Kailansorac Clever, believable, and super fun to watch. It totally has replay value.

Luecarou What begins as a feel-good-human-interest story turns into a mystery, then a tragedy, and ultimately an outrage.

Raymond Sierra The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

Dana An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

TheLittleSongbird 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 post-Essanay period after leaving Keystone, 'The Rink' 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 and Mutual periods were 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 Rink'. The story is more discernible than usual and is never dull, but is sometimes a bit too busy and manic.On the other hand, 'The Rink' 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 Rink' is still very funny with some clever, entertaining and well-timed slapstick and has substance and pathos that generally were not there with Keystone. It moves quickly and there is no dullness in sight. The second half is both hilarious and enchanting.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, particularly a charming Edna Purviance and their chemistry is sweet to watch.In summary, very good and one of the best from Chaplin's 1916 output. 8/10 Bethany Cox

MisterWhiplash This is an excellent example of what the Tramp could do; the premise is simple as the Tramp is working as a waiter (and there's some wackiness there with misunderstandings with a customer), and when he gets a few cents he goes to the roller rink. The stunts that he does over and over show off just how keen he was to get a gag just right, but it all comes down to us believing that Chaplin can really do this. I don't know if this took the number of takes that he would later do on his features (he could be a perfectionist actually as far as doing dozens of takes if he didn't like something), and it's amazing to think that he made this short, as he did for a lot of his films at the time, in a relatively short amount of time. The logistics for how he goes on the skates makes me almost think watching it 'Tony Hawk, eat your heart out!' That it's all consistently funny and charming, that it doesn't let up for 24 minutes, is the icing on the cake.

lugonian THE RINK (Mutual Studios, 1916), written and directed by Charlie Chaplin, offers the legendary comedian an opportunity in playing something other than a tramp. In fact, though identified mostly as the little tramp, there are numerous times he'd assume other characters in the Charlie Chaplin tradition, but the little tramp is what stays in memory. This time, Charlie plays a waiter with a talent for skating at a rink or social function as well as serving up trouble at the restaurant where he works. On his off hours, he does sport is trademark attire of derby, cane and tramp clothes he keeps in the stove rather than a locker. For his eighth comedy short for the Mutual Studio (Lone Star Corporation in most title card introductions), Chaplin resumes the fine comic support of his staff players of Edna Purviance, James K. Kelley, Frank J. Coleman, Albert Austin, Lloyd Bacon, Charlotte Mineau, and his most frequent adversary of the Mutual days, the late, great Eric Campbell.The slight plot provides many antics involving a waiter (Chaplin) in a local restaurant writing the bill for one of his customers, Mr. Stout (Eric Campbell), a businessman who's as much of a flirt with the women as his manly looking wife (Henry Bergman in drag) is with the men. At the nearby rink, Stout is seen skating with a young socialite (Edna Purviance), but their union is soon interrupted by the waiter taking a break from his job. As he skates at the rink with Edna, he offers his calling card which reads Sir Cecil Seltzer, C.O.D. Before returning to work, Cecil is invited to social function skating party at Edna's home. As Mr. Stout makes his entrance at Edna's party, he not only encounters his wife with an male escort, but trouble along the way with the rolling skating Cecil.More in the Mack Sennett slapstick tradition than Chaplin's more familiar technique of his latter years, THE RINK is brisk and funny regardless of its limitation in character development and plot outcome. Best moments occur as waiter Charlie, a/k/a Cecil, unwittingly serving a live cat to one of his customers. Another is the Charlie and Eric encounter, especially at the skating party. Interestingly, however, in Chaplin's other comedy short, THE IMMIGRANT (1917), the tables are turned with Eric playing the waiter and Charlie the customer, to better results. Since good comedy material is often reused and improved upon, Chaplin would recreate his skating technique in his final silent feature length comedy of MODERN TIMES (1936), where he also assumes the job as a singing waiter at one point of the story.Formerly presented on a frequent level on public broadcast television in the sixties and seventies or beyond, THE RINK did play part of educational television's THE SILENT YEARS (1975), hosted by Lillian Gish, as the second half to the 90 minute timeslot following the 52 minute comedy, PECK'S BAD BOY (1921) starring Jackie Coogan, Chaplin's discoverer and co-star to their classic union of THE KID (1921).Scoring and length to THE RINK vary, depending on distributor controlling the rights to it. Some prints come with piano scoring: Blackhawk/ Republic Video dating back to the 1980s-90s acquired orchestration and sound effects from 1930s reissue for its VHS releases. Restored prints, from KINO VIDEO, consist of new orchestration and slower silent correction speed. Broadcast history for cable television of THE RINK consists of Arts and Entertainment (1980s)along with Turner Classic Movies (TCM premiere: December 13, 1999), as prime examples. Next Chaplin Mutual Comedy: EASY STREET (1917) with Charlie playing a policeman, but without the use of skates. (***)

Petri Pelkonen Charlie is a waiter who goes roller skating during his lunch break.Then later he is invited to a party at Edna's, known now as Sir Cecil Seltzer.Chaplin's The Rink from 1916 is his eight film for Mutual Films.We see here Charlie showing his rolling skating skills.Edna is his love interest.James T. Kelley is her father.Eric Campbell plays Mr. Stout, Edna's admirer.Henry Bergmann is Mrs. Stout and Angry Diner.Lloyd Bacon is Guest.It's really funny to see Charlie doing his moves in the rink, and making other skaters fall down.And his waiting techniques are something never seen before.Charles Chaplin was a buffoon one of his kind.