His Musical Career

'His Musical Career' is nothing exceptional overall but here we can witness the first time Charles Chaplin's Tramp to be the little guy who just gets caught in the action of misunderstanding. He is no more a guy going around kicking people with no obvious reason and causing unnecessary trouble. Tramp gets the job in the piano shop. They need to deliver one piano to the customer and then they have to bring back another piano from a customer who's behind with payments. Of course, there is a mixup with the addresses and your mild slapstick adventure can begin. The plot is simply an excuse for Charles Chaplin and his partner (Mack Swain) to move a piano up from the stairs. And what a fashion they are doing it. Once again I noticed how Chaplin manages not to steal the show but how he incorporates his screen partner in a way that he can shine. Chaplin is the main star but Mack Swain plays a big part in Chaplin's performance thus Swain can also have moments of brilliance.

Nice movie, quite constrained in slapstick violence for a Keystone movie. Not a great one but funny and sweet nonetheless with a couple of fantastic visual gags.