The Bond
About The Bond
Chaplin made this short at his own expense for the Liberty Loan Committee, to sell U.S. Liberty Bonds in the First World War. Sketches show the bond of friendship, the bond of marriage, and the Liberty Bond. Charlie knocks out the Kaiser. On a plain black set he meets Uncle Sam and a worker. He buys a bond, the worker hands a rifle to a soldier, and Charlie finds more money in his pants for a second bond and a sailor. Edna Purviance, Syd Chaplin, and Albert Austin are billed. A British version replaces Uncle Sam with John Bull and sells War Bonds.
Cast & crew
More about The Bond
Chaplin wrote, directed, and produced the two-reeler. Roland Totheroh photographed it. First National released it. Wikidata times it at 11 minutes. Henry Bergman, Joan Marsh, and Tom Wilson are billed. The Internet Archive identifier is CC_1918_09_29_TheBond. A copy is also on Wikimedia Commons.
Themes
Background
It was made in 1918 to sell Liberty Bonds while the United States was in the war.
Look
Roland Totheroh photographed the black-stage sketches.
Preservation
Copies are on the Internet Archive and Wikimedia Commons.
Notes
- The set is a bare black stage with a few props.
- The Kaiser is knocked down on screen, not named in a title only.
- The British cut uses John Bull.
Scenes
- Charlie knocks the Kaiser down after buying a bond.
- He pulls more money from his pants and buys a second one.
Also available
- Internet Archive (CC_1918_09_29_TheBond)
