1

Biography:CharlieChaplin
(April16,1889December25,1977)

CharlieChaplin,whobroughtlaughtertomillionsworldwideasthesilent"Little Tramp"clown,hadthetypeofdeprivedchildhoodthatonewouldexpecttofind inaDickensnovel.BorninEastStreet,Walworth,Londonon16April,1889, CharlesSpencerChaplinwasthesonofamusichallsingerandhiswife.Charlie Chaplin'sparentsdivorcedearlyinhislife,withhisfatherprovidinglittletono support,eitherfinancialorotherwise,leavinghismothertosupportthemasbest shecould.Chaplin'smotherHannahwasthebrightestspotinCharlie's childhoodformerlyanactoronstage,shehadlostherabilitytoperform,and managedtoearnasubsistencelivingforherself,Charlie,andCharlie'solder halfbrotherSidneybysewing.ShewasanintegralpartofCharlie'syounglife, andhecreditedherwithmuchofhissuccess.Sadly,sheslowlysuccumbedto mentalillness,andbythetimethatCharliewas7yearsold,shewasconfined toanasylumCharlieandSidneywererelegatedtoaworkhouse(agovernment facilityfororphanedandabandonedchildren)notforthelasttime.After2 months,shewasreleased,andthefamilywashappilyreunited,foratime.In lateryears,shewasreadmittedforan8monthstretchlater,duringwhichtime Charlielivedwithhisalcoholicfatherandstepmother,inastrained environment.

CharlieChaplin'sfirsttasteofshowbusiness
Sidneylefthomefirst,workingfirstonasailing ship,andlateronthestage,openingthedoorfor Charlietofollowinhisfootstepslater.YoungCharlie feltmorealonethaneverwithoutthepresenceof hisbrother,hisclosestfriendandconfidant. However,therewasabrightspotaswellin Chaplin's9thyearhetouredwithastage company,the8LancashireLads,withakindhearted couplewholedthetroupe,andgaveChaplinhis firsttasteofstagelife.HealsometayoungStan Laurelaspartofthetroupe. Attheageof12,Charlie'sfatherdiedquiteyoung. Attheageof14,Charlie'smotherisreadmittedto theasylum,whileSidneyisoutoftownonan CharlieChaplin BuyFromArt.com extendedtrip.Charlieprovidesforhimselfasbest hecan,desperatetoavoidreturningtothe workhouse,untilSydneyreturnshome.WithSidney'sreturn,youngChaplin's luckbeginstoturnforthebetter.Hewinsapartinthestageplay"Jim,A RomanceofCockney"toglowingreviews.Laterinthesameyear,heearnsthe partofBillyinastageadaptationof"SherlockHolmes,"againtosterlingreviews, andtourswiththecompanyplayingthatpart.Thetourcontinuesthroughthenext

2 year,andHannahisagainreleased,seeminglyinherrightmind.Allseemstobe goingwell,untilHannahrelapses,andisinstitutionalizedforthenext7years Charlieis16yearsold.

CharlieChaplintourswiththeKarnotroupe,andenters films
Charliecontinuesinhisactingcareer,ashisbrotherSidneyjoinstheKarno troupe,againopeningthewaythereforCharlie.CharliejoinstheKarnotroupe thenextyear,againworkingalongsideStanLaurel.Twoyearslater,Chaplin (alongwiththerestoftheKarnotroupe)tourstheUnitedStates'vaudeville circuit.Twoyearslater,in1912,CharliereturnswiththeKarnotroupetothe USA,butthistimedecidestostay.Thenextyear,Chaplinleavesthestageto joinMackSennet'sKeystoneFilmsStudio,markingamilestonebothinhisown lifeandinthehistoryoffilm.

