mabel at the wheel be one of those movie with a behind the scene story that more interesting than the movie itself . this be chaplin tenth comedy for keystone during his year of apprenticeship and and his first two reeler . here he play one of his last out and out villain role ( although the feature length tillies puncture romance be yet to come ) and and it also mark one of the last time he would work for a director other than himself . in fact and chaplin conflict with director and co star mabel normand almost get him fire from the studio . chaplin hadn not get along with his early director and henry lehrman and george nichols and but accord to his autobiography have to take direction from a mere girl be the last straw . charlie and mabel argue bitterly during the making of this film . chaplin be still a newcomer at keystone and his colleague do not know what to make of him and but everyone love mabel . producer mack sennett be on the verge of fire chaplin when he learn that the newcomer film be catch on and exhibitor want more of them a. s. a. p. and so chaplin be promise the chance to direct himself in return for finish this movie the way mabel want it . unfortunately and none of that drama be visible on screen in mabel at the wheel and which look like typical keystone chaos . the story concern an auto race in which mabel beau ( harry mccoy ) be schedule to compete and but wicked charlie and his henchman abduct the lad and and mabel must take the wheel in his place . for all the race around and brick hurling and finger bite the film be frankly short on laugh and but there be a few point of interest . there some good cinematography and editing in the race sequence and though there aren not really any gag and just lot of frantic activity . chaplin himself look odd and sport a goat like beard on his chin and wear the top hat and frock coat he wear in his very first film appearance and make a living and but the outfit suit the old fashioned villainy he display throughout . at least it novel to watch him play such an uncharacteristic role . visible in the stand at the race track be such keystone stalwart a chester conklin and edgar kennedy in a strangely dandify get up and and a more characteristic mack sennett and spit tobacco and do his usual mindless rube routine . a a performer and sennett be about as subtle a the movie he produce and but you have to give the guy credit represent he know what people like . these film be hugely popular in their day . mack performance doesn not add much to mabel at the wheel and but he probably have to be on hand for the filming of this one to make sure his star do not kill each other .