The Fireman (1916 film)

The Fireman is a silent comedy film released in 1916, starring Charlie Chaplin, Edna Purviance, and Lloyd Bacon. It was the second film Chaplin made for the Mutual Film Corporation. Chaplin plays an incompetent fireman who is more interested in sleeping and causing chaos than fighting fires. The plot revolves around his eventual, albeit accidental, heroism in rescuing a young woman (Purviance) from a burning building set ablaze by her unscrupulous father (Bacon) to collect insurance money. The film utilizes slapstick comedy and physical gags typical of Chaplin's early work, and satirizes the perceived inefficiency and corruption of fire departments at the time. While not considered among Chaplin's absolute best, The Fireman remains a significant example of his comedic style during his Mutual period. The film has been preserved and is available for viewing.