Written & Directed By: Charles Lane 
Cinematography: Bill Dill 
Editor: Charles Lane and Ann Stein 

Cast: Charles Lane, Nicole Alysia, Ellia English, Edie Falco, Toni Ann Johnson, Bill Sage, Ed Kershen, Luis Ramos, Tanya Cunningham, Attila Hoosier, Michael Baskin, Robert Clohessy, 

Nearly silent comedy filmed in black and white follows a street artist, who rescues a baby after her father was murdered. The artist then sets off to find the mother, but has to first learn how to care for the child. Ultimately he ends up in a horse drawn chase of the murderers.

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This film is memorable for what it sets out to achieve and what it doesn’t

Although meant to be a silent picture and a homage to the films of Charlie Chaplin it switches the script by not only being feature-length with side stories or scenes that all serve the intimate narrative. 

The only time there is dialogue is at the end seemingly giving a voice to the voiceless homeless characters he has found himself arm around as a street artist taking care of a random child who has found him evicted and amongst the city’s homeless

The film is a family affair as the little girl he takes care of is his real-life daughter and the film is truly about their relationship and bond, a kind of parental love story of sorts. Which makes it all the more personal.

Even though the film has the elements of romance a love story and even sex and nudity briefly and in the end more in the form of a fantasy 

It also ends up being a time capsule of sorts of new york and particularly manhattan around 1989 the streets and sights are familiar and magical like seeing someone you are familiar with at a certain age and getting to see their high school yearbook photos 

It overstretches It’s initial bounds as it is an artistic experiment and homage but is also made personal and not from the type of person we are used to even if it is a role that fits and a film that could have easily been a sensation for a bit and disappeared this film always seems to pop up and be discovered and restored to make sure it lasts over the years 

While not as funny or physically dexterous as Buster Keaton or Charlie Chaplin. Writer/director Charles Lane makes an impression as the film isn’t Made entirely for laughs or drama but to tell a story of characters and entertain. Not just provide sight gags. So while not for everybody expecting the most out of every sight gag or comedic setup. If given a chance it is rewarding and can be effective for 

It also hits home more as we have never seen this done from a person of color’s point of view. So it’s not only centered around a class distinction and prejudice but also a racial one. Allowing the story to be presented around not only an urban landscape but characters who reveal themselves to be identifiable and want the same things we all do.

Ahead of the curve as he is a struggling  Street artist whose sales pick up once he has the child in his possession as her scribbles far outsell any of his original and better artwork. As sometimes it is all about the presentation of art over skill that sometimes helps make the sale. 

A time when films could be risky and experimental and allowed to find an audience. Where it felt more like an artist at work 

With modern sensibilities, it took a little while to get into and onto the film’s wavelength but once you are it offers nothing but gems along the way. As it is an expose of how to pay homage it uses an ancient language or style of sorts and still Makes something personal, especially art out of it 

Supposedly Disney almost remade the film in color and with sound starring Tom Hanks. They offered Writer-director Charles Lane the chance to remake it. He had no interest in remaking the film and Tom Hanks eventually turned down the studio’s offer to star in the film. Even though he did enjoy the original. 

Grade: B