Directed by Charlie Chaplin Release date 1918 (1918) | Written by Charlie Chaplin | |
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Starring Charlie Chaplin
Edna Purviance
Albert Austin
Sydney Chaplin Production
company Charles Chaplin Productions
Liberty Loan Committee Distributed by First National Pictures Inc.
Lobster Films (2002) (France)
Warner Home Video (2004) (USA) | ||
The Bond is a propaganda film created by Charlie Chaplin at his own expense for the Liberty Loan Committee for theatrical release to help sell U.S. Liberty Bonds during World War I. It was Chaplin's final short film, all productions he was involved in after this were feature-length.
Made in 1918 with Edna Purviance, Albert Austin and Sydney Chaplin, the film has a distinctive visual motif set in a simple plain black set with starkly lit simple props and arrangements. The story is a series of sketches humorously illustrating various bonds like the bond of friendship and of marriage and, most important, the Liberty Bond, to K.O. the Kaiser which Charlie does literally.
There was also a British version with Uncle Sam replaced by John Bull and promotes War Bonds.