Likely the first dramatic comedy every made, The Kid was Charlie Chaplin’s directorial debut and the results were wildly successful. Riotously funny and deeply moving, The Kid has it all. An abandoned baby is picked up by a tramp (Chaplin), who rears the infant on the streets. Grown into a young boy (Jackie Coogan), Chaplin learns to scheme with him in some hilarious comedic scenes. Eventually, the boy’s mother decides she wants him back and takes him from Chaplin, who won’t stand for it. The heartwarming affection shared by Chaplin and Coogan leaves a lasting warmth in the coldest heart. The tagline for The Kid is “A picture with a smile, and perhaps a tear…” is still true today, only it will be more than one tear for most.
