Where can I find information about Charlie Chaplin?

Charlie Chaplin (1889 April16-1977 February 25th, full name Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin Jr., winner of the best medal of the British Empire) was a famous British comedian and anti-war figure, and later became a very outstanding figure. He laid the foundation of modern comedy movies. Chaplin, wearing a bowler hat and a dress, almost became an important representative of comedy movies, and many artists performed in his way in the future.

Chaplin's best role is a tramp on the outside, but a gentleman on the inside, wearing a narrow dress, extra-large pants and shoes, a bowler hat, a bamboo pole and a moustache. Chaplin was one of the most talented and influential figures in the silent film period. He wrote, directed, acted and distributed his own films. He worked in the entertainment circle for more than 70 years, from being a child star in the British Grand Theatre to his death at the age of 88. From Dickensian childhood in London to the peak of the world film industry, Chaplin's life was the most extraordinary period in the 20th century, and he himself became a cultural idol. The ups and downs of his private life and public life have been highly praised by some people and severely criticized by some people.

[Editor] Childhood

Chaplin was born in a performing family in south London, England. His parents are artists. His parents separated when he was very young, and Charlie and his half-brother Sidney Chaplin lived with their mother. 1896 his mother lost her job, and the two brothers were sent to the juvenile reformatory in Lamberthz, London. A few weeks later, they were sent to an orphan school. When Chaplin 12 and a half years old, his father died of alcoholism, his mother was mentally ill, and he was finally sent to a mental hospital. At that time, Sidney and Charlie didn't know that they had a half-brother who was raised by his father. Later, this elder brother worked in the Hollywood studio in Charlie Chaplin. Charlie Chaplin 1920 took his mother to the United States, 1928 her mother died in Hollywood. Because of his father's early death and his mother's mental illness, young Chaplin was sent to a school for the poor and orphans. After 7 years old, he left the school for orphans and became a street child. He used to be a newspaper boy, a grocery store clerk, a toy vendor, a doctor's servant, a glass blower, and swept the floor in amusement parks.

[Editor] Stage career

Chaplin made his debut in place of his mother at the London Grand Theatre at the age of five. He was seriously ill when he was a child and stayed in bed for several weeks. In the evening, his mother showed him what was happening outside the window. 1900, his brother played the role of a drama cat for him in the pantomime Cinderella in the London Arena. On 1903, he got a new role, and soon after, he got his first official role in Sherlock Holmes, a newsboy. He played this role until 1906. After that, he worked in an acrobatic troupe, and the following year he played a clown in Fred Cano's comedy troupe.

[Editor] America

According to the immigration records of the United States, Charlie Chaplin entered the United States with the Carnaud pantomime troupe on June 2nd 19 12. At that time, members of the Carnaud pantomime troupe also included Stan Laurel, Chaplin and laurel, who shared a room in the hotel. Later, laurel returned to England, while Chaplin stayed in the United States. At that time, film director Mack Cenit hired Chaplin after seeing Chaplin's performance. Chaplin collaborated with comedian Mabel Normand there. From 19 14 to 1923, Chaplin shot a lot of short films and became a world-famous comedian with superb pantomime skills and perfect screen image-in fact, he can be said to be the first world star. Chaplin set up his own film company so that he could control his own films.

[Editor] About film directors

19 18 Chaplin founded his own Hollywood company and gained unprecedented artistic and economic control over his films. In the following 35 years, he used this independence to create many immortal masterpieces, which still have their entertainment value and influence. Among them, the short comedy A Dog's Life (19 18) and Payday (1922). His regular works include Joining the Army (19 18) and Pilgrimage (1923). In addition, there are his classic silent films, including Looking for a Fairy (192 1), Women in Paris (1923), The Gold Rush (1925) and Circus (/kloc).

After the invention of the sound film, he also made two of his most famous silent films, Lights of the City (193 1) and Modern Times (1936), and then he turned to the sound film. In Chaplin's silent films, he voiced the music and sound effects himself. The Light of the City is Chaplin's work that perfectly matches comedy factors and emotions. James agee wrote in 1949 that the ending of this film is the greatest performance in film history.

