(1889 – 1977) Sir Charles Spencer ‘Charlie’ Chaplin was a versatile actor, director and music producer whose prolific entertainment career spanned over 75 years. Influential film roles included the films, The Kid (1921) and The Great Dictator (1940)
“Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot”
Chaplin was born in London, 16 April 1889, to parents who worked in the entertainment industry. At an early age, his alcoholic father passed away, and later his mother had a breakdown and was taken to an asylum. This left Charlie and his brother to fend for themselves. Following in their parent’s footsteps, they were drawn to the musical hall, and Charlie gained a prominent reputation as a performer.
In 1910, Charlie travelled to America and gained experience in the fledgeling film industry. It was here in America that he was to develop his first famous characters such as the Tramp – the trademark Charlie Chaplin character of a bowler hat, moustache and ill-fitting clothes. Charlie Chaplin became the great star of the silent era, and his popularity spread throughout the globe.
Charlie Chaplin had tremendous intensity. He would finance, write and direct all his films himself. He was a great perfectionist and would make his actors perform scenes up to 100 times to get it just right. Yet he also liked to improvise much of his performances and would not stick rigidly to a script.
Some of his most famous films include – City Lights
(1931) and The Great Dictator
(1940). The Great Dictator
was a satire on the totalitarian dictators of and Mussolini. Chaplin himself played two roles – a Jewish barber, who was discriminated against. He also played the role of the “Adenoid Hynkel – dictator of Tomania a clear parody of Adolf Hitler.
The film was made one year before the US entered the war against Germany, and was controversial at a time when anti-Semitism was rife in America. Despite his parody of Hitler in this film, Chaplin refused to publicly endorse the war effort in 1942 – causing the authorities to become suspicious of his political leanings.
“Wars, conflict, it’s all business. One murder makes a villain. Millions a hero. Numbers sanctify.”
Monsieur Verdoux (1947);
In the post-war period, the FBI under J Edgar Hoover kept close tabs on Chaplin because of his perceived left-wing ‘ Communist views’ Eventually, the US authorities decided to revoke his entry visa into the US and Chaplin was forced to live in Switzerland.
“Since the end of the last world war, I have been the object of lies and propaganda by powerful reactionary groups who, by their influence and by the aid of America’s yellow press, have created an unhealthy atmosphere in which liberal-minded individuals can be singled out and persecuted. Under these conditions I find it virtually impossible to continue my motion-picture work, and I have therefore given up my residence in the United States.”
Charlie Chaplin later said he was not a Communist but refused to condemn Communists because he disliked the nature of the McCarthy era.
“Friends have asked how I came to engender this American antagonism. My prodigious sin was, and still is, being a non-conformist. Although I am not a Communist I refused to fall in line by hating them.
Secondly, I was opposed to the Committee on Un-American Activities a dishonest phrase to begin with, elastic enough to wrap around the throat and strangle the voice of any American citizen whose honest opinion is a minority of one.”
– My Autobiography (1964)
Chaplin had great comic talent; this was a talent that shone through in his silent films but also in later years.
“I remain just one thing, and one thing only - and that is a clown. It places me on a far higher plane than any politician.”
Chaplin was put forward for a knighthood in 1956, but, it was blocked by the Conservative cabinet who feared a backlash from the American government.
Chaplin was eventually knighted in 1975. He also was awarded an Oscar in 1972 for his music score in the 1952 film Limelight . He was also awarded an honorary award in 1972 for “the incalculable effect he has had in making motion pictures the art form of this century.”
He came out of exile to receive the award and the longest standing ovation in the history of the Oscars.
Charlie Chaplin had a turbulent personal life. He had 11 children with three different women and had several other girlfriends and marriages.
He died in his sleep in Vevey, Switzerland on Christmas Day 1977.
Citation: Pettinger, Tejvan. “Biography of Charlie Chaplin”, Oxford, UK. , 30th Nov. 2009. Last updated 16 February 2018.
Charlie Chaplin – Autobiography
Charlie Chaplin
The inventors of cinema were French, not Americans. The cinema became popular very quickly. In 1908 the USA had 10 000 cinemas.
Chaplin was born in England in 1889. His mother was so poor that she couldn"t look after him. But he started acting at the age of five and was soon a successful comic in the theater. When he went to America he got into films and became a star immediately. In 1916, Chaplin earned $10 000 a week, and an extra $150 000 per film. In 1929 the age of the silent film came to an end. A new technology made it possible to record sound and pictures together. But some old directors couldn"t change their style. And some great silent actors had terrible voices. They couldn"t get parts in normal films.