CharlieChaplin'sfamousTrampcharacterisborn
ThepaceoffilmmakinginearlyHollywoodseemsimpossiblebytoday's standards.Injusttwomonths,ChaplinappearedinthefollowingKeystonefilms: MakingaLiving,KidAutoRaces,Mabel'sStrangePredicament,Between Showers,AFilmJohnnie,TangoTangles,HisFavouritePastime,Cruel,Cruel Love.AlthoughChaplinstartedattheKeystoneCompanyasabitplayer,withthe introductionofhisworldfamoustrampcharacterhequicklyexplodedintoa majorstar.ByApril,attheageof25,Chaplindirectshisfirstfilm,'Twenty MinutesofLove.' ByNovemberofthatyear,ChaplinisleavingKeystone,havingsignedan exclusivecontractforthenewlyformedEssanayFilmCompany.Sidneyfollows inCharlie'sstepsthistime,andjoinstheKeystoneCompanyshortlybefore Charlieleftit. InFebruaryof1915,ChaplinbeginsworkforEssanay,withgreatercontrolover hisfilmsthaneverbeforebutnotenoughtoavoid'creativedifferences'with hisbossesatEssanay.However,anothermilestoneoccursatthesametime hemeetsEdnaPurviance,whowastobehisleadingladyformanyofhisfilms, aswellasanoffagain,onagainromance.AtEssanay,Chaplincreatedmanyof theclassicshortfilmshe'sbestrememberedfor,includingHisNewJob,AJitney Elopement,TheTramp,ANightintheShow,andTheImmigrant.InFebruaryof 1916,Chaplinagainjumpstoanotherfilmcompany,Mutual,wherehecontinues tocreatesomeofhisfinestshorts,includingTheFloorwalker,TheVagabond, ThePawnshop,BehindtheScreen,andTheRink.Inbothhispersonaland professionallife,hisinnercirclebegantoexpand.HefirsthiredHenryBergman (the'heavyvillain'insomanyofChaplin'sfilms),aswellashiringTomHarrington ashispersonalsecretary,apositionwhichhekeptformanydecades,becoming Chaplin'srighthandmaninmanyrespects.

3 Desiringevenmorecreativecontrol,Chaplinbegan buildinghisownstudiointhefallof1917,and signedwithyetanotherstudio,FirstNational.For thefirsttime,Chaplinhascompletecontrolover everystepofhisfilms.ForFirstNational,Chaplin continuestocreateclassicshorts:ADog'sLife, ShoulderArms,andTheBond.In1918,healso marriesforthefirst(butnotthelast)time,to MildredHarris.

CharlieChaplin'swomantroubles
Charliebeginsinhispersonallifearecurring, destructivepatternhechases(andfrequently marries)ayoungwoman,losesinterestinher (beingconsumedbyhiscreativeenergies),goes throughamessybreakup(ordivorce),typically CharlieChaplinwithDog BuyFromArt.com impactinghisprofessionallife,andthenrepeatsthe pattern.InNovemberofthatyear,hisfirsttruelove,HettyKelly,diesalthough Chaplindoesn'tfindthisoutuntilhevisitsEnglandin1921.

CharlieChaplinpathosandcomedy
1919wasayearofbothgreatgainsandlossesforCharlie.Oneofhismost popularshortfilms,Sunnyside,isreleaseddemonstratingadegreeofboth pathosandcomedymixedtogethertoahighdegree.Chaplinhadbeenslowly movingtheLittleTramptowardsthismorebalancedcharacterizationforsome timeandnowCharliethetrampismaturing.Sadly,Charliethehumanbeing sufferedaterribleloss,ashis&Mildred'sinfantchildisborn,horriblydeformed, anddiesafteronly3days.Charliesoughtsolaceinhiswork,alienatinghiswife evenmore.Inthatsameyear,heformedUnitedArtistswithhisclosestfriend DouglasFairbanksandFairbanks'wife,screenlegendMaryPickfordina successfulefforttokeepthemajorstudiosfrommonopolizingandcontrollingall aspectsofproduction.InDecemberofthatyear,ADay'sPleasurewasreleased, dealingwithahappyfamilytryingtoenjoyaquietdayatthebeachsomewhat ironically,consideringthestateofCharlieChaplin'spersonallifeatthatstage. ButsomethingnewwasonthehorizonCharlieChaplinhadbegunproduction ofTheKid.

