1921 Movie Still Appraisal

Charlie Chaplin Still from 'The Idle Class' (1921)

This is a vintage black and white gelatin silver print production still featuring Charlie Chaplin and Mack Swain. The image depicts Chaplin in his iconic Little Tramp persona alongside Swain, both engaged with a candlestick telephone at a desk. The photograph measures approximately 8x10 inches. The composition shows high contrast typical of early 20th-century cinematography, with visible film grain. Notable features include a production code '1682' in the bottom left corner and crop marks along the white borders, suggesting it was used for editorial or promotional publication. The condition shows significant wear consistent with age, including curling of the photographic paper, edge tears (most notably in the upper and lower right corners), and surface abrasions with light reflecting off a glossy finish. The background detail includes a period-appropriate electric fan, wood-paneled walls, and office desk accessories. This piece represents a significant era of silent film history, specifically relating to Chaplin's work with First National Pictures in the early 1920s.