"ONE AM," by Charlie Chaplin

 Charlie Chaplin is known for using slapstick comedy to comment on society and ridicule bourgeoisie. For instance, in One AM, Chaplin embodies an intoxicated wealthy man who is completely ridiculed by his fancy and expensive furniture. Apart from the obvious fact that the man is drunk and can barely walk straight, Chaplin uses mise-en-scene to dig deeper in social commentaries. The whole film revolves around the fact that the objects filling his house plot against him. He is ridiculed by his own wealth. In addition, his house looks like a theater stage. Even though the stage might have been conceived for practical purposes, the fact that Chaplin decided to show it instead of creating the illusion of a real house expresses a deeper meaning and subtext to the film. It comments on the fact that this stratus of society is always acting on a stage, they are not real and do not have real feelings and problems. This might also have been the reason why Chaplin decided to strip his character from human relationships. Although he is wealthy, he does not have a family and lives alone in such a big house. Another interesting aspect developed by Chaplin in this film though the camera work, is the fact that he creates distance between the audience and the main character. The audience is not drowned into the life of the character and therefore there is no empathy towards him.