The Immigrant

Directed by, written by, and starring Charlie Chaplin, The Immigrant features Chaplin's Tramp character as an immigrant making his way to America on a steamship. While on board, he meets a young immigrant woman (Edna Purviance), with whom he reunites later when both are struggling to make a life for themselves in their new home.

The Immigrant was one of the twelve short films Chaplin made for Mutual Film Corporation between 1916 and 1917. While the film explores the uniquely American immigrant experience in both a sympathetic and optimistic light, a scene in which Chaplin's character kicks an immigration officer was cited as evidence of Chaplin's anti-Americanism in the 1950s, leading to his exile.

The Immigrant was added to the National Film Registry in 1998.


 * An Immigrant's Tale: One of the earliest filmed examples, and the raison d'etre of the movie.