Our Take

Easy Street (1917) - Chaplin as a reformed derelict turned cop in a neighborhood that looks like a war zone. This is a brutal, hilarious brawl through the gutters of urban decay. The giant bully being bent over a street lamp is a piece of physical comedy that borders on the miraculous. It’s a gritty, soot-stained look at the struggle for survival in a world that wants to grind you into the pavement. Chaplin’s agility is a goddamn weapon, and here, he’s firing on all cylinders in the name of law, order, and a good kick to the shins.