About Charlie Chaplin
Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin KBE was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the era of silent film. He became a worldwide icon through his screen persona, "The Tramp", and is considered one of the most important figures in the history of the film industry..
Film
Overview of His Life
Childhood
Charles Spencer Chaplin was
born in London, England, on April 16th, 1889. His father was a versatile
vocalist and actor; and his mother, known under the stage name of Lily Harley,
was an attractive actress and singer, who gained a reputation for her work in
the light opera field.
Charlie was thrown on his own
resources before he reached the age of ten as the early death of his father and
the subsequent illness of his mother made it necessary for Charlie and his
brother, Sydney, to fend for themselves.
Having inherited natural
talents from their parents, the youngsters took to the stage as the best
opportunity for a career. Charlie made his professional debut as a member of a
juvenile group called “The Eight Lancashire Lads” and rapidly won popular
favour as an outstanding tap dancer.
Beginning of his career
When he was about twelve, he
got his first chance to act in a legitimate stage show, and appeared as “Billy”
the page boy, in support of first H. A. Saintsbury and then William Gillette in
different productions of “Sherlock Holmes”. At the close of this engagement,
Charlie started a career as a comedian in vaudeville, which eventually took him
to the United States in 1910 as a featured player with the Fred Karno
Repertoire Company.
He scored an immediate hit
with American audiences, particularly with his characterization in a sketch
entitled “A Night in an English Music Hall”. When the Fred Karno troupe
returned to the United States in the fall of 1912 for a repeat tour, Chaplin was
offered a motion picture contract.
He finally agreed to appear
before the cameras at the expiration of his vaudeville commitments in November
1913; and his entrance in the cinema world took place that month when he joined
Mack Sennett and the Keystone Film Company. His initial salary was $150 a week,
but his overnight success on the screen spurred other producers to start
negotiations for his services.
At the completion of his
Sennett contract, Chaplin moved on to the Essanay Company (1915) at a large
increase. Sydney Chaplin had then arrived from England, and took his brother’s
place with Keystone as their leading comedian.
The following year Charlie was
even more in demand and signed with the Mutual Film Corporation for a much
larger sum to make 12 two-reel comedies. These include “The Floorwalker”, “The
Fireman”, “The Vagabond”, “One A.M.” (a production in which he was the only
character for the entire two reels with the exception of the entrance of a cab
driver in the opening scene), “The Count”, “The Pawnshop”, “Behind the Screen”,
“The Rink”, “Easy Street” (heralded as his greatest production up to that
time), “The Cure”, “The Immigrant” and “The Adventurer”.
Gaining independence
When his contract with Mutual
expired in 1917, Chaplin decided to become an independent producer in a desire
for more freedom and greater leisure in making his movies. To that end, he
busied himself with the construction of his own studios. This plant was
situated in the heart of the residential section of Hollywood at La Brea
Avenue.
Early in 1918, Chaplin entered
into an agreement with First National Exhibitors’ Circuit, a new organization
specially formed to exploit his pictures. His first film under this new deal
was “A Dog’s Life”. After this production, he turned his attention to a
national tour on behalf of the war effort, following which he made a film the
US government used to popularize the Liberty Loan drive: “The Bond”.
His next commercial venture
was the production of a comedy dealing with the war. “Shoulder Arms”, released
in 1918 at a most opportune time, proved a veritable mirthquake at the box
office and added enormously to Chaplin’s popularity.
The
Kid (1921)
However, before he could
assume his responsibilities with United Artists, Chaplin had to complete his
contract with First National. So early in 1921, he came out with a six-reel
masterpiece: The Kid, in which he introduced to the screen one of
the greatest child actors the world has ever known - Jackie Coogan.
Later in 1921, he released
“The Idle Class”, in which he portrayed a dual character. Then, feeling the
need for a complete rest from his motion picture activities, Chaplin sailed for
Europe in September 1921. London, Paris, Berlin and other capitals on the
continent gave him tumultuous receptions.
After an extended vacation,
Chaplin returned to Hollywood to resume his picture work and start his active
association with United Artists. Under his arrangement with U.A., Chaplin made
eight pictures, each of feature length, in the following order:
The Masterpiece Features
A Woman of Paris (1923)
A Woman of Paris was a courageous step in the
career of Charles Chaplin. After seventy films in which he himself had appeared
in every scene, he now directed a picture in which he merely walked on for a
few seconds as an unbilled and unrecognisable extra – a porter at a railroad
station. Until this time, every film had been a comedy. A Woman of Paris was a romantic drama. This was
not a sudden impulse. For a long time Chaplin had wanted to try his hand at
directing a serious film.
