Charles Chaplin is, in my opinion, the funniest comedian and the greatest director who ever lived. From his quiet days of trying to cross a street in Venice, California to poking fun at the most evil man in the world, he was a brilliant genius. However, he had his low points too. His first child died three days after he was bored and that hurt Chaplin very much. That terrible incident would later become the inspiration to make one of his most touching films, The Kid which would go on to become one of his biggest hits and make Jackie Coogan one of the first Hollywood child stars.
After a poor mother (Edna Purviance) gives birth to an un-wanted baby (Baby Hathaway), she puts him in a car. Soon, the car is stolen by two criminals who later see the baby and leave him on ground. The Tramp (Charles Chaplin) later appears and finds the baby. At first, he wants to get rid of him, but then changes his mind and decides to raise him as his own. Five Years later, the boy's mother has now become a successful opera singer, but still can't keep her lost child out of her mind. Meanwhile, the Kid (Jackie Coogan) has now become a partner-in-crime with the Tramp. However, when the boy then becomes sick, the authorities take him away. This later leads to a very sad and beautiful ending which we all know Chaplin was famous for.
Charlie Chaplin's most personal feature, The Kid is a wonderfully directed comedy that is a must-see for anyone of any age who wants to check out Chaplin for the first time. Charlie may have gotten top billing, but it's Jackie Coogan's brilliant work as the Kid that should be watched. Coogan gives the best performance ever by an child actor that I have seen. The gags are wonderfully constructed, especially in scenes with the Tramp and the Kid together.
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