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OPEN CLASSIC CINEMA · 948

The Property Man

191431 minUnited States

Video edition: Wikimedia Commons
Original language: No spoken dialogue. Intertitles: English.
This copy runs: 23:12
Subtitles: No subtitle track in this language

Languages and subtitles

No subtitle track in this language

Wikimedia Commons · Charlie Chaplin · Public domain

This copy runs shorter than the reference runtime. Editing and playback speed can differ between editions.

Synopsis

A theater property man must keep a program of dancers, a strongman and dramatic performers supplied with the things they need. Rival claims to a dressing room and arguments over heavy luggage soon interfere with the show. His attempts to avoid work and pursue his own interests repeatedly send the disorder backstage into view of the audience.

Cast

Charles Chaplin

Phyllis Allen

Alice Davenport

Charles Bennett

Mack Sennett

Norma Nichols

DirectorsCharles Chaplin

Historical context

The comedy treats theatrical entertainment as a workplace full of hierarchy, physical labor and competing egos. Chaplin's character is as capable of mistreating a weaker colleague as he is of defying the people who give him orders.

Sources and availability

General references identify the work and its copy. A reference beside an editorial section is linked to the claims checked in that section.

Wikipedia — film reference Wikidata — film identity and credits

Work catalogued as public domain in the United States.

The public-domain references concern the original films in the United States. Rights can differ for other countries, editions, restorations, music or translations. Sources are listed on each film page.

Availability checked on September 12, 2026.

Photograph credit

Photographs cropped, resized and optimized as WebP, displayed in monochrome.

Charles Chaplin — Strauss-Peyton Studio, 1921; published in Photoplay no. 3 (1922); National Portrait Gallery / Wikimedia Commons. · Public domain in the United States (PD-US-expired)
Phyllis Allen — Charlie Chaplin; Screenshot · Public domain
Alice Davenport — Harrison and Coover; J. Willis Sayre Collection of Theatrical Photographs · Public domain
Charles Bennett — Unknown photographer; The Moving Picture World July 3, 1815. p. 54 https://archive.org/details/movingpicturewor25newy/page/54/mode/2up · Public domain
Mack Sennett — Author/source credit not supplied in Commons metadata; file page: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MackSennett1910.jpg · Public domain

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