Chaplin"s voice was good but he didn"t really want to talk in such films. His love was the silent films. In 1931 he made another classic film, City lights, but again it was silent. In the «Kid» (1921) Charlie Chaplin is a window repairer. The little boy helps him by breaking windows! In most of his films, Chaplin plays a poor man on the streets. But the actor was a millionaire. His silent films were perfect works of art. He created a language with his face and his body. Without words he could say everything.
Questions:
1. What is silent film?
2. Who was the inventor of it?
3. Chaplin was born in England, wasn"t he?
4. When did the age of silent films come to an end?
5. What language did Chaplin create?
Vocabulary:
inventor - изобретатель
immediately - сразу же
technology - технология
Чарли Чаплин
Основателями кинематографа были французы, не американцы. Кино очень быстро стало популярным. В 1908 году в США было 10 000 кинотеатров.
Чаплин родился в 1889 году в Англии. Его мать была такой бедной, что не могла его содержать. Но он начал играть в пятилетнем возрасте и впоследствии стал успешным комиком в театре. Когда он приехал в Америку и начал сниматься в фильмах и вскоре стал звездой. В 1916 году Чаплин зарабатывал десять тысяч долларов в неделю и дополнительно сто пятьдесят тысяч долларов за фильм. В 1929 году эра немого кино кончилась. Новые технологии сделали возможным воспроизводить звук и изображение одновременно. Но некоторые актеры не могли изменить свой стиль. А в некоторых выдающихся немых актеров был ужасный голос. Они не могли сниматься в нормальных фильмах.
Голос Чаплина был хорошим, но он не желал разговаривать в таких фильмах. Его любовью было немое кино. В 1931 году он снял другой классический фильм «Огни большого города», но опять же таким он был немым, В «Крохе» (1921) Чарли Чаплин - стекольщик. Маленький мальчик помогает ему, разбивая окна! В большинстве фильмов Чаплин играет бедного человека с улицы. Но актер был миллионером. Его немое кино было высоким произведением искусства. Он создал язык лица и тела. Он мог сказать все без слов.
Английский и американский актер кино, композитор, сценарист и режиссер Чарли Чаплин является ярким примером успешного и великого человека. Он создал неповторимый образ «бродяги Чарли», который стал популярным на весь мир в эпоху немого кино.
Чарли Чаплин (полное имя – Чарльз Спенсер Чаплин-младший ) родился 16 апреля 1889 года в британской столице – Лондоне.
Его отец – Чарльз Спенсер Чаплин-старший, эстрадный актер, автор песен, певец с шикарным баритоном, был популярен в Европе и Америке.
Его мать – Ханна Чаплин (сценический псевдоним – Лили Герли), эстрадная актриса, выступавшая с песнями и танцами в самых различных театрах Европы. Работала с известными композиторами и авторами оперетт (Гилберт, Салливен).
В возрасте 5 лет (1894 год) Чарли Чаплин младший впервые вышел на сцену, заменив в одном из мюзиклов свою маму, которая из-за проблем с гортанью потеряла голос. Чарли в тот вечер сорвал овации зрителей.
Чарли жил за кулисами мюзик-холла, редко был в школе и был практически неграмотным. Иногда он работал: продавцом газет, помощником врача, в типографии, но нигде подолгу не задерживался.
В 14 лет Чарли Чаплин получил работу в театре и маленькую роль посыльного в пьесе «Шерлок Холмс» . Так как он не умел читать, то слова своей роли учил с помощью брата, который был грамотным. Затем он выступал в варьете, брал уроки игры на скрипке, много читал, наверстывая упущенное.
В 1908 году Чарльзу Спенсеру удалось поймать удачу: он стал актером театра Карно , который готовил скетчи и пантомимы для мюзик-холлов. Благодаря своему таланту и харизме Чаплин очень скоро стал одним из лучших актеров театра.
В 1910 году вместе с труппой он выехал на гастроли в США. Во время одного из выступлений его заметил кинопродюсер Мак Сеннет. Игра Чарли понравилась ему, и в 1912 году он пригласил артиста в свою студию «Кистоун Филм».Это было поворотным моментом для актера.
