Am a big fan of Charlie Chaplin, have been for over a decade now. Many films and shorts of his are very good to masterpiece, and like many others consider him a comedy genius and one of film's most important and influential directors.

It is hard to not expect a lot after not long before Chaplin had one of his earliest career highs in 'The Kid'. 'Pay Day' doesn't disappoint, and it shows Chaplin having properly found his style and fully settled. As said with many of his post-Keystone efforts, it shows a noticeable step up in quality though from his Keystone period, where he was still evolving and in the infancy of his long career. The Essanay and Mutual periods were something of Chaplin's adolescence period where his style had been found and starting to settle. After Mutual the style had properly settled and the cinematic genius emerged. Very much apparent in his final and one of his best, funniest and most inventive overall short films 'Pay Day.

The story is slight and slightly too simple but is at least discernible and is never dull, and does it while not being as too busy or manic.

On the other hand, 'Pay Day' looks very well done, from Essanay onwards, and it is certainly the case here, it was obvious that Chaplin was taking more time with his work and not churning out countless shorts in the same year of very variable success like he did with Keystone. It's actually one of his technically best-looking short films. Appreciate the importance of his Keystone period and there is some good stuff he did there, but the more mature and careful quality seen here and later on is obvious.

'Pay Day' is one of the funniest, most imaginative and most charming short films of Chaplin. It is hilarious with some clever, inventive, entertaining and well-timed slapstick, some imaginatively choreographed and nimbly done stunts and the charm doesn't get over-sentimental. It moves quickly and there is no dullness in sight. The second half is both hilarious and enchanting, with the sentimentality and such kept at bay rightfully.

Chaplin directs more than competently and the cinematic genius quality is emerging. He also, as usual, gives a playful and expressive performance and at clear ease with the physicality and substance of the role. The support is good from the likes of the ever appealing Edna Purviance and Syd Chaplin.

Overall, great, hilarious, imaginative and charming. 9/10 Bethany Cox

The Tramp (Charles Chaplin) is late working the construction site. He digs a ditch (barely) and collects bricks (in reverse). He eats his lunch beside an elevator. He gets paid but is reluctant to go home. He hides some of the money in his hat but his wife sees it all. He goes out drinking and sneaks back home.

The elevator is pure comic timing. It is a classic bit in the pantheon of classic Tramp bits. Quite frankly, the rest doesn't reach the same level. Being married may give this one great joke but it deprives the short of a chase for the foreman's daughter. I think a romantic pursuit would be more fun. On the other hand, it does not get any better than the elevator.

Altogether amazing little short with the comic at his best as a brick layer who is late on the job and presents a flower to his monstrous boss (MACK SWAIN). Swain looks so much like Billy Gilbert that I thought that's who it was at first. Swain orders him immediately to work and the fun starts.

A particularly amusing lunch hour sequence is full of sight gags requiring perfect timing. Charlie gets paid, then has to deal with an overbearing wife who sleeps with a rolling pin in her arms, ready to pounce on him when he doesn't come home from work on time. Instead, he's at the local pub having a night out with the other workers.

The pub sequence leads to other amusing sight gags as he and a fellow worker struggle to get out of the rain and onto a streetcar.

No wonder Chaplin considers this one his favorite silent short. Again, Edna Purviance has little to do but it hardly matters. It's Chaplin's limelight and that's all audiences wanted.

All of the stunts are exhibited in perfect timing and are the mark of genius.