The Gold Rush (1925)
Chaplin generally strove to
separate his work from his private life; but in this case the two became
inextricably and painfully mixed. Searching for a new leading lady, he
rediscovered Lillita MacMurray, whom he had employed, as a pretty 12-year-old,
in The Kid. Still not yet sixteen, Lillita was put under
contract and re-named Lita Grey.
Overview of His Life
Childhood
Charles Spencer Chaplin was
born in London, England, on April 16th, 1889. His father was a versatile
vocalist and actor; and his mother, known under the stage name of Lily Harley,
was an attractive actress and singer, who gained a reputation for her work in
the light opera field.
Charlie was thrown on his own
resources before he reached the age of ten as the early death of his father and
the subsequent illness of his mother made it necessary for Charlie and his
brother, Sydney, to fend for themselves.
Chaplin aged 9 or 10, at the
time he toured with the Eight Lancashire Lads
Chaplin aged 9 or 10, at the
time he toured with the Eight Lancashire Lads
Having inherited natural
talents from their parents, the youngsters took to the stage as the best
opportunity for a career. Charlie made his professional debut as a member of a
juvenile group called “The Eight Lancashire Lads” and rapidly won popular
favour as an outstanding tap dancer.
Beginning of his career
When he was about twelve, he
got his first chance to act in a legitimate stage show, and appeared as “Billy”
the page boy, in support of first H. A. Saintsbury and then William Gillette in
different productions of “Sherlock Holmes”. At the close of this engagement,
Charlie started a career as a comedian in vaudeville, which eventually took him
to the United States in 1910 as a featured player with the Fred Karno
Repertoire Company.
Alf and Amy Reeves, Muriel
Palmer & Chaplin on the boat to America for the 1910 Karno tour
Alf and Amy Reeves, Muriel
Palmer & Chaplin on the boat to America for the 1910 Karno tour
He scored an immediate hit
with American audiences, particularly with his characterization in a sketch
entitled “A Night in an English Music Hall”. When the Fred Karno troupe
returned to the United States in the fall of 1912 for a repeat tour, Chaplin was
offered a motion picture contract.
He finally agreed to appear
before the cameras at the expiration of his vaudeville commitments in November
1913; and his entrance in the cinema world took place that month when he joined
Mack Sennett and the Keystone Film Company. His initial salary was $150 a week,
but his overnight success on the screen spurred other producers to start
negotiations for his services.
Kid Auto Races at Venice
(1914), the first film released in which Chaplin wore the Tramp costume
Kid Auto Races at Venice
(1914), the first film released in which Chaplin wore the Tramp costume
At the completion of his
Sennett contract, Chaplin moved on to the Essanay Company (1915) at a large
increase. Sydney Chaplin had then arrived from England, and took his brother’s
place with Keystone as their leading comedian.
The following year Charlie
was even more in demand and signed with the Mutual Film Corporation for a much
larger sum to make 12 two-reel comedies. These include “The Floorwalker”, “The
Fireman”, “The Vagabond”, “One A.M.” (a production in which he was the only
character for the entire two reels with the exception of the entrance of a cab
driver in the opening scene), “The Count”, “The Pawnshop”, “Behind the Screen”,
“The Rink”, “Easy Street” (heralded as his greatest production up to that
time), “The Cure”, “The Immigrant” and “The Adventurer”.
Charlie Chaplin, Edna
Purviance and Charlie's brother Sydney on the set of The Immigrant (1917)
Charlie Chaplin, Edna
Purviance and Charlie's brother Sydney on the set of The Immigrant (1917)
Gaining independence
When his contract with Mutual
expired in 1917, Chaplin decided to become an independent producer in a desire
for more freedom and greater leisure in making his movies. To that end, he
busied himself with the construction of his own studios. This plant was
situated in the heart of the residential section of Hollywood at La Brea
Avenue.
Chaplin ready to build his
studios at the corner of La Brea Avenue and De Longpre Avenue
Chaplin ready to build his
studios at the corner of La Brea Avenue and De Longpre Avenue
Early in 1918, Chaplin
entered into an agreement with First National Exhibitors’ Circuit, a new
organization specially formed to exploit his pictures. His first film under
this new deal was “A Dog’s Life”. After this production, he turned his
attention to a national tour on behalf of the war effort, following which he
made a film the US government used to popularize the Liberty Loan drive: “The
Bond”.
