Silent Films by Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton – set

Whether it’s the first week of marriage or the start of a new job, beginnings in unfamiliar territory can be challenging. With their characteristic sense of humour, silent-film icons Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton prove just that.

In both comedies, we meet the protagonists at turning points in their lives. Chaplin’s character is taking his first steps in acting, but his chaotic nature causes considerable confusion on the film set. Meanwhile, Keaton’s newlywed faces the challenge of building a house. Because of a spiteful prank played by his wife’s rejected suitor, the task proves far more difficult than anyone could have imagined. In both cases, the protagonists’ missteps set off a chain of unfortunate events that gathers momentum with every passing minute. Beginnings are rarely easy!

Did you know that…

…although most silent films are known to us today in black and white, audiences at the time usually watched them in colour? Film stock was chemically tinted, and the colours were not chosen at random: they functioned as a code that helped viewers follow the story.