Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

Am a big fan of Charlie Chaplin, have been for over a decade now. Many films and shorts of his are very good to masterpiece, and like many others consider him a comedy genius and one of film's most important and influential directors. From his Essanay period after leaving Keystone, 'The Bank is not one of his very best but is one of his best early efforts and among the better short films of his. It shows a noticeable step up in quality though from his Keystone period, where he was still evolving and in the infancy of his long career, from 1914, The Essanay period is something of Chaplin's adolescence period where his style had been found and starting to settle. Something that can be seen in the more than worthwhile 'The Bank'. The story is still a little flimsy, there are times where it struggles to sustain the short length, and could have had more variety.On the other hand, 'The Bank' looks pretty good, not incredible but it was obvious that Chaplin was taking more time with his work and not churning out countless shorts in the same year of very variable success like he did with Keystone. Appreciate the importance of his Keystone period and there is some good stuff he did there, but the more mature and careful quality seen here and later on is obvious.While not one of his most hilarious or touching, 'The Bank' is still very funny with some clever, entertaining and well-timed slapstick and is one of his first to have substance and pathos. It moves quickly and there is no dullness in sight. Chaplin directs more than competently, if not quite cinematic genius standard yet. He also, as usual, gives an amusing and expressive performance and at clear ease with the physicality and substance of the role. The supporting cast acquit themselves well.In summary, very good and one of the best from Chaplin's Essanay period. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Charlie works as a janitor at a bank.But when Charlie is holding the mop it means only more mess.Edna is the secretary of the bank and Charlie has a big crush on her.But she has a fiancé, the cashier that's also called Charlie.A big misunderstanding happens but Charlie gets to safe the day when he gets to rescue Edna from the bank robbers.But then he wakes up and realizes it was only a dream.The Bank from 1915 is Charles Chaplin's tenth picture for Essanay films and it's a departure from the tramp character.Tramp or no tramp, Charlie does his thing good.It's great to watch him mopping the floors and constantly hitting those big shots with his mop.It's most tragicomic when Charlie finds Edna's message to Charlie, that other Charlie, and he thinks it's for him.He gets her a rose and writes her a message and then finds out it's not him she loves.Chaplin works with his usual cast here.Edna Purviance is naturally the woman he loves.Leo White is Clerk.Billy Armstrong is Another Janitor.Lloyd Bacon plays Bank Robber.Carl Stockdale is Charles, the Cashier.This Chaplin short will make you laugh...after more than 90 years.

Chaplin edited, wrote, directed, and starred in The Bank, a film about rising above one's station in life and overcoming obstacles. Chaplin was raised in poverty, and because of that, often had himself portray characters victimized by or at odds with the upper classes. Here he plays a janitor in a bank who is frustrated with his lowly status but tries to make do anyway. He has trouble with a fellow janitor, and then he mistakes the secretary's gift for a cashier as being for himself. He sulks away before having a chance to win the secretary again during a bank robbery. Two of the robbers are future film directors: Lloyd Bacon and Wesley Ruggles. The ending seems to suggest to the lower classes that it's OK to have aspirations, but if they aren't achieved, one should be satisfied with one's lot in life. I'm not sure I buy that though. Chaplin, by now, was world famous, and his comedy was becoming more sophisticated and seamlessly integrated into his plots. The Bank tells a simple story with underpinnings of pathos as well as slapstick. **1/2 of 4 stars.

This is one of the best of Charlie Chaplin's many early short films (i.e. from 1914-1916). Besides containing a lot of slapstick humor, the bank setting leads to some interesting subplots and themes.Charlie is a janitor in the bank, and he usually manages to create more messes than he cleans up. Much of the first part of the movie is a series of comic misadventures while Charlie is trying to do his job, producing a lot of laughs. Then we find that Charlie has his eyes on a girl, and meanwhile some bank robbers come on the scene.All of it leads to some good comedy, while also having some moments of humanity similar to those in the great films that Chaplin would create later. Charlie's character in this one is sympathetic and memorable. "The Bank" is a short feature with humor and substance, and it is one of the best examples of Chaplin's earlier work.