Charlie Chaplin

Charlie Chaplin was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who is regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of the cinema. His character of the Tramp became a universal symbol of the silent era.

Early Life

Chaplin was born in 1889 in London to a family of music hall performers. His parents separated, and his mother was committed to a mental asylum.

He spent his childhood in poverty and in the workhouse. He began performing on the stage as a child and joined a touring company.

He toured the United States with the Fred Karno company and was spotted by the film producer Mack Sennett. He signed a contract with Keystone Studios in 1913.

The Tramp and the Silent Films

Chaplin created the character of the Tramp, with his bowler hat, his cane, and his walk. The character appeared in dozens of short films and became famous throughout the world.

He directed and starred in a series of features, including The Kid, The Gold Rush, and City Lights. The films combined comedy with pathos and with social criticism.

He was one of the most successful and best-paid entertainers of his time. He founded United Artists with Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, and D. W. Griffith.

The Sound Era

Chaplin resisted the coming of sound and continued to make silent films. Modern Times, released in 1936, includes music and sound effects but little dialogue.

The Great Dictator, released in 1940, was his first fully sound film. It satirised Adolf Hitler and fascism.

He made later films, including Monsieur Verdoux, Limelight, and A King in New York. The films reflected his political views and his personal experiences.

Political Controversy

Chaplin's political views and his personal life made him a target of the American authorities. He was accused of communist sympathies and of moral misconduct.

He was investigated by the FBI and was harassed by the press. He left the United States in 1952 and settled in Switzerland.

He was refused re-entry to the United States and did not return until 1972. He received a special Academy Award and a standing ovation.

Later Life and Death

Chaplin married four times and had many children. His marriage to Oona O'Neill, the daughter of the playwright, lasted until his death.

He composed the music for many of his films. He received an Academy Award for the score of Limelight.

He died in 1977 in Switzerland at the age of eighty-eight. His body was stolen and later recovered.

Legacy

Chaplin is regarded as one of the greatest filmmakers and performers in the history of the cinema. His work influenced the development of film comedy and of the art of the director.

The character of the Tramp is one of the most recognisable images in popular culture. His films are studied for their technique and for their social commentary.

He is remembered for his genius and for his humanity. His contribution to the cinema is celebrated throughout the world.

The Keystone and Essanay Years

Chaplin made his first films for Keystone Studios in 1914. He appeared in more than thirty films in a single year.

He developed the character of the Tramp and refined his costume. He moved to the Essanay company and then to Mutual.

The films became increasingly ambitious and successful. He gained control over the production of his films.

The Mutual and First National Films

The Mutual films include The Pawnshop and The Adventurer. They are regarded as among the finest of his short films.

He signed with First National and made A Dog's Life and Shoulder Arms. The films combined comedy with pathos.

He built his own studio and gained independence. He was one of the most successful and the best-paid figures in the industry.

The United Artists

Chaplin co-founded United Artists in 1919 with Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, and D. W. Griffith. The company gave the artists control over their work.

The Kid, released in 1921, was his first feature-length film. The Gold Rush, released in 1925, is one of his most famous works.

The films combined comedy with social criticism. They are regarded as masterpieces of the silent era.

The Later Political Films

Monsieur Verdoux, released in 1947, was a dark comedy about a murderer. The film was criticised for its subject matter.

A King in New York, released in 1957, satirised the American political system. The film was banned in the United States.

The films reflected his political views and his experience of the persecution. He was a critic of McCarthyism and of the arms race.

The Legacy

Chaplin is regarded as one of the greatest filmmakers and performers in the history of the cinema. His work influenced the development of film comedy.

The character of the Tramp is one of the most recognisable in the world. His films are studied and revived.

He received a special Academy Award in 1972. His contribution to the cinema is celebrated throughout the world.

See also

• Silent film
• The Tramp