Public Domain Movies - Comedy

1940

Lil' Abner

Film based on the comic strip by Al Capp. Dogpatch comes to life with Buster Keaton, Edgar Kennedy and more.

1916

Charlie Chaplin's "Police"

Charlie Chaplin's 49th Film Released May 27 1916 Police was Charlie Chaplin's 14th released film from Essanay. It was made at the Majestic Studio in Los Angeles. Charlie playing an ex-convict finds life on the outside not to his liking and leads him to breaking into a home with another thief (Wesley Ruggles). Edna Purviance plays the girl living in the home who tries to change him. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0007194/

1917

Charlie Chaplin's "The Adventurer"

Charlie Chaplin, Silents

Charlie Chaplin's 62nd Film Released Oct. 22 1917 The Adventurer is a short comedy film written and directed by Charlie Chaplin. It is the last out of the twelve films made while he was under contract for the Mutual Film Corportation. Chaplin plays an escaped convict on the run from prison guards. He falls into favor with a wealthy family after he saves a young lady (Edna Purviance) from drowning, but her suitor (Eric Campbell) does everything he can to have Chaplin apprehended by the officials.

1914

Charlie Chaplin's "The Knockout"

Charlie Chaplin, Silents, Fatty Arbuckle

Charlie Chaplins 17th Film Released June 11 1914 The Knockout was Charlie Chaplin's seventeenth film for Keystone Studios. Chaplin only has a small role, and Fatty Arbuckle takes up the main role. It also stars Arbuckle's wife, Minta Durfee, Edgar Kennedy and Keystone owner, Mack Sennett in a minor role as a spectator. The film was directed by Charles Avery, and made in 1914 in America. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0004194/

1931

The Front Page

Pat O'Brien, Adolphe Menjou, Ben Hecht, newspapers, comedy, pdmovies

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0021890/ There's nothing like an original !!! Hildy Johnson (Pat O'Brien), newspaper reporter, is engaged to Peggy Grant and planning to move to New York for a higher paying advertising job. The court press room is full of lame reporters who invent stories as much as write them. All are waiting to cover the hanging of Earl Williams. When Williams escapes from the inept Sheriff, Hildy seizes the opportunity by using his $260 honeymoon money to payoff an insider and get the scoop on the escape.

1932

War Babies

musical, comedy

Also known as "What Price Gloria?" Part of the "Baby Bulesks" series You can find more information regarding this film on its IMDb page.

1914

Charlie Chaplin's "Caught in a Caberet"

Charlie Chaplin, Silents, cc

Charlie Chaplins 12th Film Released. April 27 1914 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0003758/

1920

One Week

Silent, Comedy, Buster Keaton

Buster and Sybil exit a chapel as newlyweds. Among the gifts is a portable house you easily put together in one week

1928

Steamboat Bill, Jr.

silent, comedy, Buster Keaton

Steamboat Bill, Jr. is the story of a naive, college-educated dandy who must prove himself to his working-class father, a hot-headed riverboat captain, while courting the daughter of his father's rival, who threatens to put Steamboat Bill, Sr. and his paddle-wheeler out of business.