One A.M.

One A.M. (1916) is Charlie Chaplin's silent comedy short, free to watch online on iFILM. Twenty-seven minutes, essentially one performer, one house, and a long midnight battle against the furniture.

A wealthy idler stumbles home well past midnight, thoroughly drunk. The mission sounds easy: get from the front hall up to the bedroom on the second floor. Instead a revolving table, slippery rugs, stuffed bear and lynx, a tiger skin and a swinging pendulum clock all become obstacles to be conquered in fits and starts — while the hero fights to keep his dignity intact.

Here Chaplin sets aside his Tramp almost entirely and builds the whole thing as a solo turn in pantomime; only Albert Austin appears briefly as the cab driver. Pure physical comedy, gymnastic timing, one man versus an inanimate world. Stream One A.M. (1916) online on iFILM.