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XVIII
two minor comedies
After the enormous success of "The Kid" the two short comedies which followed seemed let-downs. Chaplin was already in Europe when "The Idle Class," made in May 1921, was released on September 21. "Pay Day," the film interrupted by his sudden vacation, was finished a few months after his return and released in April 1922. Neither "flopped" like "Sunnyside" and "A Day's Pleasure," but they caused no commotion. Produced for laughs by tried-and-true methods, they achieved their purpose. Each, besides, contained some brilliant bits and some exceptional gags, but neither ranks with his previous hits or the longer features to come.
"Pay Day" was Chaplin's last twro-reeler. After 1922 he produced only feature-length pictures. This was partly a falling in with the trend of the period. Lloyd was making feature comedies in 1922 — "Grandma's Boy" and "Doctor Jack"; Keaton, the following year, made the feature-length "Three Ages" and "Our Hospitality." Only the minor comedians were still turning out two-reelers.
In some ways this was unfortunate. Most slapstick comedians did not have enough to sustain a full-length picture.Two reels was an ideal length for that product; and, at that length, it continued to be a staple of the industry for many years — until sound killed it off with the animated cartoon.
In "The Idle Class," originally entitled "Vanity Fair," Chaplin plays a dual role — two members of the "idle