CharlieChaplinTheKid
TheKidwasCharlieChaplin'sfirstfull lengthmovie.It,morethananythingelseto thatdate,madeChaplinalivinglegend.It tookoverayeartoproduce,andwasan incrediblesuccessforChaplin,both financiallyandartistically. Overthenextyear,CharlieChaplincontinues workingonTheKid,ashisperfectionism takesmoreandmoretimeincreatinghisfilm masterpieces.Sadly,heandMildredHarris divorceatthistime,inoneofthemostbitter Hollywooddivorcesseenuptothispoint.But thereislightattheendofthetunnel,asThe Kidisfinallyreleasedtounanimouspraise, andrecordboxofficesuccess,in1921. CharlieChaplinhadgonethroughavery difficulttime,andneededtimetorelax,and renewhimself.Hetookhisfirstvacation, CharlieChaplinwithKid... returningtoEuropetocrowdsthatwere BuyFrom Art.com beyondhiswildestdreams.Inabittersweet moment,helearnsofHettyKelly'sdeathfromherbrotherwhileinLondon.More cheerfully,hebeginsseveralfriendshipsinLondonthatbecomelifelong, includingwiththefamouswriterH.G.Welles.Inaddition,heandSydneybrought theirmother,Hannah,totheStates,whereshelivedtherestofherlife,underthe bestmedicalcarethatCharlie'smoneycouldprovide. ReturningtoAmerica,andtohiswork,Charliequicklyproduceshisnextfilm,The IdleClass.Charliebeginsworkingonhisnextfilm,Payday,inhisprofessional life,andmeetstheEuropeanactressPolaNegri,withwhomhehasanoffagain, onagainromanticrelationshipthatgoesonfornearlyayear.Overthecourseof thatyear,CharlieChaplinreleaseshisnextfilm,ThePilgrim(aboutanescaped convictwhotakesontheroleofapreachertoavoidrecapture),andpreparesfor hisfirstdramaticfilm,AWomanofParis,designedtocatapultEdnaPurviance intoherowncareer.AudiencesbynowhadassociatedthenameCharlieChaplin withcomedy,however,andwerenotexpectingseriousfare.Althoughagood movie,itdiedattheboxofficeandgaveCharlieChaplinhisfirstcommercial failure.

CharlieChaplinin TheGoldRushand inafamilyway

Thatwasreversedbyhis nextfilm,oneoftheclassics ofthesilenteraTheGold Rush.Itisthestoryofthe LittleTrampgoingnorthto theAlaskangoldrush,and bymoreluckthanskillboth gettingthegirlandbecoming rich.Itistouching,poignant, andhilarious,containing someofChaplin'smost famousroutines.However, CharlieChaplin TheGoldRush BuyFromArt.com earlyinthefilmingofthe movie,Chaplin'sleading lady,LitaGrey,hadtobereplacedbyGeorgiaHalesinceCharlieChaplinhad marriedLitaGrey,andshehadbecomepregnant.Shewasonly16atthetime. Chaplinworriedincessantlyabouthisyoungwife'spregnancyhadfeltthatthe deathofhisfirstsonwas,insomeway,hisfault.Thankfully,in1925thischild wasbornhealthyCharlesSpencerChaplinJr.Charliehadqualmsabout namingthechildafterhimself,fearingthattheboywouldliveinhisfather's shadow,buthegavewaytoLita.Thatsameyear,TheGoldRush(readreview) wasreleasedtocriticalacclaimandgreatfinancialsuccess.Somebelieveitis Chaplin'sfinestfilm.Ironically,therewasathirdbirththatyearthatwould becomeintegraltoChaplinyearslaterOonaO'Neilwasborn. Thenextyear,Charliebeganworkonhisnextfilm,TheCircus(readreview).As JohnMcCabenotedinhisexcellentbiographyofCharlieChaplin,TheCircus wasnottheequalofTheGoldRush,butwasagoodfilminits'ownrightand, giventhecircumstancesunderwhichitwasfilmed,itwasamiraclethatitwas evenpalatable.

