The Bank

Plot

Charlie Chaplin plays a janitor working at a bank who is hopelessly in love with the bank's secretary, Edna. Throughout his workday, he continually tries to impress her with his antics, but only manages to create chaos and get himself into trouble with the bank manager. After being fired for his incompetence, Charlie falls asleep in the vault and dreams of a dramatic scenario where robbers attack the bank. In his dream, he becomes a heroic figure who single-handedly defeats the criminals, saves the day, and wins Edna's undying love and admiration. When he awakens from this elaborate fantasy, he discovers that reality is quite different, but in a touching conclusion, Edna shows him genuine affection, suggesting that his feelings might be reciprocated after all.

Historical Background

1915 was a pivotal year in cinema history, occurring during the transition from short films to feature-length productions. World War I was raging in Europe, though the United States had not yet entered the conflict. This period saw the rise of the movie star system, with Charlie Chaplin becoming one of the first truly international film celebrities. The film industry was consolidating, with studios like Essanay competing for talent and audiences. Technically, cinema was evolving rapidly, with improvements in lighting, camera mobility, and editing techniques. 'The Bank' was made during Chaplin's Essanay period, which many critics consider his most creative and innovative phase, where he developed many of the techniques that would define his later masterpieces. The film reflects the growing sophistication of American cinema, moving beyond simple gag-based comedy toward more complex narrative structures.

Making Of

The production of 'The Bank' took place during a particularly creative period in Chaplin's career at Essanay. The dream sequence required innovative filming techniques, including the use of matte paintings and double exposure to create the fantasy elements. Chaplin, who was increasingly taking control of all aspects of his films, spent weeks perfecting the script and storyboards for the dream sequence. The bank set was one of the most expensive and elaborate constructed at the Niles studio, with working vault doors and detailed office furnishings. Chaplin's relationship with Edna Purviance was developing both professionally and personally during this period, which many believe contributed to the genuine chemistry visible in their scenes together. The film's production was marked by Chaplin's growing perfectionism, with multiple takes required for even simple scenes to achieve the exact comedic timing he desired.

Visual Style

The cinematography of 'The Bank' was handled by Roland Totheroh, Chaplin's regular cameraman at Essanay. The film demonstrates sophisticated camera work for its time, including creative use of depth of field in the bank scenes to establish the spatial relationships between characters. The dream sequence features innovative visual techniques, including soft focus and unusual camera angles to distinguish it from the reality sequences. The lighting design was particularly noteworthy, with the bank scenes using naturalistic lighting while the dream sequence employed more dramatic, theatrical lighting to create a fantasy atmosphere. The film also features some of the first uses of the tracking shot in Chaplin's work, particularly in the scenes following Charlie through the bank.

Innovations

'The Bank' featured several technical innovations for its time, particularly in its execution of the dream sequence. The film used double exposure techniques to create surreal effects, a relatively advanced technique in 1915. The production also employed elaborate set construction, with the bank vault featuring working mechanical parts that could be safely operated during filming. The film's editing was particularly sophisticated for the period, with smooth transitions between reality and fantasy sequences. Chaplin also experimented with camera movement, using tracking shots to follow characters through the bank space. The film demonstrated early use of continuity editing to maintain narrative clarity across different locations and time periods within the story.

Music

As a silent film, 'The Bank' was originally accompanied by live musical performance in theaters. Chaplin himself composed specific musical cues for his films, though exact scores from this period have not survived. Typical accompaniment would have included popular songs of the era, classical pieces, and original compositions by theater musicians. The romantic scenes likely featured waltzes or other sentimental music, while the comedic sequences would have used more lively, syncopated rhythms. Modern restorations of the film have been accompanied by newly composed scores that attempt to recreate the musical style of the 1910s while incorporating Chaplin's later musical sensibilities.

Memorable Scenes

• The elaborate dream sequence where Charlie becomes a hero fighting bank robbers, featuring innovative special effects and dramatic action that contrasts with his bumbling real-life persona. The scene where Charlie attempts to clean the bank floor while trying to impress Edna, resulting in chaotic slapstick comedy. The final scene where Charlie, having been fired, receives unexpected affection from Edna, providing emotional resolution to the story. The moment Charlie falls asleep in the bank vault, transitioning from reality to fantasy through creative editing and visual effects.

What Critics Said

Contemporary critics praised 'The Bank' as one of Chaplin's most accomplished works to date. The Moving Picture World noted the film's 'delightful combination of humor and pathos' and particularly singled out the dream sequence as 'masterfully executed'. Variety called it 'a triumph of cinematic art' and predicted that Chaplin would 'revolutionize the comedy film'. Modern critics have continued to praise the film, with many considering it a key transitional work in Chaplin's career. Film historian David Robinson has described it as 'the first Chaplin film to fully integrate comedy and romance in a seamless narrative'. The British Film Institute includes it among Chaplin's most significant short works, noting its technical innovations and emotional depth.

What Audiences Thought

The Bank was enormously popular with audiences upon its release, becoming one of the most successful films of Chaplin's Essanay period. Theater owners reported that the film drew repeat customers, with many viewers specifically requesting to see it again. The combination of slapstick comedy with the romantic storyline appealed to a broad demographic, helping to establish Chaplin's appeal beyond just comedy fans. Contemporary accounts describe audiences laughing uproariously at the comedic scenes while being genuinely moved by the romantic elements. The film's dream sequence was particularly popular, with many newspapers reporting on audiences' enthusiastic reactions to this innovative sequence. The success of The Bank helped cement Chaplin's status as the world's biggest movie star of the era.

You Might Also Like