The final movie Chaplin made for Essanay was "Police," which the studio held back for release until May 1916. Chaplin's tramp is released from prison, and sees the promise of the righteous life from a minister who greets him at the jail's gate. However, his entry back into society is difficult. Through a series of hardships and a regression back into crime, the tramp is offered hope and kindness by Edna Purviance, whose character was being burglarized by the tramp and a cohort. The theme of the transition from a person down on his luck fitting into society by trying to do good, only to face roadblocks on the way, would be a reoccurring one throughout Chaplin's movie career up until 1936's "Modern Times."
Review of Police
