Caught in the Rain (1914) User Reviews (9)

Chaplin's presumed first effort as a director is nothing to be ashamed of, though of course much greater things were to come

[SnorrSm1989 · 5/10 · 21 April 2005]

Only a few months had passed after Chaplin's arrival at the Keystone-studio, when he was given opportunity to direct his first film. By that time, he had appeared in a dozen or so short films directed by people such as Henry Lehrman and George Nichols, and the experience had been dissatisfying to everyone involved. Both Lehrman and Nichols were "old-timers" in the film industry compared to newcomer Chaplin, and apparently found the young comedian to be arrogant and reprimanding. Chaplin frequently objected to his directors' suggestions, and once remarked that "I want to do something with merit, not just be bounced around and fall off street-cars." History has justified Chaplin's attitude; one could go so far and argue that the sole reason why Lehrman and Nichols are at all remembered today is due to their association with the very comedian they so much disliked. At the time, however, one can perhaps understand why Chaplin was thought of as difficult. After a particularly unpleasant confrontation with Mabel Normand, producer Mack Sennett was apparently ready to fire Chaplin. Thankfully, at that moment he received a telegram asking for more Chaplin-films as soon as possible, so Sennett gave in and let the young newcomer direct his own films from then on.

There is some uncertainty as to which film should be considered Chaplin's "first" directorial effort. Both TWENTY MINUTES OF LOVE and CAUGHT IN A CABARET are suggested in some sources. It is also worth to remember that the term "director" was often much more diffuse than what is common today; the great degree of improvisation from the actors in Keystone's films may in itself qualify for some directorial input on their behalf. However, as Chaplin himself lists CAUGHT IN THE RAIN as his first all-around directorial effort in his autobiography, it is reasonable to accept this for the sake of simplicity. The plot is typical Keystone-farce: Charlie is drunk and flirts with Mack Swain's wife, much to the husband's annoyance. Later that afternoon, the married couple returns to the hotel in which they live to get some rest. Charlie is also sleepy, and decides to take a nap himself. It turns out that Swain's wife is a sleepwalker, and unknowingly enters Charlie's room across the hall. Various mishaps from there on leads to Charlie being "caught in the rain."

CAUGHT IN THE RAIN is a decent first-time effort; in fact, it's a quite decent effort for a 1914-comedy altogether. However, Chaplin has still some way to go before he has fully adapted himself to the medium of film, and the film hardly provided me with any truly big laughs. I'm sure it did to audiences back in 1914, though, and it does indeed remain rather amusing to this day. (This review has later been somewhat updated and revised, Dec. 2012)

Love showers

[TheLittleSongbird · 6/10 · 25 May 2018]

Am a big fan of Charlie Chaplin, have been for over a decade now. Many films and shorts of his are very good to masterpiece, and like many others consider him a comedy genius and one of film's most important and influential directors.

He did do much better than the first film he directed and wrote on his own 'Caught in the Rain', still made very early on in his career where he was still finding his feet and not fully formed what he became famous for. Can understand why the Keystone period suffered from not being as best remembered or highly remembered than his later efforts, but they are mainly decent and important in their own right. 'Caught in the Rain' is a long way from a career high, but has a good deal of decent things about it.

'Caught in the Rain' is not as hilarious, charming or touching as his later work and some other shorts in the same period. The story is flimsy and the production values not as audacious. Things feel a little scrappy and confused at times and Chaplin's directing does betray inexperience.

For someone who was still relatively new to the film industry and had literally just moved on from their stage background, 'Caught in the Rain' is not bad at all.

While not audacious, the film hardly looks ugly, is more than competently directed and is appealingly played. Chaplin looks comfortable for so early on and shows his stage expertise while opening it up that it doesn't become stagy or repetitive shtick.

Although the humour, charm and emotion was done even better and became more refined later (some very familiar elements here for Chaplin), 'Caught in the Rain' is mildly amusing, sweet and easy to like, though the emotion is not quite there. It moves reasonably quickly, though not without its dull spots, and doesn't feel too long or short.

