Assignment #3 -The Immigrant by Hla Htay

Charlie Chaplin’s eleventh film-The Immigrant has full of humor and difficult situation of immigrants to the United States. Charlie’s acting is also amazing. Even the film is silent; audiences can easily understand what is happening in each scene.

It is very obvious that how immigrants face with a lot of problems on the way to the United States, especially on the boat by watching this kind of short film. It is a long way to get here to the States and may be several days or months by sea. Some people may lose their lives on the way. Many people get wave-sick or sea-sick and cannot eat anything for several days. Coming to the USA by sea is has a lot of problems.

In this kind of difficult situation, even some people are helpful; some are not, they just try to survive by themselves on the way. For example, in this film, someone like gambler who plays card by creating to win all the games they play on the boat. The gambler may think that if he wins all the card-play-games, he can get more money and he may get more safety on the way. But Charlie has good idea how to protect himself from the danger of gambler. Charlie buys the gun from gambler by giving some more money and protect himself and for his winning money. However, he gives almost all the money to Edna while he sees her mother is poor in health.

At the Restaurant, Charlie’s acting is quite funny too. The waiter’s treatment to another customer for some nickels makes Charlie checked his wallet has enough money or not. In such kind of situation, Charlie meets with Edna inside the restaurant. Charlie orders coffee for Edna and he gets time to think more how to solve the situation. At that moment, another customer drops a quarter down to the floor. Charlie tries to pick up that but the waiter steps on the quarter. Charlie tries to pick up again and again and the waiter steps up on the quarter again and again. Luckily, Charlie gets the quarter and can pay for food.

At the end of the story, Charlie tries to get marriage with Edna, but Edna is shy. Charlie understands that he needs to push by himself some more. By doing this, I think that Charlie is right. I don’t see any kind of forces in bad way, but yes some forces in good way to get marry with Edna. Happy END!

Charlie Chaplin_The Immigrant_Assignment 3

The Immigrant is a social commentary that takes on immigration at that time. Charlie Chaplin plays an immigrant on a boat to New York. He and his fellow immigrants are people who are down and out and are seeking a new life.These where the people who came to America, as The Statue of Liberty says: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free”. As the boat passes The Statue of Liberty, Chaplin and the rest of the immigrants stare at her with a sense of hope that they have arrived. I felt that this was a very powerful part  because the film showed that there were thieves, thugs, sick, and honest poor people on board. They were treated like second class citizens by the immigration officer when they arrived to port.

In the second part of the film we find our main characters  in a restaurant.  While they where on the ship, Charlie Chaplin attempted to stop a man from robbing a sick woman. He offered the younger daughter of the woman money that he won gambling. This showed that he was for the most part an honest person. Later while in the restaurant, Chaplin’s character runs into the daughter and he did not have enough for his meal. He stole a tip from the artist. He became a thief because desperate times call for desperate measures.

Assignment #3 Safiya Azaunce

In Charlie Chaplin’s “The Immigrant”, Charlie, plays his famous “Tramp” character, as an immigrant sailing into New York City with several other immigrants. On that boat he meets a woman and his mother. When they depart into the city, Chaplin, (now broke)  meets the girl again and reconnects with her.

The immigrants are portrayed in the film as different personalities. Some are greedy and disrespectful, others, oblivious. Most however seem helpless, thinking that in the land of opportunity, there is something promised to them, where they haven’t the first clue of how to get it. Some of the obstacles they face is assimilation, and of course, finances. In the film, Charlie had trouble assimilating to the culture, when he is in the restaurant and does not know that it is polite to take his hat off. And as for finances, Charlie barely had a dime to enter the restaurant in the first place. Chaplin uses humor to address this in the scene where the waiter and chaplin continue to go back and forth taking off and putting on his hat. Also in the scene where Chaplin takes the money that dropped from the waiter’s pocket and uses it to pay for his food, later finding out that the money was fake. Chaplin’s point of view on the “new land of opportunity” as they sail into the harbor consists of assumption that life will be greater, and much easier, when sometimes it could be just as hard to get by.

The Immigrant

Charlie Chaplin’s “The Immigrant” was the second film I ever watched by this talented actor in a theater. For the experience to watch the film in a theater opposed to a flat screen was equally exciting as well. I can now say I have seen a Chaplin film in the theater. Besides that, this film portrays an Italian Immigrant or an immigrant dealing with the harsh realities of immigration. Realities such as people still experience today as language barriers and cultural shock. But more importantly the film gave glimmers of hope such as finding good fortune and finding a wife. Overall a very enjoyable film and I do hope we have a chance to see “The Kid”.
More importantly from my experience in the theater with my fellow viewers was how the audience viewed Chaplins craft. From what I remember is during a funny or sarcastic scene we the audience still laughed at the same time. What this means is that the comedy from yesterday still appeals to the people of today.