Chaplin's talking films include The Great Dictator (1940), Mr. Van Duel (1947) and Life on the Stage (1952).

Although Modern Times is a silent film, it actually contains sound, such as the sound of radio and television. Chaplin used this to help the audience who were not used to watching silent films in the 1930 s become familiar with the conversations that the audience could not hear in silent films. There is a scene in this movie in which Chaplin's boss watches him secretly smoking in the bathroom. This plot is more than ten years earlier than the similar plot in George Orwell's 1984. Orwell may have been inspired by this plot in Chaplin's film. Modern Times is also the first film in which Chaplin's own voice can be heard. He hummed the song at the end of the film by himself. Nevertheless, this film is still considered as a silent film.

[Editor] American Company

Chaplin, mary pickford, douglas fairbanks, David Walker Griffith and others organized the establishment of a film distribution company-the American company. Their intention is to escape the increasing rights of distribution companies and sponsors in Hollywood's emerging production company system. The establishment of America and his own production company ensured Chaplin's complete control over his works and his independent status. Until the early 1950s, he served as the director of the American Department.

Although sound films began to appear in 1927 and quickly occupied the mainstream of films, Chaplin refused to make sound films throughout the 1930 s, and Chaplin himself was versatile. He choreographed his "Stage Life" from 65438 to 0952 and wrote the theme song for "Circus" from 65438 to 0928. His famous songs include Smile, which was later sung by Nat King Cole. He also wrote the theme song of Stage Life.

[Editor] The Great Dictator

Chaplin's first audio film, The Great Dictator, was specially shot for Adolf Hitler and Nazism, and was published one year before the United States gave up isolationism and entered the war. In the political climate at that time, the appeal of this film was quite bold. It vividly depicts the ugliness of Nazism, depicts a vivid Jewish image and describes his persecution. In this film, Chaplin played a Nazi dictator similar to Hitler and a Jewish barber who was brutally persecuted by Nazism. Hitler, who loves movies, watched this movie twice (the record of this movie recruited by Hitler's personal cinema still exists). Besides, the birthdays of Hitler and Chaplin are only four days apart (Hitler was born on1April 20th, 889).

[Editor] Politics

Chaplin's political views always tend to the left. From today's point of view, his political views are quite moderate, but in the United States in the1940s (plus his influence, his popularity and his status as a foreign national), many people think his political views are extremely extreme and dangerous. Before the Great Depression, Chaplin's silent films had no political color, and his role as a tramp was only poverty, sometimes in conflict with the law. Chaplin's films in the 1930 s were very political. Modern Times describes the unfortunate situation of workers and the poor in industrial society. 1940 the last speech of the great dictator criticized patriotic nationalism and met with strong opposition. Chaplin's public request in 1942 to help the Soviet Union open up the second front in Europe was also a very controversial event. 1947' s Mr. Van Duel criticized capitalism with black humor, and protests against this film took place in many cities in the United States. Chaplin filmed The King of New York in Europe from 65438 to 0957, satirizing the political persecution and panicked paranoia that forced him to leave the United States five years ago with humor. After making this film, Chaplin lost interest in making public political films. He said that comedians and clowns should not care about politics and should "transcend politics".

[Editor] McCarthyism

Although Chaplin was very successful and lived in the United States from 19 14 to 1952, he retained British citizenship. During McCarthyism, he was accused of "non-American behavior" and was suspected of leaning towards the * * * production party. John edgar hoover ordered the FBI to secretly collect information about Chaplin and establish secret files. Hoover also tried to expel Chaplin. After Chaplin called for the opening of the second European battlefield in 1942, the pressure of the FBI on Chaplin increased. The pressure reached its peak in the late1965-438+0940s, and the US Congress threatened to interrogate him. But in the end, the threat didn't come true, probably because the politicians who opposed him were afraid that he would satirize and mock the interrogator's talent.