Overall, far from one of Chaplin's best and patchy but not bad. 6/10 Bethany Cox

Chaplin's Second Directorial Effort

[CitizenCaine · 5/10 · 22 June 2008]

Chaplin edited his first film and directed his second with Caught In The Rain. It's somewhat of a disappointment compared to his first effort Twenty Minutes Of Love. The film seems to run smooth and has less cutting that's amateurish in comparison to films of the era. The plot; however, is typical Chaplin causing trouble and generally getting the short end of the stick. Charlie accosts a couple in the park and gets in trouble with the husband (once again). The couple retire to a hotel where Chaplin happens to go also. Of course there's a mix-up of Charlie going into their room and the wife going into his, but she's a sleep-walker of course! Things get sorted out quickly and Charlie is left in the rain. ** of 4 stars.

Not funny but watchable

[AnonymousbutDilpreet002 · 27 July 2020]

Without being disrespectful, I want to say there is not anything worth mentioning in this 16 minute short.

People falling from stairs is not funny. Not at all. There is not anything funny in this whole film. But it's better than his other short films I have watched till now.

Caught Between the Rain

[nukisepp · 6/10 · 8 February 2021]

'Caught in the Rain' is the first movie entirely directed and written by Charles Chaplin. Although he had tried his hand in directing before once and had helped to write other movies, this movie can be named as his directorial debut. The film was released at the beginning of May - so within four months in the Keystone Charles Chaplin had risen from beginner movie actor to movie director. 'Caught in the Rain' is a comedy that is quite equal to other better Keystone productions. A private screening to usual Keystone directors was held and they were impressed by Chaplin's work. So, that says something.

Although quite a good and entertaining movie, the genius we all know Chaplin now, doesn't show yet. What this movie proves, is that Chaplin was a quick learner to create such a coherent work of comedy so early in his career. Charming but the humor is still not so well refined. He still plays on his, by this time, so familiar drunk who makes passes on the women act.

The Drunk Act

[boblipton · 3/10 · 7 November 2002]

Although this is not an earth-shaking classic, it is a very pleasant little film.

Charlie is not yet, as W.C. Fields would later call him, "the world's best ballet dancer", but he takes his falls gracefully. Even more, he permits his other actors their moments in the light. Mack Swain is -- not surprisingly -- very good and even Alice Davenport, as Mack's sleep-walking wife, gets some very funny moments. Chaplin clearly has the film as his primary consideration and his performance take secondary consideration. This was one of the reasons he was able to flourish as an actor-director for thirty years.

But if you're looking for a work of comic genius, this is not it. Chaplin never did any of those at Keystone. Their brand of farce did not really suit him.

Caught in the Rain was an interesting, if not very funny, early directorial effort from Charlie Chaplin

[tavm · 3/10 · 22 June 2009]

Just caught this, one of the earliest films directed by star Charlie Chaplin, on a DVD collection called "American Slapstick". In this one, The Tramp runs afoul of a married couple, first at a park bench, and then at a hotel. The wife of this couple turns out to be a sleepwalker. Also, The Tramp is drunk during much of this. That's all I'll say except while I found much amusing in the beginning and I liked Charlie's constant slipping down the stairs nearly every time he tries to go up them, it just lost steam after that for me. Good thing he'd get much better later on. Oh, and there's also a man whose foot is heavily bandaged and that Chaplin keeps stepping on that was also good for a few laughs. So on that note, Caught in the Rain is worth a look.

just an average early Chaplin short

[planktonrules · 4/10 · 2 July 2006]

The early films of Charlie Chaplin just haven't aged well. Despite his well deserved reputation as a comedy genius, most of his very early shorts from 1914-1916 or so are just dreadful by today's standards. They are just too short and amateurish to be or any interest except to film historians or to strange people like me who are trying to see every available Chaplin film.

This film is all to familiar material for the early films with themes involving Charlie being drunk, making passes at married women and Mabel Normand sleepwalking. There is really nothing very original here, but for what it is it is a fairly decent film.

Great Early One-Reeler

[nyp01 · 17 June 2019]

Chaplin really starts breaking out in this directorial debut for Keystone, and one sees glimmers of the greatness already in this 1914 short. Worth seeing for the comedy bits especially at the beginning, with his physical comedy on stairs, park benches, etc. Apparently, Chaplin was made of rubber. You'll be scratching your head wondering how he did those stunts, they seem pretty dangerous.