Story of Charlie Chaplin

Charlie, a native of London, was born in poverty on April 16, 1889 to music hall performers Charles and Hannah Chaplin. As a child he was confined to a bed for weeks due to a serious illness. At night his mother would sit at the window and act out what was going on outside. This was a major reason Chaplin became a comedian. He was a small child when he got his first break by performing in place of his mother, who was suffering from severe mental illness.

He got his start in films when his half-brother Sydney got him a job with the Karno Company in England. He came to the United States and joined Mack Sennet's Keystone Studio. Sennet was famous for his slapstick comedies which invariably ended in chases. Chaplin went on to work for Essenay where some of his best known work was done. Eventually, with Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford he formed United Artists.

Along the way Chaplin did something that made him a famous figure world wide. Charlie Chaplin was considered to be one of the most pivotal stars of the early days of Hollywood. He lived an interesting life both in his films and behind the camera. He is most recognized as an icon of the silent film era, often associated with his popular "Little Tramp" character; the man with the toothbrush mustache, bowler hat, bamboo cane, and a funny walk.

Actually, he invented the Tramp. He went to the costume room at the studio and began combining pieces of clothing until he was wearing a derby hat, vest that was too small, shoes that were too big, a brush-mustache, and was carrying a cane. The costume seemed to produce the character. He remembered the walk of a man from his childhood and copied it. The character became synonymous with Chaplin until 1940 when he did his first sound film. Even though he did a small amount of work without the Tramp costume he will always be remembered for that character.

Because Chaplin began his life in terrible poverty he always connected with the common man, even when he had become a multi-millionare. There was a serious side to his work, a combination of comedy and melodrama known as "pathos". It hadn't occurred to many comedians to pepper their hilarious performances with scenes that would tug at the audience's heart strings. Charlie became the master and such films as The Gold Rush, The Kid, and City Lights are considered to be treasures for just that reason.

He was daring, willing to take chances, and had a knowledge of what the audience wanted. The silent genius was all of those things. Chaplin was not only a great performer on screen, but he directed most of his films (only his earliest films were directed by others). He was a producer and writer. In the days of silent films he wrote the scene as the film was being made. In his later films the opening credits seem to say "...by Charles Chaplin" over and over.

Up until his last few movies, he never shot with a working script. He would start with a story in his mind and constantly retool it, often shooting hours of scenes that wouldn't make the final cut until he was satisfied. He spent his nights during filming, critiquing the rushes with his assistant directors. Consequently compared to the major studio's films, he spent months/years and excessive amounts of money on his productions. He often said though he would not release any of his films until he was 100% satisfied with the result.

There was more. Chaplin proved to be a prolific composer. He could not read a note of music but could play it for those who could write it down. Some of his music has gained widespread recognition, such as "Smile", from Modern Times and "This is my Song" from one of his lesser known films, A Countess from Hong Kong. The most beautiful is "Eternally", the opening theme of Limelight. It became so widely known as one of the great Chaplin compositions that it was played at many of his professional appearances, including his Academy Award acceptance in 1972.

In 1962 Charlie received an honorary degree from Oxford University. In 1972, twenty years after he left the US, Chaplin was invited back to receive a special Academy Award for achievement. This was followed by a knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II. As Sir Charles Chaplin is star was again on the rise!