Chaplin left the United States on 1952. He had planned to visit his hometown in England briefly. After hearing the news, Hoover negotiated with the US Immigration and Naturalization Service and cancelled Chaplin's entry permit. Chaplin decided to stay in Europe. He lives in Warwick, Switzerland. During this period, he traveled around the world and was received by Picasso, the Queen of England, the French President, Khrushchev, Zhou Enlai and others. 1972 Mr. and Mrs. He paid a short visit to the United States to receive the Academy Honorary Award. Although he returned to the United States at the invitation of Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the American authorities only issued him a one-time entry visa for two months. But by this time, the political sentiment against Chaplin in the American public had disappeared, and his return visit was very successful.

[Editor] Oscar Award

Chaplin won the academy honorary award twice. 1929 When the Academy Awards were first presented on May 6th, there was no voting procedure today, and the differences between awards were very vague. Chaplin was originally nominated as best actor and best comedy director for his film Circus, but his nomination was later withdrawn. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences decided to award him a special prize in recognition of his diversity and genius in circus performance, cooperation, director and production. The only other film that won a special prize was Jazz Singer.

Forty-four years later, at the end of 1972, Chaplin won the second honorary award for his "inestimable contribution to the film art of this century". Chaplin returned to America. In addition to winning the prize, he also won the longest standing salute in the history of the Oscar. In the star-studded venue, the audience stood up and applauded for five minutes.

Chaplin was also nominated for best picture, best actor and best original screenplay for The Great Dictator, and for best original screenplay for Mr. Wanderer. Chaplin looked down on the Academy Awards when he made his own films. His son, Charlie Junior, wrote that Chaplin regarded the golden award he won in 1929 as a joke of a craftsman, so people in Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences were very dissatisfied with him in the 1930 s.

Chaplin's last two films are The King of New York (1957) and The Countess of Hong Kong (1967) staged by sophia loren and Marlon Brando.

People often overlook that Chaplin also won an Oscar. 1973 and claire bloom 1952 won the best original music award. Buster keaton also appeared in the film, which is the only time that two great comedians appeared at the same time. Because of the political difficulties Chaplin faced at that time, the film was never staged in Los Angeles, which was one of the conditions for being nominated. This condition was not reached until 1972.

[edit] relationship

[Editor] Edna Puvians

Edna Purves is the first heroine in Chaplin's films. They had a romance between 19 16 and 19 17, which may end on 19 18. 19 18 At the end, after Chaplin and Mildred Harris got married, the possibility of restoring their relationship disappeared. By 1923, Puvins was still the heroine in Chaplin's films. Puwen was employed by Chaplin until her death in 1958. When they talk about each other, their relationship is always very good.

[Editor] Mildred Harris

19181kloc-0/On October 23rd, 29-year-old Chaplin married Mildred Harris, the heroine of The Wizard of Oz, at the age of 16. The marriage was reached after Harris reported that she was pregnant. They had a child, but he died when he was a baby. They divorced on 1920. At the time of divorce, Chaplin said that Harris had a lesbian relationship with Ella Nejimwa, who was famous for seducing young actresses, while Harris said that Chaplin was addicted to sex.

[Editor] Paula Nagray

Between 1922 and 23 years, Chaplin had a very open relationship with the actress Paula Nagray. Najib has just arrived in Hollywood from Poland. This off-and-on relationship ended after 9 months. It's a bit like the precedent of modern Hollywood movie star relationship. Compared with his other relationships, Chaplin and Nagray are very special and open.

[Editor] Lita Grey

Chaplin, 35, had an affair with Lita Grey of 16 while preparing to shoot The Gold Rush. After Gray got pregnant, they got married on June 26th. 1924+065438+. They have two sons: Charles Chaplin Jr (1925- 1968) and Sidney Earl Chaplin (1926-). 1928 The divorce between them was very painful. Chaplin had to pay Gray a record $825,000. The high-profile divorce and a tax dispute made Chaplin's hair turn white. The court records were made public, which contained many personal details, which led to a movement against Chaplin. Chaplin's biographer Jose Milton wrote in Chaplin's biography that this marriage was the source of inspiration for Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita.

