It seems like Chaplin needed more screen time to be more successful in each film. His best films for Keystone were the ones that were a minimum of two reels. His Trysting Place was one of these. The plotting is quite a bit more sophisticated than most other Keystone films, which isn't saying much. It's still a simple plot in retrospect, but for the time, it was one of his few films that wasn't overwhelmed by slapstick. They are many slapstick moments in this film, but they are well-balanced with having the plot to follow. Chaplin plays a family man in this one who goes to get a bottle for his toddler. Mack Swain is a husband who is trusted with mailing a love letter by a young lady. Chaplin and Mack Swain meet in a diner and compete to see who has the worst dining manners. They eventually fight and take each other's overcoat when it's over. This of course leads to trouble with their respective spouses. Mabel Normand keeps slapping Charlie silly and breaks an ironing board over his head, although it's hopelessly phony. They meet up with Mack Swain and his wife in a park and the mix-up is resolved, although for Mack Swain it worsens to the point of being spanked on a park bench. Another highlight is Chaplin carrying his toddler like a suitcase. Chaplin edited, wrote, and directed this one. **1/2 of 4 stars.
Review of His Trysting Place
