Floorwalker, The
THE FLOORWALKER (1916-USA). With CHARLIE CHAPLIN, EDNA PURVIANCE, ERIC CAMPBELL, in 5916, Chaplin signed a contract with the Mutual Film Corporation to write, direct and star in twelve short comedies. This is his first Mutual effort, a funny, inventive slapstick in which he’s hired as a floorÂwalker in a large department store-much to manager Eric Campbell’s regret. Campbell is at his most imposing as Charlie’s chief nemesis. A highlight: Charlie and his pursuers’ antics on an escalator, which proves to be an ingenious comic prop. When Mack Sennett saw this film he supposedly declared, “Why the hell didn’t we ever think Of a running staircase?”