CharlieChaplininamessydivorce
Despitethebirthofasecondson,Sidney,in1926,Charlie&Lita'smarriage brokeapartbitterly,andpublicly.Chargeswentbackandforth,with newspapersgleefullydisplayingthedetailsoftheChaplins'maritalwoes.Charlie ChaplinalwaysrefusedtodiscusshismarriagewithLitaLita,however,wrotea onesidedaccount,WifeoftheLifeoftheParty.Thedivorceendedin1927with arecordbreakingdivorcesettlementof$825,000.Thestresswasenoughto permanentlyturnCharlieChaplin'shairprematurelywhite.Duringallofthis, CharliecontinuedtofilmTheCircus(readreview),oneofhislesserknown,but best,films.

6 In1928,CharlieChaplinreleasedTheCircustopopularacclaim,andalso receivedaspecialOscarforhisworkonthefilmasdirector,actor,producer. Sadly,thispositiveyearwasalsocrushinglynegative,asCharlie'sbeloved motherdied.Chaplin'slifecontinuedtobecenteredaroundhiswork,eveninhis grief,ashebeganworkonhisnextfilmtowardstheendofthatyear:CityLights (readreview).

CharlieChaplintheendoftheTramp
CityLights,releasedin1931,wasCharlieChaplin'sfirstnonsilentfilm.Butitstill wasnota'talking'picture.Chaplinincludedthemusicalsoundtrack,andused soundeffects,butnobodyspokeinthepictureyet.Thiswasamajorgamblefor Chaplin,sincesoundpictureshadnowbecomethestandard.Butitwasa gamblethatpaidoffhandsomely.Themoviewasbothafinancialandcritical success,andmanybelieveittobeoneofChaplin'sfinestfilms,ifnothisbest. AfterCityLights,CharlieChaplindid somethingtotallyoutofcharacterhe tookavacation.Actually,Chaplintook vacationsquitefrequently,bothto refreshhimselfandtofindnewideasfor hisfilms.Butthiswashisfirstextended vacation,awayfromcreatinganew moviefornearlytwoyears.Hetalksat lengthaboutthistimeinhis autobiography(MyAutobiography), includingglobetrottingandhowhewas ModernTimes BuyFromArt.com nearlyassassinatedinJapanbut perhapshismostpivotalmomentwasin1932,whenhemetPauletteGoddard, whowouldcostarinhisnextfilm ModernTimeswhichwouldbetheTramp's finalfilm. AfterthereleaseofModernTimes,CharlieChaplinandPauletteGoddardwere marriedinsecret,whileonvacationintheOrient.Uponhisreturn,Charliebegan hismostaudaciouscomedyyetTheGreatDictator,makingfunofAdolphHitler himself.Hitler,inmanyways,wasanaturalsubjectforChaplintosatirize.Hitler, itissaid,adoptedhismustacheinimitationofCharlie.Bothweresmallermen,of slightbuild.AndChaplinsawtheideasthatHitlerwaschampioningashorrible, evilandCharliewasdeterminedtoshowtheworldwhathesaw.

CharlieChaplinattacksHitlerinThe GreatDictator
TheGreatDictatorwasCharlieChaplin'sfirsttruly talkingpicture,andwhenitwasfinallyreleasedin 1940,itwasaworldwidesensation.Manypeople mistakenlythinkthatthecharacteroftheJewish BarberinthefilmistheTramp,butCharlieChaplin wasadamantthattheyaredifferentcharacters. AlthoughthebarberusesmanyoftheTramp's mannerisms,heisalsoclearlyanindividualinhis ownright.Andthebarberisfarmorelongwinded, asthefamous"LookUp,Hannah"speechattheend ofthemovieremindsus.

