Ep 8. The Count / The Cure

The Charlie Chaplin Collection season 1 episode 8 features two of Chaplin's classic silent films, "The Count" and "The Cure." In "The Count," Chaplin plays a tailor's assistant who sneaks into a high society party and is mistaken for a wealthy nobleman. Hijinks ensue as he tries to maintain his disguise while wooing the party's rich hostess. "The Cure" sees Chaplin as a wealthy drunk who goes to a health spa to sober up. However, he finds more trouble than relaxation as he clashes with other guests and spa employees.

In "The Count," Chaplin's character is an expert tailor's assistant who is sent to deliver a suit to a client at a high society party. Once there, he becomes enamored with the hostess and, after some convincing, decides to attend the party disguised as a nobleman. From then on, Chaplin's character tries to navigate high society while maintaining his ruse. He charms the hostess and impresses the other guests with his supposed wealth and wit, but several close calls threaten to reveal his true identity. Eventually, a series of mishaps leads to Chaplin being discovered, but in the end, he ends up with the love of the party, showing that love can triumph over social status.

"The Cure" follows Chaplin's character, an alcoholic millionaire who decides to check into a health spa to sober up. However, his stay at the spa is anything but tranquil. He butts heads with other guests and constantly flouts the spa's strict diet and exercise regimen. In one memorable scene, he puts up a fuss over having to drink water instead of champagne with his meals. As the days go by, Chaplin's character's antics become increasingly over the top, culminating in a hilarious scene where he sneaks into the women's part of the spa in a desperate bid to evade the spa's staff. In the end, Chaplin's character is sober but not necessarily reformed, showing that even the wealthy can have their vices.

Both "The Count" and "The Cure" showcase Chaplin's trademark physical comedy and slapstick humor. In "The Count," Chaplin's character's attempts to navigate high society lead to several memorable moments, such as when he tries to impersonate a sculpture in order to avoid detection. In "The Cure," Chaplin's character's various stunts and shenanigans will have viewers laughing out loud, from his failed attempts to fly a kite to his struggle to put on a pair of pants after a massage.

Overall, "The Count" and "The Cure" are classic examples of Chaplin's comedic genius. The two films showcase his ability to take everyday situations and turn them on their head, all while delivering laughs. Whether you're a longtime fan or a newcomer to Chaplin's work, this episode of The Charlie Chaplin Collection is not to be missed.