Making a Living

Making a Living also known as Doing His Best, A Busted Johnny, Troubles and Take My Picture is the first film starring Charlie Chaplin. It premiered on February 2, 1914. Chaplin plays Edgar English, a ladycharming swindler who runs afoul of the Keystone Kops. It was written and directed by Henry Lehrman.

Chaplin wore a large moustache and a top hat in this film, he also carries a walking cane. Chaplins famed screen persona of The Little Tramp did not appear until his next film, Kid Auto Races at Venice, but his character in this film is somewhat similar, having hat, cane, moustache and baggy trousers. In later accounts Chaplin lamented that the best of his performance had been left out of the final cut. Lehrman later admitted to deliberately mishandling the cutting of the film out of spite for Chaplin. The Fremont Hotel, Los Angeles is shown briefly in the background of a fighting scene in the road. This is one of only a couple of films in which Chaplin and the Keystone Cops both appear.

Source: Wikipedia