Придя на студию Сеннета, Чарли из подручного реквизита соорудил образ, который сделает в будущем его знаменитым на весь мир — образ бродяги в котелке , с визиткой, тросточкой и в башмаках с удлиненным носом. В таком виде он появился перед мэтром.
Образ понравился продюссеру, но так как Чарли был слишком молод, то было решено приклеить ему усики. Маленький бродяжка сразу полюбился публике. Успех окрылил и принес деньги.
Бродяга Чарли оказался очень прибыльным образом. В 1914 году Чаплин получал 150 долларов в неделю, затем 150 тысяч, а в 1917 году в контракте актера со студией «Фёст Нэйшнл Пикчерс » уже значилась сумма 1 миллион долларов .
Так в 28 лет Чарли Чаплин стал самым дорогим американским актером немого кино.
В 1919 году Чаплин создал собственную студию и стал выпускать короткометражные фильмы. В 1921 году он снял свой самый известный полнометражный фильм «Малыш» о приключениях нищего бродяги и маленького подкидыша.
Комедийные эпизоды сочетались в фильме с лирическими, драматизм сюжета являлся жесткой социальной критикой. Фильм стал этапным и для творчества Чаплина, и для всего немого кинематографа.
После съемки своего первого фильма известный актер и новоиспеченный режиссер – Чарли Чаплин, — отправился в турне по Европе.
Славу Чаплину принесло немое кино, и хотя звук появился в фильмах уже в 1927 году, Чарли остается верным старой кинотехнике еще целое десятилетие. Первой полностью звуковой картиной Чаплина стал «Великий диктатор» - антигитлеровский фильм, снятый в 1940 году. Это был последний фильм, где использовался образ бродяги-Чарли.
Чарли Чаплин стал обладателем 3-х Почетных «Оскаров»:
Список некоторых других наград и премий, которых удостоился Чарльз Спенсер Чаплин-младший за свою жизнь:
Чарли Чаплин скончался 25 декабря 1977 года во сне. Его тело было похоронено изначально на местном (недалеко от дома актера) кладбище швейцарского города Веве. Затем его перезахоронили в мае 1978 года на кладбище Меруз в Корсье-Сюр-Веве.
Charlie Chaplin , byname of Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin , (born April 16, 1889, England-died December 25, 1977, Corsier-sur-Vevey, Switzerland), British comedian, producer, writer, director, and composer who is widely regarded as the greatest comic artist of the screen and one of the most important figures in motion-picture history.
Comedian, actor, producer, writer, and director Charlie Chaplin is widely regarded as the greatest comic artist of the screen and one of the most important figures in . In 1972 he received a special for “the incalculable effect he has had on making motion pictures the art form of this century.”
Charlie Chaplin is best remembered for his recurring character “the Little Tramp.” Outfitted in a too-small coat, too-large pants, floppy shoes, and a battered derby, Tramp was shunned by polite society and unlucky in love but ever a survivor. Audiences loved his cheekiness, his deflation of pomposity, his unexpected gallantry, and his resilience.
Charlie Chaplin starred in, wrote, and directed some of most memorable films in motion-picture history, including (1921), (1925), (1931), (1936), (1940), for which he was nominated for an Academy Award as best actor, Monsieur Verdoux (1947), and (1952).
In truth, Chaplin did not always portray a tramp; in many of his films his character was employed as a waiter, store clerk, stagehand, fireman, and the like. His character might be better described as the quintessential misfit-shunned by polite society, unlucky in love, jack-of-all-trades but master of none. He was also a survivor, forever leaving past sorrows behind, jauntily shuffling off to new adventures. The Tramp’s appeal was universal: audiences loved his cheekiness, his deflation of pomposity, his casual savagery, his unexpected gallantry, and his resilience in the face of adversity. Some historians have traced the Tramp’s origins to Chaplin’s Dickensian childhood, while others have suggested that the character had its roots in the motto of Chaplin’s mentor, Fred Karno: “Keep it wistful , gentlemen, keep it wistful.” Whatever the case, within months after his movie debut, Chaplin was the screen’s biggest star.
His 35 Keystone comedies can be regarded as the Tramp’s gestation period, during which a caricature became a character. The films improved steadily once Chaplin became his own director. In 1915 he left Sennett to accept a $1,250-weekly contract at Essanay Studios. It was there that he began to inject elements of pathos into his comedy, notably in such shorts as The Tramp (1915) and Burlesque on Carmen (1915). He moved on to an even more lucrative job ($670,000 per year) at the Mutual Company Film Corporation. There, during an 18-month period, he made the 12 two-reelers that many regard as his finest films, among them such gems as One A.M. (1916), The Rink (1916), The Vagabond (1916), and Easy Street (1917). It was then, in 1917, that Chaplin found himself attacked for the first (though hardly the last) time by the press. He was criticized for not enlisting to fight in . To aid the war effort, Chaplin raised funds for the troops via bond drives.