CharlieChaplinunAmerican?
InthesameyearthatCharlieChaplinbeganworking onTheGreatDictator,theHouseUnAmerican CommitteebeginsinvestigatingCharlie.Atfirstglance,thereseemstobeno reasonforthisuntilthesecondglance.EarlierChaplinhaddonehispatriotic partinraisingmoneyforthewareffort,alongsidehislongtimefriendsDouglas FairbanksandMaryPickfordraisinglargeamountsofmoneyforthewar. Charliewasalifelongpacifist,buthewasalsoarealistwhosawthatthe aggressionoftheAxispowershadtobestopped.Inmanyways,Chaplinwas politicallynaivesuchasspeakingatfundraisersfortheCommunistUSSR, whomChaplinsimplysawasouralliesinthefight.Andbysuggestingthat Americaimmediatelyopenatwofrontwartohelpour"friends"intheSoviet Union.Theseweresomeofthereasonsthatthegovernmentbegankeepingtabs ontheimmigrantfilmmaker(althoughheworkedforalloftheseyearsin America,hemaintainedhisBritishcitizenship,andhadnointentionof becominganAmericancitizen).
TheGreatDictator BuyFromArt.com

1942wasaverybusyyearforCharlieChaplin,atleastinhispersonallife. PauletteGoddard,costarofModernTimesandTheGreatDictator,divorced Chaplin,andwentontobeastarinherownright.Inthatsameyear,Charliemet anotheryounglady,whomhefallsdeeply,andpermanently,inlovewithOona O'Neil.Oona,althoughyoung,ismaturebeyondheryearsperhapsfrom havinggrownupinthehouseholdofherfather,EugeneO'Neil,thefamous playwright.EugeneO'NeilwasopposedtohavinghisdaughterdateCharlie ChaplingivenChaplin'strackrecordtodate,onecanhardlyblamehim.In addition,Chaplinmeetsanotheryoungladythatyear,whoserelationshipto Chaplinwouldalmostseemtoconfirmtheplaywright'ssuspicionsJoanBarry. Byallaccounts,JoanBarrywasatroubledyoungwoman,whohadsometalent foracting.ShehadmetCharlieChaplin,whohadgivenherascreentestfora role,butdidnothireherforanyofhismovies.Althoughtheydatedonandoff,

8 nothingseriouscameofit.ButinJoanBarry'smind,itwasveryseriousserious enoughthatshebreaksintoChaplin'shomelaterthatyear,armedwithagun. Charlieeventuallytalkedheroutofanyviolence,gothertoleavequietly,and thencalledthepolice,resultinginarestrainingorderthatshouldhaveservedto keepheroutofCharlieChaplin'slife.

CharlieChaplininthepaternitysuit
However,twothingshappenedthatnextyearthatpreventedthatfrom happening.FirstwasJoanBarry'spregnancyshenamedCharlieChaplinas thefather.Second,CharliemarriedOonaO'Neiland,inaveryrealsense,they livedhappilyeverafter.Thecoupletrulylovedeachother,weredevotedtoeach other,andgrewcloserastimewenton. Inthemoreimmediateterm,CharlieChaplindeniedbeingthefatherofJoan Barry'schild,andabloodtestprovedhisinnocence.However,thebloodtestwas inadmissableintheCaliforniacourtatthetime,andajuryofhispeersordered Chaplintopaychildsupport.(Thisisrecreatedquitewellinthe1992'Chaplin' moviestarringRobertDowney,andishighlyrecommendedviewing). In1946,thefirstofOonaandCharlieChaplin'schildren,Michael,isborn.Over theyears,hewillhave7moresiblings(Josephine,Victoria,Eugene,Jane, AnnetteandChristopher).Charliealsobeginshisnextfilm,averygreat departurefromanythingCharliehaseverattemptedthedarkcomedyMonsieur Verdoux. MonsieurVerdouxisaverydarkcomedy,inwhichthetitlecharacter,afired bankclerk,makeshislivingbymarryingricholderwomenandthenkillingthem fortheirmoney.CharlieChaplinusedittomakeastatementabouttheparadox ofkillingmillionsinwarisvirtuous,forthewinningside,butkillingindividualsisa crime.Althoughithasmomentsbothhumorousandengaging,itwasnotthefare thatthepublicwasexpectingfromChaplin,anditdidnotdowelldomestically, althoughitdidwelloverseas,andChaplinmadeatidyprofitfromit.Healsoused EdnaPurvianceonscreenforthelasttime,essentiallyasanextra.

