This film concentrates on the 12 Mutual films Chaplin made during a 17-month period in 1916-17, the first time he had total control over his work. By showing outtakes of scenes with different actors playing crucial roles, this film gives insight into his method of filming and developing a story.

This episode concentrates on problems and solutions of three feature films that Chaplin wrote, directed and starred in: "The Kid" (1921), "The Gold Rush" (1925) and "City Lights" (1931).

Sequences that Chaplin filmed, and mostly discarded, from many of his features are shown, including a lengthy one from "The Professor" (1923), which was never released.