In 1918 Chaplin jumped studios again, accepting a $1 million offer from the First National Film Corporation for eight shorts. That same year he married 16-year-old film extra Mildred Harris-the first in a procession of child brides. For his new studio he made shorts such as Shoulder Arms (1918) and The Pilgrim (1923) and his first starring feature, (1921), which starred the irresistible as the kid befriended and aided by the Little Tramp. Some have suggested that the increased dramatic content of those films is symptomatic of Chaplin’s efforts to justify the praise lavished upon him by the critical intelligentsia. A painstaking perfectionist, he began spending more and more time on the preparation and production of each film. In his personal life too, Chaplin was particular. Having divorced Mildred in 1921, Chaplin married in 1924 16-year-old Lillita MacMurray, who shortly would become known to the world as film star Lita Grey. (They would be noisily divorced in 1927.)
From 1923 through 1929 Chaplin made only three features: A Woman of Paris (1923), which he directed but did not star in (and his only drama); (1925), widely regarded as his masterpiece; and (1928), an underrated film that may rank as his funniest. All three were released by , the company cofounded in 1919 by Chaplin, husband-and-wife superstars and , and director . Of the three films, is one of the most-memorable films of the silent era. Chaplin placed the Little Tramp in the epic setting of the Yukon, amid bears, snowstorms, and a fearsome prospector (Mack Swain); his love interest was a beautiful dance-hall queen (Georgia Hale). The scene in which the Tramp must eat his shoe to stay alive epitomizes the film’s blend of rich comedy and well-earned pathos.
Charles Spencer Chaplin was born on April 16, 1889 in London to Kennington Rod, 287. His parents - Charles Spencer Chaplin Sr. and Hanna Chaplin (on Lily Gerli"s scene), were variety actors. Mother made songs and dances at various theaters, including in an enterprise of famous composers, authors of popular operettas - Dzhilberta and Sallivena. The father - the owner of a pleasant baritone - was in the mid-eighties very popular in the London music halls. He repeatedly had to go on tour in Europe, he acted and in New York. In its repertoire also the songs composed by him met. Scenic career of Charles Spencer Chaplin ended tragicly: he lost a voice, lost engagement, began to drink and died in 1894 in the London hospital of St. Foma.
Hanna Chaplin soon after death of the husband was seriously ill. In 1896 it lost mind. Her sons, Cyd and Charlie, were compelled to earn a living independently.
Than only little Charlie hadn"t to be engaged! He traded in newspapers, worked in a hairdressing salon, at plant of glass products...
Creative abilities were shown at Charlie very much early. The kid was only two years old when he was learned to a tap dance at the father and to execution of variety songs at mother.
Чарльз Спенсер Чаплин родился 16 апреля 1889 г. в Лондоне на Кеннингтон Род, 287. Его родители - Чарльз Спенсер Чаплин-старший и Ханна Чаплин (на сцене Лили Герли), были эстрадными актерами. Мать выступала с песнями и танцами в различных театрах, в том числе в антрепризе известных композиторов, авторов популярных оперетт - Джильберта и Салливена. Отец - обладатель приятного баритона - был в середине 80-х годов очень популярен в лондонских мюзик-холлах. Ему неоднократно приходилось гастролировать в Европе, выступал он и в Нью-Йорке. В его репертуаре встречались и песенки, сочиненные им самим. Сценическая карьера Чарльза Спенсера Чаплина закончилась трагически: он потерял голос, лишился ангажемента, стал пить и умер в 1894 г. в лондонском госпитале св. Фомы.
Ханна Чаплин вскоре после смерти мужа тяжело заболела. В 1896 г. она потеряла рассудок. Ее сыновья, Сид и Чарли, вынуждены были самостоятельно зарабатывать на жизнь.
Чем только не приходилось заниматься маленькому Чарли! Он торговал газетами, работал в парикмахерской, на заводе стеклянных изделий...
Творческие способности проявились у Чарли очень рано. Малышу было всего два года, когда он выучился чечетке у отца и исполнению эстрадных песенок у матери.