Assignment #3 by carlos castillo

The short film “The Immigrant” by Charlie Chaplin in 1917. It is a comedy about immigrant people that are coming to the United States. Most of the scenes take place in the ship, where it is introduced the diverse group of people. The ship passes through the Statue of Liberty that symbolizes the historical content this film has to immigration. I must admit this is the first Chaplin movie I’ve ever seen, considering that I am a media studies major. I am impress by Chaplin, without a single word I completely understood the story. Chaplin did a great job of putting humor to the story line. He portrayed to immigrants in the ship as poor people looking for hope. The immigrants faced conditions on the ship as eating one bowl on the boat for dinnertime and all on one table. Also there was no place to sleep or sit. It is a classic depiction of the American immigrant story. Some of the obstacles they face were the unknowns of being in the new land. Chaplin depicts that the law would work against him. The policeman did not want to hear Chaplins side of the story about the money. Edna did not notice the money that was secretly put in her pocket so the policeman let Charlie go. He would get mistreated because of his class, which would be an obstacle for all. Chaplin then realizes that land of opportunity was harder if you were poor as he was. He learn how expensive things were but luck always seems to get him out of trouble in the film. For example, because he wanted to impress Edna in the restaurant, he realizes he is short on money then he gets scared and nervous he couldn’t pay for the food, but with a little luck and humor he manages to get away with it. It was a great way to show the suspense in the film especially it being a silent one. At first I did not think much of this movie but in the end I realized this movie was funnier than most films today. Charlie Chaplin was obviously ahead of his time, at first watching this movie you wouldn’t think there’s anything controversial about this film, but after speaking about it I can see the controversy. The immigrants in the ship passed through Ellis Island, seeing the Statue of Liberty for the first time. We can see that there is a sense of relief and hope until the authorities chain them to the boat, symbolizing that they are prisoners now. It is a metaphor of how immigrants were really treated by comparison. This was clever of Chaplin to do so, a perfect example of how using humor to convey a message. Maybe Chaplin was trying to have a conversation by using film to open the consciousness of the country.

Assignment #3 by Jasmine Hurtado

The portrayal of the immigrants and their experiences in Chaplin’s film was way more tame than I’m sure that experience actually is. It was a bit light-hearted but of course in order to infuse comedy with circumstances that immigrants go through, Chaplin had to take out or downplay some of the real life aspects of it. Either way, I still thought it was believable and not ridiculously exaggerated.

The gun bit, although hilarious, I doubt would ever happen. I don’t think immigrants would be allowed to carry guns on the boat. But what a thriller would portray as dangerous, violent and fear inducing, Chaplin portrayed as silly and whimsical.

The part where Chaplin is trying to give Edna money but is perceived to be pickpocketing by an authority figure was great. As an audience, we saw both sides but you can’t really blame the authority figure for thinking Chaplin was in the wrong. It just didn’t “look” right and I would’ve treated Chaplin the same way. Thankfully, Edna set the situation straight.

Chaplin’s point of view about the “new land of opportunity” was a really strong statement. Coming into the “land of the free” is not what people think it is. On paper it sounds amazing, but immediately after showing the statue of liberty, there was struggle between authority and immigrants. There were limitations. They were being held back so there can be order but all in ways that degrades humans. Chaplin still found a way to make it funny but it has some truth to it.

Assignment #3 by Heejin Kim

The short film “The Immigrant” by Charlie Chaplin in 1917. It is about immigrant people are coming to United States; particular location is New York because it shows statue of liberty in the middle of film, through across sea on a ship. Most of locations from film are on the ship and quite many races appear in the film because main story is immigrant.

Camera movement also interests especially the shot which is ship was rolling from side to side by wave. That shot was very excellent. I couldn’t believe camera technic at that time. Charlie Chaplin met a woman on the ship and He helped and considered her even though he had bad conditions and same situation with her. Most of characters who are immigrant seemed having difficult financially, starving, and anxious about something.

Background situation was not great, but Chaplin used humor each shots like silly walk and action and ridiculous face expression. Although background situation was not good, Chaplin’s humor made not too much serious film. For example, one of plight in the film that Chaplin went to restaurant and he realized he didn’t have money to pay for what he ate and then he tried to solve the problem what he is in a trouble. During Chaplin was trying to solve, his motion and acting were silly and made humor for the viewer.

There was the word “American dream” in the past. However, in short film “The Immigrant” shows not just hopeful message for that. He didn’t imply for the new and many opportunities for immigrant. Therefore, I like the why of making humor of Chaplin because he didn’t use immigrant hard life for the humor and he just used his ridiculous action. Moreover, there is love story too in the film.

