Charlie Chaplin

Charlie Chaplin And The Birth Of The Tramp

Charlie Chaplin's big break came from Keystone. Mack Sennett one of the biggest filmmakers around sent Chaplin off to wardrobe to get his comedy make-up on. Once there he looked through the crepe hairstyles and tried several under his nose. Using spirit gum he applied the mustache he selected and went to find some costume pieces. Choosing a hat, pants, morning coat and cane he dressed and the tramp was born.

He reported to the hotel lobby set being used for the 1914 film Mabel's Strange Predicament. Chaplin went through an improvised routine using his vaudeville skills and drunk act. The set broke into laughter and Sennett told Charlie to do the same bit when the cameras rolled. Naturally he stole the show and Charlie Chaplin became a star.

Chaplin- The Legendary Perfectionist

One of the only people to openly disagree with Charlie Chaplin on set was Lydia Knott. She was playing the mother of a boy that dies in Chaplin's film A Woman Of Paris.

Chaplin directed her reaction to the death as a non reaction. Around fifty takes later all she had given him was emotion. Sad, angry, brave and so on. Charlie walked off the set leaving Eddie Sutherland to take over directing this shot. Over a hundred takes and seven days later Lydia finally cracked. She began cursing and was royally steamed. "Fine!" She said. "I'll do it your way but it's not my way!" The shot was finally in the can the way Charlie wanted it. The entire film took around a year and a half to complete.

Over eighteen months went into making Chaplin's film "The Gold Rush". The scene that Chaplin eats his shoes in took weeks to get right. Twenty pairs of shoes were made consisting of Licorice shoelaces, licorice shoes and candy nails. Take after take was done until Chaplin was satisfied.

Getting behind schedule was something that Charlie did constantly. Viewing the rushes of the days filming Charlie would see errors and come up with a better way to do the scenes. The next day they would re-shoot yesterdays scenes again. The more he re-shot the more behind schedule he became.

His knack for such precise film making is what set Chaplin apart from the other writers, directors and actors. He understood the language of cinema and he wrote some of that language himself.

Charlie Watching Charlie

Chaplin was without a doubt a film lover. He always studied the movies he saw. He could find gems big and small to take from them. No matter how unrefined or how poorly a film played he saw redeeming qualities in them.

When he heard criticizing remarks of a picture or a director he always stepped in to defend them. He understood the trials of film making. He also knew the hard work that motion picture craftsman put into their movies.

When he would screen his own films for friends and associates he would always laugh himself to tears and convulsions. Always saying "Watch what happens next!" The moment would come and he would once again descend into convulsive laughter. Dagmar Godowsky a friend of Chaplin was quoted as saying "I loved going to see his movies with him. I think I enjoyed watching Charlie watching Charlie more than the movie."

"Come Back Charlie!"- Photoplay Editorial 1920

The audiences loved Chaplin. He brought happiness, joy and laughter to the silver screen. From those darkened movie houses patrons would emerge smiling, laughing and happy. They took that Charlie Chaplin magic out with them to the world.

With Charlie being the perfectionist on all of his productions there were always long delays in between his films. Old and young were always waiting for his next picture. Waiting for Chaplin to pick them up, dust them off and make them laugh again.

Life being full of hardships and trials needed that escape. In 1920 an issue of Photoplay carried on editorial regarding Chaplin's next long awaited film release. A portion of it reads-"Since you have been out of sorts the world has gone lame and happiness has moved away. Come back Charlie!"

Charlie Chaplin's Accomplishments and Legacy

Through out the years of his life Charlie Chaplin helped shape the movie industry we have today. He was a true artist.

In 1919 himself, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and D. W. Griffith, founded United Artists. The year 1970 was the year a star graced the Hollywood Walk of Fame with Charlie Chaplin's name on it.

In 1975 Chaplin was knighted as a Knight Commander of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II. A record breaking twelve minute standing ovation greeted him at the 44th Academy Awards. He was awarded for "the incalculable effect he has had in making motion pictures the art form of this century".

In the late 1970's after his health had slowly declined over the years he passed away in Switzerland on Christmas Day 1977. He was 88 years old.

"All I need to make a comedy is a park, a policeman and a pretty girl."
- Charlie Chaplin

Modern Times movie trailer

See Charlie Chaplin's Movies Free Right Now

"The Gold Rush"
Written, directed and starring Chaplin.

"The Kid"
Charlie's "Little Tramp" finds a baby, has the baby taken away, then finds it again and then -- see this movie now!

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