be a contradiction: the pants baggy, the coat tight, the hat small and the shoes large. I was undecided whether to look old or young but remembering [Mack] Sennett had expected me to be a much older man, I added a small moustache, which I reasoned, would add age without hiding my expression. I had no idea of the character. But the moment I was dressed, the clothes and the makeup made me feel the person he was. I began to know him, and by the time I walked on stage he was fully born."

Incidentally, Chaplin's first film as the "Little Tramp" was "Mabel's Strange Predicament" (1914) but that wasn't released until after "Kid Auto Races at Venice."

The movie was shot during the real Junior Vanderbilt Cup races in Venice, Calif. Both Chaplin and director Henry Lehrman improvised most or all of the gags during the filming. 

In this film, produced by Mack Sennett as mentioned in the quote above (i.e. the "King of Comedy'), Chaplin plays a spectator at a "baby-cart race" in Venice. 

A cameraman (Frank Williams) is trying to film the race. Chaplin, however, spots the camera and takes more of an interest in it than in the race. He constantly enters the frame while the cameraman pushes him and pleads with him to get out of the shot. What starts as an act of vanity becomes retaliation on Chaplin's part. 

He obnoxiously tries to get into the shot as the cameraman moves around in frustration trying to shoot the race. He makes faces at the camera, and even sticks his tongue out. Chaplin introducing himself to audiences by sticking his tongue out is mockery and cynicism at its best. It makes me think of satirical humor seen in American comedy platforms like "National Lampoon" and "Mad Magazine." 

Chaplin however becomes more and more persistent in trying to be in the shot. The more the cameraman pushes Chaplin out of the way, the more Chaplin intentionally gets in the way. 

The entire film is depicted like a newsreel. In some shots, the camera is the one actually filming. At other times, the audience's point of view is through a second camera, watching this other cameraman work his camera on screen while dealing with the intrusive Chaplin. 

It's certainly in character for Chaplin to insist that he be in front of the spotlight where an audiences' attention is narrowed in. 

It brings to mind his 1952 film "Limelight" in which Chaplin's character, Calvero, an old Vaudeville performer, is no longer in the spotlight. There's a scene in "Limelight" where Calvero has a dream that he's back in Vaudeville performing his act. When the act is over, Calvero looks out and notices the theater seats are completely empty. No one is out there applauding him. No one cares enough about him anymore to come see his act. "Limelight", by the way, takes place in 1914 - the same year Chaplin got his start in film.  

Chaplin seems to have carried on this affinity for being in front of the camera. He's insistent on being seen and making a spectacle of himself for a laugh in "Kid Auto Races." The worst thing to happen to someone like him would be to have no one laugh and applaud his performance.  

The comedy in this movie still holds up a century later. 

In one scene, the camera pans along the crowd of spectators watching the race. And in the middle of the crowd is Chaplin just staring at the camera. As the camera continues panning, he gets up and follows along the movement. 

The crowd is forced to stay in behind the ropes. Chaplin, meanwhile, moves freely around refusing to be forced to go someplace else that's out of the way. This little fellow won't be pushed down. He gets back up and starts all over again.

It's true to Chaplin's form that he successfully steals the show during an auto race at Venice Beach. Despite the lack of a story, some seeds are planted in this film. Here, he has discovered the motion picture camera, and the motion picture camera has discovered him. He grimaces. He sticks his tongue out. He runs around. He intrudes. He leaps and skips down the racetrack. The film is a beautiful introduction to a humble not-so-humble legend that would continue this same act to the pleasure of audiences for another 30 years, and then some.