Assignment #3 by Kiara Urena

Acclaimed as one of Charles Chaplin major masterpieces, the film entitled “The Immigrant” produced in 1917 stars Chaplin himself as well as other immigrants in a voyage to “the land of freedom”-America.  Chaplin brings to screen in an enlightened humorous way, the daunting truth behind America’s welcoming to foreigners.  America was not the land of “freedom” or “opportunities” because the end of a rainbow did not produce a pot of gold nor was the grass greener on the other side; or at least not for lower class immigrants.  Most lower class immigrants faced hardships on board due to: (including but not limited to) the unsanitary environment, cramped rooms, sea sicknesses, diseases, hunger and abuse.  These difficulties were all interrelated to the lack of economic funds lower class immigrants dealt with.  Not only did immigrants tolerate such conditions and environment on board, but once arrival to America, common obstacles immigrants faced were authority force, language barriers, American customs, and lack of employment.

Chaplin portrays the immigrants as sanguine individuals, whom push to endure chaos and undesirable conditions on board.  As presented in the film, the immigrants bear with sea sicknesses, hunger, and heat conditions.  Humorous scenes, such as that of the constant rocking of the boat from left to right and then right to left illustrates the notation of imbalance on the ship causing some to feel nausea and headache.  Also, another issue addressed with humor, was that when Chaplin catches a bad case of hiccups from another passenger (Albert Austin).  Laughter is produced in this scene because both men seemed to offset each other with hiccups.  Moreover, this in reality entails how such close contact with other passengers whom are sick could have infected others rapidly.

As previously mentioned, the social and economic statues of lower, middle, and wealthy class immigrants determined the impact of perception to the land of endless opportunities.  In this film, Chaplin exhibits the utter excitement of passengers sailing past the Statue of Liberty promising “new land of opportunity” in its caption.  Passengers eagerly scattered around the ship’s exit but only to be tainted by the authority’s force.  The authorities demanded order and alignment.  The lower class immigrants were hurdled as if they were cattle’s before they could disembark the harbor and immensely checked for any signs of diseases.  Coincidently, irony lies between the caption “new land of opportunity” and the treatment of authorities towards the immigrants. The need and use of force to manage foreigners disapproved the statement of such freedom actively advertised.

Assignment #3 – “The Immigrant” by Jean Carlo Guzman

Assignment #3 – “The Immigrant”.

Charlie Chaplin does a great way of adding humor to the story line. It puts more emphasize onto to their actions and the audience gets a feel for what he is feeling or trying to say. The immigrants faced faced conditions as eating one bowl on the boat for dinner time and all on one table. Also there was no place to sleep or sit. The authority did not want to hear Charlie’s side of the story about the money. Edna being a nice lady did not notice the money that was secretly put in her pocket so the authority let Charlie go. He would get mistreated because of his class which was not fair. Charlie learn to adapt into the new land of opportunity as he was poor once he stepped foot into America. He learn how expensive items were and sort of luck ran his way throughout the film. He was scared and nervous about the food he had to pay because he wanted to impress Edna, but with a little luck and humor he manages to get away with it. It was a great way to show emotions from all characters in the film especially it being a silent one. I did not think it was going to be great or funny but he makes this film better than some that out now. In the end he ends up taking Edna to marry him and would not let her run away. He felt that it was a better opportunity for him to fulfill his dream and goals.

– Jeancarlo Guzman

Assignment #3 Charlie Chaplin and his The Immigrant by Wei Liang

Charlie Chaplin was born on April 16, 1889 in London. He was the earlier great master of American film. I used to see a couple of his works, such as his 1940 classic The Great Dictator and 1936 Modern Times. As a movie pioneer, he did not only done great on the films, but also a sober-minded people who really knows what was going on in advance of the age in which he lived. He must felt the problems the industrialized society bring to us, and that might gave the inspiration to him to shoot the Modern Times. We not only can see his genius on the 86 minutes long film, but also a 24 minutes short silent 1917 film “The Immigrant”.

For me, this piece of film is also a master piece. Although it’s short, it perfectly expressed what did he want to express throughout the film. In The Immigrant, Charlie Chaplin’s usual style of performance still makes people laugh, but the story isn’t funny actually. This movie shows the 1900’s European lower class immigrants coming to the United States by the ship with harsh living conditions, Chaplin’s tramp character fully expresses his kindness to the girl, and he was at a loss when he facing the whole new world, the new social customs, the new rules and laws. As the scene was filmed, Chaplin put on his hat after the waiter take it off over and over again. Also I felt that every scene was carefully designed, and has a clear vision and objective. Such as the scene Chaplin walk forward and backward on the deck when the ship is rolling on the wave, the side of the boat and its shadow separated the two bright part of the sky and sun light on the deck, it seems he tries to find the balance or the reference of the scene with the shadow and the light. Heard of the discussion of he rather spend a lot more over budget film to get a satisfied scene, that shows Charlie Chaplin is the kind of person in pursuit of perfection.

In short, after watching Charlie Chaplin’s film The Immigrant, many scenes are truly impressive, it is well designed and well produced for sure, his genius is that he can make a funny looking film with a realistic theme, and thought provoking afterwards. So he was worthy great master of film. I really enjoy watching his films. They are all absolutely deserve a look.