His next commercial venture
was the production of a comedy dealing with the war. “Shoulder Arms”, released
in 1918 at a most opportune time, proved a veritable mirthquake at the box
office and added enormously to Chaplin’s popularity.
Sunnyside, 1919
Sunnyside, 1919
He followed “Shoulder Arms”
with “Sunnyside” and “A Day’s Pleasure”, both released in 1919. In April of
that year, Chaplin joined with Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and D.W.
Griffith to found the United Artists Corporation. B.B. Hampton, in his “History
of the Movies” says:
“The corporation was
organized as a distributor, each of the artists retaining entire control of his
or her respective producing activities, delivering to United Artists the
completed pictures for distribution on the same general plan they would have
followed with a distributing organization which they did not own. The stock of
United Artists was divided equally among the founders. This arrangement
introduced a new method into the industry. Heretofore, producers and
distributors had been the employers, paying salaries and sometimes a share of
the profits to the stars. Under the United Artists system, the stars became
their own employers. They had to do their own financing, but they received the
producer profits that had formerly gone to their employers and each received
his share of the profits of the distributing organization.”
(Note: The comments on each
film outlined below are taken from articles by David Robinson. We strongly
recommend you read the full articles by following our links, since they provide
many more insights on Chaplin’s life and work.)
The Kid (1921)
Jackie Coogan and Charlie
Chaplin on the set of The Kid
Jackie Coogan and Charlie
Chaplin on the set of The Kid
However, before he could
assume his responsibilities with United Artists, Chaplin had to complete his
contract with First National. So early in 1921, he came out with a six-reel
masterpiece: The Kid, in which he introduced to the screen one of the greatest
child actors the world has ever known - Jackie Coogan.
Later in 1921, he released
“The Idle Class”, in which he portrayed a dual character. Then, feeling the
need for a complete rest from his motion picture activities, Chaplin sailed for
Europe in September 1921. London, Paris, Berlin and other capitals on the
continent gave him tumultuous receptions.
A crowd welcomes Chaplin in
London, 1921
A crowd welcomes Chaplin in
London, 1921
After an extended vacation,
Chaplin returned to Hollywood to resume his picture work and start his active
association with United Artists. Under his arrangement with U.A., Chaplin made
eight pictures, each of feature length, in the following order:
The Masterpiece Features
A Woman of Paris (1923)
A Woman of Paris was a
courageous step in the career of Charles Chaplin. After seventy films in which
he himself had appeared in every scene, he now directed a picture in which he
merely walked on for a few seconds as an unbilled and unrecognisable extra – a
porter at a railroad station. Until this time, every film had been a comedy. A
Woman of Paris was a romantic drama. This was not a sudden impulse. For a long
time Chaplin had wanted to try his hand at directing a serious film.
Chaplin signs a poster for A
Woman of Paris
Chaplin signs a poster for A
Woman of Paris
The Gold Rush (1925)
Chaplin generally strove to
separate his work from his private life; but in this case the two became
inextricably and painfully mixed. Searching for a new leading lady, he
rediscovered Lillita MacMurray, whom he had employed, as a pretty 12-year-old,
in The Kid. Still not yet sixteen, Lillita was put under contract and re-named
Lita Grey.
Yesterday, we watched movie "Charlie Chaplin".It was good experience for us because in this movie we could find so many things like a Unemployment, Women condition, Orphan, Communism, political satire etc..
This movie directed and written by Charlie Chaplin..in this told about how in America powerless people always exploited by powerful people . Another thing is that women condition also terrible.. it's Tragic story but Charlie Chaplin told in comic and satire way...In this movie one main thing is that frame work also nice we could find in first scene that So many people went for work.in this scene Charlie Chaplin wanted to compare shee with men this one is also great satire on American people..in this movie another character is Gamin ..she is thief girl so that we can say that in America that time women condition is so terrible they suffer lot..
Some major points in this movie...
Unemployment
Women condition
Political corruption
Powerty
Capitalism. Etc..
Movie ends with HOPE...
This movie directed and written by Charlie Chaplin..in this told about how in America powerless people always exploited by powerful people . Another thing is that women condition also terrible.. it's Tragic story but Charlie Chaplin told in comic and satire way...In this movie one main thing is that frame work also nice we could find in first scene that So many people went for work.in this scene Charlie Chaplin wanted to compare shee with men this one is also great satire on American people..in this movie another character is Gamin ..she is thief girl so that we can say that in America that time women condition is so terrible they suffer lot..
Some major points in this movie...
Unemployment
Women condition
Political corruption
Powerty
Capitalism. Etc..
Movie ends with HOPE...
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