[Editor] paulette goddard

From 1932 to 1940, there is a romantic and professional relationship between Chaplin and actress paulette goddard. Goddard spent most of his time in paulette goddard's home in Beverly Hills. Chaplin "discovered" Goddard and cast her as the heroine and dictator of Modern Times. It is said that Goddard's refusal to clarify her relationship with Chaplin is the main reason why she didn't get the role of Scarlett in Gone with the Wind. After their relationship ended on 1940, they publicly said that they were secretly married on 1936. Later, Chaplin said privately that they had never been formally married. In any case, their marriage ended amicably with 1942. Goddard and Chaplin formally divorced, and Goddard also received a divorce fee.

[Editor] Jon Barry

Chaplin had a brief relationship with Jon Barry. At first, Chaplin wanted Barry to play the leading role, but soon Barry began to pester Chaplin and suffered from mental illness. The relationship between the two ended. 1943 In May, Barry claimed that Chaplin was pregnant. The blood test showed that Chaplin was not the father of the child, but the court refused to allow the blood test as evidence, so Chaplin was sentenced to pay the child $75 a month until the child was 2 1 year old.

[Editor] Oona Oneill

Shortly thereafter, Chaplin met with Oona Oneill, the daughter of playwright Eugene O 'Neill. They got married in June 1943, when Chaplin was 54 years old and O 'Neill was only 18 years old. O 'Neill's father never spoke to his daughter again. Their married life is long and happy. They seemed to find what they needed in each other: O 'Neill found a father who loved him, while Chaplin found a man who was loyal to himself and comforted himself when his reputation in the public continued to decline. They have eight children, three sons Christopher, Eugene and Michael, and five daughters Geraldine, Josephine, Jane, Victoria and Annette Emily. Una lived for fourteen years after Chaplin's death, but she was so sad about Chaplin's death that she began to drink.

His daughter Victoria? Chaplin is now a famous circus artist. He founded the "invisible circus" and toured all over the world.

[Editor] Knight status

1975 On March 9th, Queen Elizabeth II awarded Chaplin the highest medal of honor of the British Empire, thus making him a knight. 193 1 and 1956, Chaplin was nominated as a knight, but the Conservative government at that time opposed it because they were afraid that it would affect the relationship with the United States during the Cold War, while Britain was preparing to invade Suez.

[Editor] passed away.

1977 Christmas, Chaplin died of a stroke in Warwick, Switzerland, at the age of 88. He was buried in the cemetery of Corsier on Warwe River in Vaud. On March 1978, 1, someone stole Chaplin's body and tried to ask his survivors for money. But the grave robber was arrested. 1 1 Weeks later, his body was found near Lake Geneva. Today, he was buried under six feet of cement to prevent similar incidents from happening again.

[Editor] Other debates

After the outbreak of World War I, the British media criticized Chaplin for not joining the army. Chaplin said he signed up, but failed the physical examination. Chaplin raised a lot of money during the war and made a cartoon promo at 19 18. It is said that the argument about his joining the army led to his not being knighted in the early1930s.

Chaplin has been arguing and asserting whether he is of Jewish descent in his life. /kloc-Nazi propaganda in the 1930 s called Chaplin a Jew, and FBI research in the 1940 s also focused on this point (the reason is unknown). The reason for this argument may be that there was a wild dream at that time that Jews dominated the film industry. Chaplin's half-brother Sidney is half Jewish [1] but does not believe in Judaism. Chaplin's claim that he is of Jewish descent is groundless. Chaplin himself never discussed this issue before his death and refused to deny that he was a Jew. He said that this only provided "evidence of anti-Semitism". He often said that he would be proud if he had Jewish blood, because "all geniuses have Jewish blood". His bold description of the persecution of Jews in The Great Dictator embodies this view.

