Chaplin biographers have assumed that his character in the film was based on his father Charles Chaplin, Sr. who had also lost his audience and became an alcoholic, which led to his death in 1901.
Većina ljudi koja je proučavala Chaplinov život pretpostavlja kako je njegov lik u ovom filmu temeljen na njegovu ocu Charlesu Chaplinu starijem koji je također izgubio svoju publiku i okrenuo se alkoholu, nakon čega je 1901. umro.