CharlieChaplin'sfinalfilms
In1951,CharlieChaplinmadeoneofhisfinestfilms,andoneofhisleastwell knownLimelight.Limelightisthestoryofaformerlygreatdancehalltramp clown,Calvero(portrayedbyChaplin)onadownwardspiral,contrastingwitha youngdanceronherwaytofameintothespotlight.Afunny,poignantfilm,it alsoteamedtwoofthegreatclownsofthesilentera,BusterKeatonandCharlie Chaplin,forthefirstandonlytime. LimelightdidnotdowellatAmericanmoviehouses,largelyduetothefalse rumorsthatChaplinwasacommunistorcommunistsympathizer,aswellasan organizedprotestbyvariousunionsresultingintheatersrefusingtoshowthe film.Asaresult,itwasnotseenwidelyintheUnitedStatesofAmericafor

9 decades.Yearslater,whenitfinallyplayedinLosAngeles,itwasnominatedfor theBestMusicAcademyAwardandwon.

CharlieChaplininExile
AfterLimelight,CharlietookanothervacationtoEngland,wantingtoshowhis newwifeandchildrenhisnativecountry.Uponleavingtheterritorialwatersofthe UnitedStatesofAmerica,CharlieChaplinreceivedacable,informinghimthat theStateDepartmenthadrescindedhisreentrypermiteffectivelylockinghim outofthecountryasanundesirablealien.Thereweremanyreasonsforthis Chaplin'sunorthodoxpoliticalviews,thefalseaccusationthathewasa Communist,andnotleastofall,money.Therewouldhavebeenanattemptby thefederalgovernmenttoseizeChaplin'sassets,whichwereenormous. However,hiswifeOonareturnedtotheUnitedStates,andpromptlytookallof theliquidassets,aswellasliquidatingeverythingshecouldleavingthe governmentwithoutapennyforits'trouble. CharlieChaplinwasnot,however,amanwithoutacountry.Hewasstillacitizen ofGreatBritain,buthedidnotdesiretolivethere.Afterthestressofthesituation hadbeendealtwith,theChaplinsrelocatedtoVevey,Switzerlandin1953,where theylivedfortheremainderoftheirlivestogether.Aftertheirdeath,ithasbeen turnedintoaninternationalCharlieChaplinmuseum. In1954,OonarenouncedherU.S.citizenship,castingherlotwithherhusband. And,ironically,CharlieChaplinwasawardedWorldPeaceCouncilPrizeinthat sameyear.Inthenextyear,heresumesdoingwhathedoesbestmaking comedies.

10 Hisnextfilm,AKingInNewYork,wasabiting indictmentofmodernsociety.Init,heplayedthe roleofKingShadov,anEuropeanmonarchinexile, whocomestoNewYorktopromotethepeaceful usesofnuclearpower.Alongtheway,hepokesfun attheRedScare,commercials,movies,celebrities, moviemagazines,andlifeinurbanAmerica.Filmed inEngland,itwasthelastfilminwhichhewason screenasamajorcharacter. InthesameyearthatAKingInNewYork premiered,CharlieChaplin'shalfbrotherWheeler Drydendied.Wheelerhadbeenintroducedto CharliemanyyearsbeforebyEdnaPurviance Charliehadbeenunawareofhim.Wheelerwasa competent,thoughnotgifted,actor,andidolizedhis famousbrother.HebegantoworkforCharliein variousrolesandpositions,andyearslaterserved asCharlie'sassistantdirectoronTheGreatDictator andMonsieurVerdoux.JeromeRobinsons'photo journal,CharlieandMe,containssomeinterestinganecdotesaboutCharlie's lesserknownsibling. Chaplin'sprofessionalpaceseemedtobeslowingdown,toanoutsideobserver. Afterall,hewasnow69yearsold.However,Charliewasnotfinishedworking. Hehadbeenreeditingsomeofhisearliermovies,andcomposingnewmusicfor someofthem.Charliewasmusicalbynatureaswellasprofession,andhewrote someofthemostenduringmelodiesofthecenturynotleastamongthemthe song'Smile'.However,beforehecouldreleasehisreeditedmovies,now narratedbyCharlieChaplinhimself,deathclaimedanotheroldfriendEdna Purviancediedin1958.And,toaddinsulttoinjury,Chaplin'snamewasremoved fromLosAngeles'WalkofFame.

