The world has always been
concerned with class and high society. We all think people of high society have
it all: the money, the fame, the glory, the power, and whatever the hell their
hearts desire. But of course all of those things can only make them happy for
so long. At the risk of sounding cheesy, without love all of those things do
not matter. In The Idle Class we see
that love, not money, is all anyone really wants in life.
It is summer time and all the rich and idle head down to
Miami for some sun. Edna (Edna Purviance) is one of those idle people who has
come down for vacation. Her husband (Charlie Chaplin) is already at the hotel. From
her telegram to him he is apparently a drunk who does not really pay attention
to her. While trying to get down to the lobby to meet Edna the husband walks
out of the room without his pants on. He gets back to his room just as Edna has
walked in and ran to the bedroom. Edna sees him in his suit and hat in bed and
thinks he is drunk from the night before. She writes him a letter that she is
staying in another room for a while.
Another person who arrived in Miami is The Tramp (also
Charlie Chaplin) via the baggage compartment on the train. His first day around
the resort he plays a round of golf. As in all of Chaplin’s films the round of golf
gets crazy and silly when The Tramp makes a very big guy stumble and fall all
over the place. He has to chase after the golf ball and he just happens to see
Edna riding by on a horse and he falls madly in love with her.
That afternoon Edna writes a letter to her husband hat if
he attends the costume ball being held at the resort she will consider staying
with him. The husband dresses up in a suit of armor complete with a helmet that
of course gets stuck and he cannot get it off. Meanwhile The Tramp has gotten
into a little mix up and he has to run away from a police officer. He manages
to evade the officer and runs into the ball. He also just so happens to look
like Edna’s husband and one of the resort employees tells him someone is
waiting for him. The Tramp cannot believe that the woman he had seen riding a
horse earlier in the day is waiting for him. He is even more thrilled to be
sitting with her when she begins to hold his hand.
Edna’s husband comes down to the party and starts
attacking The Tramp and then gets kicked out. The big guy from golf earlier in
the day is also at the party and it turns out he is Edna’s father but since he
looks a lot like Edna’s husband the situation is alright until The Tramp says
he and Edna are not married.
Of course the truth comes to light that The Tramp is not
really Edna’s husband and he is yet again all alone.
I really, really liked The Idle Class. I thought it was really funny and I liked all the
little jokes and gags Chaplin threw in it. What I really liked about it though
was how all Edna wanted was for her husband to be better and love her. The
Tramp is kind and I like how all he wanted was to be loved too. The Idle Class is one of the best
Charlie Chaplin I have seen and I really hope you all go watch it as soon as
you can. It is available to view in full on YouTube.
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