Strictly average movie

not as good as all the hype

After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

Am a big fan of Charlie Chaplin, have been for over a decade now. Many films and shorts of his are very good to masterpiece, and like many others consider him a comedy genius and one of film's most important and influential directors. From his Essanay period after leaving Keystone, 'Shanghaied' is not one of his very best or even among the best of this particular period. It shows a noticeable step up in quality though from his Keystone period, where he was still evolving and in the infancy of his long career, from 1914, The Essanay period is something of Chaplin's adolescence period where his style had been found and starting to settle. Something that can be seen in the more than worthwhile 'Shanghaied'. 'Shanghaied' is not one of his all-time funniest or most memorable, other efforts also have more pathos and a balance of that and the comedy. The story is still a little flimsy, there are times where it struggles to sustain the short length, and could have had more variety and less more of the same repetition.On the other hand, 'Shanghaied' looks pretty good, not incredible but it was obvious that Chaplin was taking more time with his work (even when deadlines were still tight) and not churning out as many countless shorts in the same year of very variable success like he did with Keystone. Appreciate the importance of his Keystone period and there is some good stuff he did there, but the more mature and careful quality seen here and later on is obvious.While not one of his funniest or original, 'Shanghaied' is still very entertaining with some clever, entertaining and well-timed slapstick. It moves quickly and there is no dullness in sight, it's also very charming and sweet without being cloying.Chaplin directs more than competently, if not quite cinematic genius standard yet. He also, as usual, gives an amusing and expressive performance and at clear ease with the physicality of the role. The supporting cast acquit themselves well, notably Billy Armstrong.In conclusion, pretty good. 7/10 Bethany Cox

This is another early Chaplin film made for the Essanay Studio, and while it has its moments it certainly isn't one of Chaplin's best. It's difficult to sympathise with his plight when he finds himself shanghaied into service on a boat because he was responsible for most of his equally reluctant shipmates being there as well. More important than this though, is the fact that it just isn't that funny, with too many gags running for far too long and therefore outliving the laughs they originally generate. There's also a curious lapse in spatial awareness when Chaplin is seen to exit left from one room then enter left into the next room. Given Chaplin's reputation for perfection, this might be down to the print I saw being made up of two prints spliced together with one unintentionally reversed. Or maybe I just imagined the whole thing – it was a couple of weeks ago

Charlie Chaplin and his Tramp character gets shanghaied by crooks.This means some harsh work on a ship.This all happens after a shipowner intends to scuttle his ship on its last voyage to get the insurance money.Charlie also happens to be in love with the shipowner's daughter.And she stows away to get to Charlie and gets on board of the ship, that is about to be exploded.Shanghaied (1915), which was shot largely on board of SS Vaquero, was Chaplin's 11th film for Essanay.Alongside Charlie we see who else but the lovely Edna Purviance, who plays Daughter of the Shipowner.Wesley Ruggles plays Shipowner.Bud Jamison is Second Mate, The Other Man.Billy Armstrong is First Shanghaied Seaman, while Paddy McGuire plays the second and Leo White plays the third.John Rand is Ship's Cook.Fred Goodwins is Cabin Boy in Coveralls and Lee Hill is Sailor in Rain Hat.Chaplin does his usual antics and makes people laugh.We see Charlie with a mallet, hitting a bunch of men in the head and therefore they get shanghaied, just like Charlie does a minute later.Charlie tries to serve food during the gale and he becomes seasick.And then Chaplin with the bomb...It's a riot!

"Shanghaied" has a plot that is rather complicated for such a short film, but as in most of Charlie Chaplin's earlier films, the emphasis is really on slapstick comedy.The story involves a scheming ship owner and his roughneck captain, who tricks and "shanghais" a group of sailors, including Charlie, to form his crew. The ship owner's daughter is in love with Charlie, and comes along for the ride. It's a bit hard to catch everything in the plot, but the slapstick at sea is easy to follow. Chaplin gets decent mileage out of a few ideas using the shipboard setting, as he and the crew try to handle the cargo and work in the kitchen as the ship rocks back and forth.While not one of Chaplin's best, there are still a few good laughs to be had in "Shanghaied".