Charlie Chaplin’s A Burlesque on Carmen (1915) is a sharp and silly silent film spoof of the famous opera. Watch this public domain gem online for free.
A Burlesque on Carmen (1915) – Chaplin Mocks Opera with Slapstick Genius
In 1915, Charlie Chaplin turned the high drama of Carmen into farce with A Burlesque on Carmen, a satirical short that pokes fun at operatic melodrama and Hollywood grandeur. This was Chaplin’s 13th and final film for Essanay Studios, released just as he was departing the company that helped launch his career.
At the time, Carmen was a hot property — with dramatic versions by both Cecil B. DeMille and Raoul Walsh hitting screens that same year. Chaplin’s version took aim at DeMille’s film specifically, spoofing its sets, costumes, and tone with razor-sharp wit.
📚 Plot Summary
Chaplin plays “Darn Hosiery,” a bumbling guard stationed at a border outpost. When the seductive Carmen (played by Chaplin regular Edna Purviance) is sent to distract him so a band of gypsies can smuggle goods, things quickly spiral into absurdity. Carmen’s sultry tactics are no match for Chaplin’s cluelessness — and neither are her sharp knives.
What follows is classic silent-era slapstick, full of misunderstandings, over-the-top drama, and sight gags that still hold up over a century later. The film ends with Chaplin delivering his own brand of poetic justice — with pratfalls, not pistols.
🎬 Cast
- Charlie Chaplin – Darn Hosiery
- Edna Purviance – Carmen
- Jack Henderson – Lillas Pastia
- Leo White – Morales
- John Rand – Escamillo the Toreador
- May White – Frasquita
- Bud Jamison – Soldier
- Frank J. Coleman – Guard
- Lawrence A. Bowes – Gypsy
🧠 Why It Matters
Parody at Its Peak: Chaplin brilliantly satirizes the melodrama of the original Carmen, poking fun at Hollywood’s self-serious adaptations.
End of an Era: This was Chaplin’s final work with Essanay Studios before moving on to greater creative control elsewhere.
Public Domain Gem: Due to its age and lapsed copyright, this Chaplin short is now free to watch and share.
🖼️ Watch or Download A Burlesque on Carmen (1915)
🎥 Movie Source: Internet Archive (archive.org)
🖼️ Image Source: Wikimedia Commons (wikimedia.org)
▶️ Watch on Archive.org
Disclaimer:
A Burlesque on Carmen (1915) is believed to be in the public domain in the United States. Please verify its copyright status in your jurisdiction.
🏷️ Tags
Charlie Chaplin 1915, silent film comedy, public domain short, Chaplin Carmen parody, Edna Purviance, classic silent movies, Essanay Studios, free Charlie Chaplin film