A very young Charley Chase is a starving artist. He does not have much luck stealing fruit from a food vendor's cart. He cannot escape from his landlady, who wants the overdue rent. When a pretty girl shows up, Charley and his downstairs neighbor, who is a weightlifter, compete for her affections.
Acting
Chase's early physical comedy chops already shine at age 22.
Direction
Cogley keeps three competing storylines tight in just 12 minutes.
Practical Effects
All stunts done live—no safety nets, just pure 1915 nerve.
Director
Nick Cogley
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was shot during Chase's brief stint at Keystone before he became Hal Roach's signature star.
The 'starving artist vs. working-class rival' trope peaked in 1910s shorts, reflecting real anxieties about unstable gig economies.
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