The Professor (1919)
Professor Bosco, a poor flea trainer, rents a bed in a flophouse. Before going to bed, he rallies his troops and once he has made sure his beloved fleas are settled for the night, the professor prepares to sleep the sleep of the just man. Unfortunately he accidentally knocks the box off his bed and the fleas have the time of their lives pestering Bosco's neighbors. To get the escapees back in their box again, the trainer resorts to... his whip! All is back to normal one more time. But not for long, as a stray dog enters the flophouse and very unwisely opens the box, thus creating new havoc.
Overview"The Professor" is a quiet movie short from 1919, and it is noteworthy for being the last silent film Charlie Chaplin produced First National, although it was never released throughout his life time. It stars Chaplin in two functions, particularly the title character, a ne'er-do-well flea circus proprietor, and also as a routine client who engages with the proprietor. Unfortunately, the initial film remains incomplete and unreleased, and only a short 7-minute fragment survives to date.
Characters and SettingAs the central character, the Professor (Charlie Chaplin), is a destitute man who earns his living through a small, non-traditional act - a flea circus. The second character that Chaplin plays is a regular consumer who goes to the flea circus. There are also other minor characters who set the premise and assistance move the plot forward.
PlotThe film begins by revealing the Professor having a hard time to make ends satisfy through his flea circus. His uncommon act involves training fleas to perform circus techniques, which he proudly exhibits to his audiences. One day, Chaplin's other character, the regular client, visits the flea circus. After watching the show, he values the art and pays a generous pointer to the Professor. He likewise suggests the Professor aim to carry out for a bigger and more prominent audience, expressing his anticipation to view the act in such a setting in the future.
Influenced by the routine client's words, the Professor chooses to take his act to a bigger phase. The film explores his journey as he attempts to make this brand-new dream a reality. In spite of the struggles, the Professor continues dealing with his show his flea, hoping that a person day, they will succeed. The incomplete video breaks off at this moment, leaving the rest of the Professor's story unknown.
Styles and Style
"The Professor" is mostly a funny that continues Chaplin's custom of combining humor with social commentary, reflecting the universal battle to enhance one's scenario regardless of powerful difficulties. The depictions of the Professor's regimens with his qualified flea include an unmistakable aspect of absurd humor emblematic of Chaplin's design throughout this duration.
Significance and Legacy
Although insufficient and unreleased, "The Professor" serves as a necessary stepping-stone in Chaplin's renowned filmography. It marked his departure from easy comedic skits towards more plot-driven stories, setting the bar for his future films. Given Chaplin's enormous popularity and influential status in cinematic history, "The Professor" is noteworthy as a valuable relic representing a turning point in his innovative journey.
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