Charlie
Charlie
Chaplin
Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin,
Charlie Chaplin,
considered to be one of
considered to be one of
the most pivotal stars of
the most pivotal stars of
the early days of
the early days of
Hollywood, lived an
Hollywood, lived an
interesting life both in
interesting life both in
his films and behind the
his films and behind the
camera. He is most
camera. He is most
recognized as an icon of
recognized as an icon of
the silent film era, often
the silent film era, often
associated with his
associated with his
popular "Little Tramp"
popular "Little Tramp"
character; the man with
character; the man with
the toothbrush
the toothbrush
mustache, bowler hat,
mustache, bowler hat,
bamboo cane, and a
bamboo cane, and a
funny walk.
funny walk.
Charles Spencer Chaplin was born in Walworth,
Charles Spencer Chaplin was born in Walworth,
London, England on April 26th, 1889 to Charles and
London, England on April 26th, 1889 to Charles and
Hannah (Hill) Chaplin, both music hall performers,
Hannah (Hill) Chaplin, both music hall performers,
who were married on June 22nd, 1885. After Charles
who were married on June 22nd, 1885. After Charles
Sr. separated from Hannah to perform in New York
Sr. separated from Hannah to perform in New York
City.
City.
Hannah then tried to resurrect
Hannah then tried to resurrect
her stage career. Unfortunately,
her stage career. Unfortunately,
her singing voice had a tendency
her singing voice had a tendency
to break at unexpected
to break at unexpected
moments. When this happened,
moments. When this happened,
the stage manager spotted young
the stage manager spotted young
Charlie standing in the wings
Charlie standing in the wings
and led him on stage, where
and led him on stage, where
five-year-old Charlie began to
five-year-old Charlie began to
sing a popular tune. Charlie and
sing a popular tune. Charlie and
his half-brother, Syd Chaplin
his half-brother, Syd Chaplin
(born Sydney Hawkes), spent
(born Sydney Hawkes), spent
their lives in and out of charity
their lives in and out of charity
homes and workhouses between
homes and workhouses between
their mother's bouts of insanity.
their mother's bouts of insanity.
Hannah was committed to Cane
Hannah was committed to Cane
Hill Asylum in May of 1903 and
Hill Asylum in May of 1903 and
lived there until 1921, when
lived there until 1921, when
Chaplin moved her to California.
Chaplin moved her to California.
Chaplin began his official
Chaplin began his official
acting career at the age of
acting career at the age of
eight, touring with The Eight
eight, touring with The Eight
Lancashire Lads. At 18 he
Lancashire Lads. At 18 he
began touring with Fred
began touring with Fred
Karno's vaudeville troupe,
Karno's vaudeville troupe,
joining them on the troupe's
joining them on the troupe's
1910 US tour. He traveled
1910 US tour. He traveled
west to California in
west to California in
December 1913 and signed on
December 1913 and signed on
with Keystone Studios'
with Keystone Studios'
popular comedy director
popular comedy director
Mack Sennett, who had seen
Mack Sennett, who had seen
Chaplin perform on stage in
Chaplin perform on stage in
New York. Charlie soon wrote
New York. Charlie soon wrote
his brother Syd, asking him
his brother Syd, asking him
to become his manager.
to become his manager.
While at Keystone, Chaplin
While at Keystone, Chaplin
appeared in and directed 35
appeared in and directed 35
films, starring as the Little
films, starring as the Little
Tramp in nearly all. In
Tramp in nearly all. In
November 1914 he left
November 1914 he left
Keystone and signed on at
Keystone and signed on at
Essanay, where he made 15
Essanay, where he made 15
films. In 1916, he signed on at
films. In 1916, he signed on at
Mutual and made 12 films. In
Mutual and made 12 films. In
June 1917 Chaplin signed up
June 1917 Chaplin signed up
with First National Studios,
with First National Studios,
after which he built Chaplin
after which he built Chaplin
Studios. In 1919 he and
Studios. In 1919 he and
Douglas Fairbanks, Mary
Douglas Fairbanks, Mary
Pickford and D.W. Griffith
Pickford and D.W. Griffith
formed United Artists (UA).
formed United Artists (UA).
Chaplin's life and career was full of
Chaplin's life and career was full of
scandal and controversy. His first
scandal and controversy. His first
big scandal was during World War
big scandal was during World War
I, during which time his loyalty to
I, during which time his loyalty to
England, his home country, was
England, his home country, was
questioned. He had never applied
questioned. He had never applied
for US citizenship, but claimed that
for US citizenship, but claimed that
he was a "paying visitor" to the
he was a "paying visitor" to the
United States. Many British
United States. Many British
citizens called Chaplin a coward
citizens called Chaplin a coward
and a slacker. This and his other
and a slacker. This and his other
career eccentricities sparked
career eccentricities sparked
suspicion with FBI chief J. Edgar
suspicion with FBI chief J. Edgar
Hoover and the House Un-
Hoover and the House Un-
American Activities Council
American Activities Council
(HUAC), who believed that he was
(HUAC), who believed that he was
injecting Communist propaganda
injecting Communist propaganda
into his films. Chaplin's later film
into his films. Chaplin's later film
The Great Dictator (1940), which
The Great Dictator (1940), which
was his first "talkie", also created a
was his first "talkie", also created a
stir. In the film Chaplin plays a
stir. In the film Chaplin plays a
humorous caricature of Adolf
humorous caricature of Adolf
Hitler.
