Watch One A.M.

One A.M. is a classic silent comedy film from 1916 starring the iconic Charlie Chaplin as a wealthy man who comes home drunk after a night out on the town. The film is directed by Chaplin himself, and he also plays the only character in the movie, a drunk who staggers his way through his large mansion, encountering a variety of obstacles and challenges along the way.

The film opens with Chaplin’s character arriving home in a taxi, stumbling and weaving his way up the steps of his front porch. Once inside, he struggles to find the key to his front door, and we see him fumbling with a variety of objects in search of the right one. Once he finally gets inside, he spends the rest of the film navigating his way through the various rooms of his house, attempting to perform simple tasks like taking off his coat, pouring a drink, and getting into bed.

What makes One A.M. so entertaining is the way that Chaplin uses his physicality to create humor in every situation. He is a master of physical comedy, and every movement he makes is calculated to elicit laughs from the audience. As he stumbles and falls his way through his mansion, he encounters a variety of objects that challenge him in different ways. He must navigate a staircase with a wobbling banister, climb onto a table to reach a bottle of alcohol, and fish for his keys in a fishbowl.

The film is notable not just for its physical comedy, but also for its use of special effects. At one point, Chaplin’s character attempts to drink from a garden hose, only to have the water start spraying in all directions. This effect was achieved by filming Chaplin holding a real garden hose, but then replacing the water with a special effect in post-production. Another memorable special effect comes when Chaplin has to navigate a series of drinking glasses that keep multiplying and shifting positions on the table in front of him.

One of the highlights of the film is a scene where Chaplin’s character attempts to get into bed. This may sound like a simple task, but in true Chaplin fashion, it turns into a comedic tour de force. He first tries to climb into bed from the wrong side, only to have it collapse under him. He then tries to jump across the room to get into bed, but misses and crashes into the wall. Finally, he manages to climb onto the headboard of the bed, only to have it tilt over and send him tumbling back to the ground. It’s a classic comedic set piece that showcases Chaplin’s talents at their best.

While One A.M. is primarily a comedic film, there is also a melancholic undercurrent to the proceedings. Chaplin’s character is clearly a lonely man, and the depiction of his opulent yet empty home is a commentary on the emptiness of wealth and material possessions. The film ends with a shot of Chaplin’s character alone in his bed, surrounded by the trappings of his wealth but clearly craving something more.

Overall, One A.M. is a classic silent film that showcases Chaplin’s talents as both a physical comedian and a filmmaker. The film is a perfect example of the kind of comedy that made Chaplin one of the most popular stars of his time, and it remains a beloved classic to this day.

One A.M. is a 1916 comedy with a runtime of 24 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.0.