9 REAL Acting Moments Created By Deception

The Kid was one of the first real dramedies in Hollywood history and a fine dramedy it is, drawing inspiration from a then-recent tragedy in Charlie Chaplin’s real life to create a moving, poignant but still funny film which has gone on to inspire both official and unofficial remakes. In large part the flick’s success centres around junior actor/future Uncle Fester Jackie Coogan’s debut performance as the eponymous kid, and the star not only went on to an illustrious career but also successfully campaigned for the rights of child actors to be protected.

Which is pretty understandable when you consider the fact that, in order to evoke an emotional response, the filmmakers told Coogan he would be sent to a workhouse like the one depicted in the film if he couldn’t cry on cue.