Hitler.
Chaplin was also scrutinized
Chaplin was also scrutinized
for his support in aiding the
for his support in aiding the
Russian struggle against the
Russian struggle against the
invading Nazis during World
invading Nazis during World
War II, and the U.S.
War II, and the U.S.
government questioned his
government questioned his
moral and political views,
moral and political views,
suspecting him of having
suspecting him of having
Communist ties. For this
Communist ties. For this
reason HUAC subpoenaed him
reason HUAC subpoenaed him
in 1947. However, HUAC
in 1947. However, HUAC
finally decided that it was no
finally decided that it was no
longer necessary for him to
longer necessary for him to
appear for testimony.
appear for testimony.
Conversely, when Chaplin and
Conversely, when Chaplin and
his family traveled to London
his family traveled to London
for the premier of Limelight
for the premier of Limelight
(1952), he was denied re-entry
(1952), he was denied re-entry
to the United States. In reality,
to the United States. In reality,
the government had almost no
the government had almost no
evidence to prove that he was
evidence to prove that he was
a threat to national security.
a threat to national security.
He and his wife decided,
He and his wife decided,
instead, to settle in
instead, to settle in
Switzerland. During his
Switzerland. During his
absence from the States he
absence from the States he
made two more films, A King in
made two more films, A King in
New York (1957), released in
New York (1957), released in
America 20 years later, and his
America 20 years later, and his
final film A Countess from
final film A Countess from
Hong Kong (1967), which
Hong Kong (1967), which
starred Marlon Brando and
starred Marlon Brando and
Sophia Loren. This last film
Sophia Loren. This last film
proved to be Chaplin's only
proved to be Chaplin's only
failure and was a box-office
failure and was a box-office
flop.
flop.
Chaplin was married four
Chaplin was married four
times and had a total of 11
times and had a total of 11
children.
children.
In contrast to many of his
In contrast to many of his
boisterous characters, Chaplin
boisterous characters, Chaplin
was a quiet man who kept to
was a quiet man who kept to
himself a lot. He also had an
himself a lot. He also had an
"un-millionaire" way of living.
"un-millionaire" way of living.
Even after he had accumulated
Even after he had accumulated
millions, he continued to live in
millions, he continued to live in
shabby accommodations.
shabby accommodations.
In 1921 Chaplin was
In 1921 Chaplin was
decorated by the French
decorated by the French
government for his
government for his
outstanding work as a
outstanding work as a
filmmaker, and was elevated
filmmaker, and was elevated
to the rank of Officer of the
to the rank of Officer of the
Legion of Honor in 1952. In
Legion of Honor in 1952. In
1972 he was honored with an
1972 he was honored with an
Academy Award for his
Academy Award for his
"incalculable effect in
"incalculable effect in
making motion pictures the
making motion pictures the
art form of the century." In
art form of the century." In
1975 England's Queen
1975 England's Queen
Elizabeth II knighted him.
Elizabeth II knighted him.
Chaplin's other works
Chaplin's other works
included musical scores he
included musical scores he
composed for many of his
composed for many of his
films. He also authored two
films. He also authored two
autobiographical books, "My
autobiographical books, "My
Autobiography" in 1964 and
Autobiography" in 1964 and
its companion volume, "My
its companion volume, "My
Life in Pictures" in 1974.
Life in Pictures" in 1974.
Chaplin died of natural
Chaplin died of natural
causes on December 25, 1977
causes on December 25, 1977
at his home in Switzerland.
at his home in Switzerland.
In 1978, Chaplin's corpse
In 1978, Chaplin's corpse
was stolen from its grave
was stolen from its grave
and was not recovered for
and was not recovered for
three months; he was re-
three months; he was re-
buried in a vault
buried in a vault
surrounded by cement.
surrounded by cement.
Charlie Chaplin was
Charlie Chaplin was
considered one of the
considered one of the
greatest filmmakers in the
greatest filmmakers in the
history of American
history of American
cinema, whose movies
cinema, whose movies
were and still are popular
were and still are popular
throughout the world, and
throughout the world, and
have even gained notoriety
have even gained notoriety
as time progresses. His
as time progresses. His
films show, through the
films show, through the
Little Tramp's positive
Little Tramp's positive
outlook on life in a world
outlook on life in a world
full of chaos, that the
full of chaos, that the
human spirit has and
human spirit has and
always will remain the
always will remain the
same.
same.
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