1924, producer Thomas Inge died on the yacht of William Randolph Hearst, and Chaplin was also involved. This incident is one of the unsolved mysteries in Hollywood and may never be solved. The event of 200 1 was made into a movie "Cat Meow".

Chaplin's attraction to young women throughout his life is one of the reasons why he was criticized. His biographer defines this habit as Heidi Kelly, the first love he met at the London Grand Theatre when he was young. Chaplin likes to discover and guide young actresses. Except Mildred Harris, all his marriages and important relationships began in this way.

[editor] afterlife

There is a statue of Chaplin in front of the Chaplin Memorial Hall in Warway. Chaplin in London's Leicester Square is a replica of this image.

Chaplin has a star on the Avenue of Stars besides many other honors (he didn't get this star until1970s because of his criticism of Chaplin's political inclination in 1950s and 1960s). Britain issued a stamp in memory of him. 1994, the United States also issued stamps to commemorate him. The portrait of Chaplin on this stamp was painted by cartoonist Al Schofield.

1992 Richard Adon Burrow directed the film Chaplin adapted from Chaplin's biography, in which robert towne played Chaplin and Chaplin's daughter Geraldine played her own grandmother (Chaplin's mother).

In 200 1 year, British comedian eddie izzard played Chaplin in Cat Meow.

Since1960s, people have been comparing Chaplin's films with those of buster keaton. Their films have different styles. Chaplin's films emphasize emotion very much, while Keaton's films are very humorous. Chaplin is very traditional in production, emphasizing performance, while Keaton is constantly innovating and very bold. Historically, Chaplin was the pioneer of all others (including Keaton). In addition to the competition between healthy peers, both of them respect each other very much. Keaton called Chaplin the greatest comedian and comedy director of all time. Chaplin also praised Keaton very much. 1928, he opposed Keaton's shareholding in MGM, which turned out to be very bad. In Stage Career, Chaplin wrote an episode specially for Keaton, who was Chaplin's first screen comedy partner since 19 15.

1999, he was selected as the 10 greatest actor by the American Film Institute in the last century.

[Editor] Anecdote

In "Shanghai Warrior" (translated by Taiwan Province: Royal Veyron), young Chaplin not only saw Jackie Chan use scenes and things to repel the enemy in the fight, but also inspired him to use the scene performance skills in the future. In addition, he hid in the carriage played by Jackie Chan and owen wilson, returned to the United States together, and drew his famous moustache.

After Chaplin became famous in the United States, there were many "people most like Chaplin" competitions in the United States. Bob hope once won the first prize in such a competition, but Chaplin himself failed in such a competition.

Chaplin and luis Bunuel were friends in the early 1930s.

In 2005, Chaplin was selected as one of the 20 greatest comedians by his peers in the "Comedian" election.

Chaplin was an atheist all his life. Religion is just a joke in his eyes. He once made fun of him and said, "I want to play Jesus because I am a comedian."

Chaplin liked Benny Hill's works very much in his later years, and Hill himself was a fanatic of Chaplin's works. When Hill was invited by Chaplin's family to visit Chaplin's former residence 199 1, he found that Chaplin had a large collection of his videos and was greatly moved.

[Editor] Chronology of Major Works

USA 19 15- tramp

USA 19 17- Anle Street

American 19 18- Charlotte's military record; A Dog's Life

USA 192 1- Searching for Children and Meeting Immortals

USA 1923- Women in Paris

America 1925- Gold Rush

America 1928- The Greatest Show on Earth

USA 193 1- City Lights

USA 1936- Modern

America 1940- The Great Dictator

America1947-Holocaust era; Mr. Verdu; Murder comedy

USA 1952- Stage Career

USA 1963-30 Happy World

Britain 1967- Countess from Hong Kong

Charlie Chaplin

Full-length movies: the sad history of Tilly's love affair, children, a Parisian woman, gold rush, circus, city light, modernity,

The Great Dictator, Mr. Verdun, Stage Career, King new york, Hong Kong Countess.

Short film: new concierge, behind the scenes, immigrants