Tillie's Punctured Romance

Released Nov 14, 1914

1h 13m

Comedy

List

90%

Tomatometer

10 Reviews

42%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Tillie Banks (Marie Dressler), a beautiful heiress, falls prey to a charming crook named Charlie (Charles Chaplin) who lures her to the city and then promptly swindles her. But when Charlie returns to apologize, asking for her hand in marriage, a surprised Tillie cautiously accepts his proposal. As wedding preparations begin, Tillie wonders about Charlie's intentions -- particularly after she receives news that her rich uncle Donald (Charles Bennett) has died mysteriously.

Mary B. Leffler

Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com

Charles Chaplin, the comedian, plays opposite [Marie Dressler]. In aposition with the great legitimate comedian, the screen player suffers not a whit by comparison. The two constitute a fine team of funmakers.

Apr 16, 2021

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

The picture runs a trifle too long, but the hilarious, hip-hurrah comedy finale is worth waiting for.

Jun 11, 2008

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

It's the first feature Chaplin would appear in and it would also mark the last time he would be directed by someone other than himself.

Rated: 7/10

Jul 30, 2020

Full Review

George Blaisdell

Moving Picture World

The picture is finely staged. The interiors of the mansion wherein Tillie and her husband entertain society are elaborate and luxurious.

Jul 29, 2020

Full Review

Charles R. Condon

Motography

It marks an epoch in this most popular department of photoplay. It is the Cabiria of comedy. Genuine humor is the dominating note in every scene, and its effect on the spectator ranges from giggles and snickers to paroxysms of laughter.

Jul 28, 2020

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Parallax View

... it's very much a Keystone Komedy: the same simple visual style, the same pratfall gags, even the Keystone Kops pouring in for the finale...

Nov 4, 2010

Full Review

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david l

Tillie's Punctured Romance is the world's first feature comedy and it holds up so well and is very underrated. The story and scenario are so well played for laughs and the ending is glorious in its action spectacle and with such a wonderful final scene. Its female characters are admirable for its time and seeing Chaplin in the villainous role was quite interesting. The dynamic between the actors is great and Marie Dressler excelled in portraying this memorable, funny protagonist.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Boring. I did not watch the whole movie

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Albeit old fashioned and laced with slapsticks, it was the first full length comedy film. Although a significant feature in the history of cinema, the humour was outdated. You can only see someone slipping, spilling and falling for so long.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This is an example of a movie that has historical significance, but whose content is so dated that it's tough to sit through. I'm not saying the movie's humor is lowbrow, but if you drank a shot every time someone was kicked in the butt or slapped in the face, you'd be drunk pretty quickly. Charlie Chaplin has an endearing way of moving his body, and his comedic antics are occasionally amusing even in the role of the 'bad guy', but I was much less enchanted by Marie Dressler. There's also not a lot to recommend in the plot, and it ends up feeling like silly slapstick drawn out to 82 minutes. D.W. Griffith had directed the highly controversial epic 'Birth of a Nation', and Mack Sennett was trying to match him by creating the first "feature length" comedy film - but long does not necessarily mean good.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Pretty funny for the first ever full length comedy ever made in 1914

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Not nearly as funny or as good as any of the stars' later works. An important part of film history in the sense it was the first feature length comedy, but I'm glad the genre evolved.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

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Mack Sennett

Director

Charlie Chaplin

The City Guy

Marie Dressler

Tillie

Mack Swain

Tillie's Father

Mabel Normand

The Other Girl

Charles Bennett

Tillie's Millionaire Uncle

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Synopsis

Tillie Banks (Marie Dressler), a beautiful heiress, falls prey to a charming crook named Charlie (Charles Chaplin) who lures her to the city and then promptly swindles her. But when Charlie returns to apologize, asking for her hand in marriage, a surprised Tillie cautiously accepts his proposal. As wedding preparations begin, Tillie wonders about Charlie's intentions -- particularly after she receives news that her rich uncle Donald (Charles Bennett) has died mysteriously.

Director: Mack Sennett
Production Co: Keystone Pictures
Genre: Comedy
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 14, 1914, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 16, 2020
Runtime: 1h 13m