Gussle's Wayward Path

Just watched this on the "American Slapstick 2" DVD set. Syd Chaplin-Charlie's older brother-brings home a dog but doesn't tell his wife. While at home, he steals a kiss with his maid when the missus isn't looking. I'll stop there and just say not too much makes sense but it's all funny nonetheless. So that's a recommendation of Gussie's Wayward Path.

Syd Chaplin is the star of this farce comedy, which is a good one. Some novel innovations have been introduced in the course of the picture; for instance, upon coming in from an afternoon's hunting he hangs his "trusty hound," which happens to be a small terrier in harness, on a hook on the hall rack. For this injustice to the small animal his wife does likewise to him, and when the minister and his wife call accidentally the man of the house is still decorating the hall rack. - The Moving Picture World, May 1, 1915

Gussle (Syd Chaplin) comes home with a cute little dog but doesn't want the wife to see it--leading up to a rather funny bit you'll have to see for yourself. The marriage, at first, seems ideal and Gussle and his wife seem devoted. However, it soon seems that this is an act for Syd and it's obvious he's quite the philanderer. Eventually, the wife catches on and sets out to catch him--leading to a rather cute and unexpected ending.

In 1915, Keystone's brightest young star (Charlie Chaplin) was leaving the studio. However, at the same time, Charlie's half-brother, Syd, remained at the studio and made a few films. Oddly, while I have enjoyed all the Syd Chaplin films I have seen, he never seemed to catch on in films and his career never came close to Charlie's.

While GUSSLE'S WAYWARD PATH is certainly not a great film, for 1915 it was pretty good and rather typical of the type film Charlie had been making. Syd's persona was rather reminiscent of Charlie's "Little Tramp", but also unique enough that it isn't an obvious knockoff (like Billy West's).