11 In1959,theChaplinRevuewasreleased,to worldwideacclaim.CharlieChaplincontinuedhis workinSwitzerland,writingandcomposing,and raisinghisgrowingbroodofchildren.In1964he publishedhisautobiography,whichhehumblytitled 'MyAutobiography.'Itwasaninterestedlookinto thelifeofCharlieChaplin,althoughincomplete hementionedhismarriagetoLitaGreyinonlyone sentence. In1965,deathagainintrudedonCharlieChaplin's familylife,ashisolderbrotherSidneydied.This wasastrongblowtoChaplin,secondonlytothe lossofhimmotherin1928.Sidneyhadbeenhis brother,friend,companion,confidantandbusiness managerallrolledintoone.Charliegrieveddeeply forthelossofhisbelovedbrother. ButCharlieChaplindidnotstopworking.After dealingwithhisgriefasbesthecould,in1966Charliebeganworkonhisnext, andfinal,movie,ACountessinHongKong.ItwasanumberoffirstsforChaplin hedidnotstarinthefilm,andonlyhadasmall,Hitchcockesquewalkonscene asaporter.Instead,hedirectedtwoofHollywood'slargeststarsoftheday, MarlonBrandoandSophiaLoren.Althoughaninterestingidea,itwasnotahitat theboxofficewhenreleasedin1967. In1968,Chaplinwasnow79yearsold.Itisnot surprisingthatmoreandmoreofhisfriendsand coworkersdiedforexample,hislongtime cameramanandassistantRollieTotherohdiedthe previousyear.However,CharlieChaplin'soldest son,CharlesChaplinJr.,died.Again,Charlie workedthroughhisgrief,andthrewhimselfintohis work.Hewaspreparinganewfilm,'TheFreak', aboutayounggirlwhosproutswings,asavehicle forhisdaughterbutitneverwentpastthe planningstages. In1972,CharlieChaplindidsomethinghenever thoughthewoulddohereturnedtotheUnited StatesofAmerica.Hewasreturningtoaccepta lifetimeachievementAcademyAward.The foolishnessof20yearsprevioushadbeen forgotten,andChaplinwasgreetedbyAmericawith

12 openarms.Correctinganotheroldinjustice,Chaplin'snamewasaddedagain tothe'WalkofFame'inLosAngeles.ChaplinwasalsoawardedtheGoldenLion atthatyear'sVeniceFilmFestival. In1974,CharlieChaplinpublishedanotherbook,'MyLifeinPictures.'Thenext year,hewasknightedbyQueenElizabethII,andbecameSirCharlesSpencer Chaplin. In1977,CharlieChaplinpassedaway,onChristmasDay.Heleftbehindgrieving familyandfriends,andmillionsoffansworldwide.

QuotesbyCharlieChaplin:

"Totrulylaugh,youmustbeabletotakeyourpain,andplaywithit!" "Iremainjustonething,andonethingonlyandthatisaclown.Itplaces meonafarhigherplanethananypolitician." "Laughteristhetonic,therelief,thesurceaseforpain"

CheckoutreviewsofsomeofChaplin'sfinestfilms,includingTheGoldRush, TheImmigrant,TheKidandLimelight(apersonalfavorite) FormoreimagesofChaplin,pleasecheckouttheCharlieChaplinGallery.

OtherCharlieChaplinResources
www.chaplinmuseum.com CharlieChaplingame Needcontent?Youmayusethisarticleatyourwebsite,orinyournewsletter. Theonlyrequirementisinclusionofthefollowingsentence:ArticlebyTom RaymondofClownMinistry.com thedefinitivesourceforclownsofallages.