History Creator / CharlieChaplin

* IntergenerationalFriendship: He became very close to his ''Film/TheKid'' co-star Creator/JackieCoogan, to the point that when Coogan, now grown up (and shortly before being cast as Uncle Fester), saw Chaplin in LAX and went up to speak to him, Chaplin burst into tears and shouted, "My God! My dear sweet boy!" The two remained close for the rest of Chaplin's life.

* AdolfHitlarious: Poked fun at Hitler in ''Film/TheGreatDictator'', which was a bold stance to take at the time, since most countries, including the U.S.A., considered him to a politician like any other and were reluctant to offend him. Chaplin wanted to warn these people about Hitler's plans and the film was finally released when the man had already invaded Europe. Still, this didn't convince many Americans until Pearl Harbour forced them to enter war with the Axis. From that moment on ''Film/TheGreatDictator'' was seen as a visionary picture. The similarities between Hitler and Chaplin's physical appearance (tooth brush moustache) were already noticed during the 1930s. Chaplin was even born on April 16, 1889 and Hitler on April 20 of that same year! Hitler himself didn't particularly like Chaplin as he thought that the actor was Jewish (he wasn't, but was 1/4 Romanichal aka British Romani, which probably wouldn't have endeared him to the equally Romani-hating Fuhrer). ''Film/TheGreatDictator'' was banned in Nazi occupied Europe, of course, but he did watch a private copy of it, twice. Chaplin also wondered what he might have thought of it.

Being arguably the first major film comedian, Chaplin is responsible for establishing countless comedy tropes. Many of his descendants followed him into the acting world, including his daughter Creator/GeraldineChaplin and his granddaughter Creator/OonaChaplin. Geraldine actually played her own grandmother in Sir Creator/RichardAttenborough's 1992 {{Biopic}} ''Film/{{Chaplin}}'', in which the man himself is played by Creator/RobertDowneyJr in one of his best-regarded performances, though the film ends with a montage of footage of the unparalled original. He was also the uncle of Spencer Dryden, drummer of Music/JeffersonAirplane.

Being arguably the first major film comedian, Chaplin is responsible for establishing countless comedy tropes. Many of his descendants followed him into the acting world, including his daughter Creator/GeraldineChaplin and granddaughter Creator/OonaChaplin. Geraldine actually played her own grandmother in Sir Creator/RichardAttenborough's 1992 {{Biopic}} ''Film/{{Chaplin}}'', in which the man himself is played by Creator/RobertDowneyJr in one of his best-regarded performances, though the film ends with a montage of footage of the unparalled original. He was also the uncle of Spencer Dryden, drummer of Music/JeffersonAirplane.

Outside of cinema, Chaplin was quite politically active, although this never directly showed itself in his films until ''Film/TheGreatDictator''. A scathing satire of UsefulNotes/NaziGermany, the film closes off with a narrative-breaking AuthorTract delivered directly to the camera, in which Chaplin touches on many of his RealLife personal beliefs (and which is incidentally widely regarded as one of the greatest speeches ever delivered). Accused of being a Communist sympathizer[[note]]Accurately, for what it's worth.[[/note]] by the United States government during the RedScare after the end of World War II -- the infamous FBI director, J. Edgar Hoover, had in particular been carrying a grudge, having seen Chaplin as a "subversive" ''for decades'' at this point, and was downright gleeful to get him into as much legal trouble as possible -- his visa was revoked in 1952 (he was a British citizen) and he lived the remainder of his life in Switzerland. As a result of his political beliefs, his last American film, ''Film/{{Limelight}}'', wasn't allowed to be released in the US until 1972, twenty years after it was actually filmed; the fact that it hadn't been screened in Los Angeles prior to then allowed it to be nominated for (and win) that year's UsefulNotes/AcademyAward for best original music score, the only competitive Oscar of Chaplin's career. At the previous year's ceremonies, the Academy had brought the Hollywood legend back to America to present him with an Honorary Award, earning him a 12-minute-long standing ovation in a supreme moment of "burying the hatchet".[[note]]However, the warmer reception was within limits: Chaplin was only granted a temporary visa by the US government, and he still endured scattered cranks protesting such a notorious "communist" being allowed into the country.[[/note]]

Growing up in poverty in London, with a mother who was a failed music hall entertainer of declining mental health, Chaplin and his older brother Sydney worked themselves up until Charlie became a leading stage comedian himself. While on an American tour, he was hired by Mack Sennett's Creator/KeystoneStudios and began appearing in low budget one-reeler comedies in 1914. By the end of that year, Chaplin had starred in 35 films -- many of which he'd also directed -- and was recognized around the world. By 1916, he was working for the more prestigious Mutual Studios, where he produced, directed, wrote, edited, and starred in his own comedy films. Two years later, he signed a million-dollar deal with Creator/FirstNationalPictures and opened up his own studio on Sunset Boulevard (which today houses the Creator/JimHenson Company). In 1919, he co-founded Creator/UnitedArtists, one of the major film studios which still operates today. He made the groundbreaking feature-length comedy ''Film/{{The Kid|1921}}'' in 1921, and over the ensuing decades continued to create a series of highly entertaining and influential films, often incorporating more dramatic stories amid the hilarity.

[[UsefulNotes/KnightFever Sir]] Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE (16 April 1889 – 25 December 1977) was an English comedian, actor, film director, screenwriter, editor, producer and composer. He can be considered as the first world-famous movie star, and he remains one of the most recognizable and acclaimed icons of the silver screen up to this day.

* IntergenerationalFriendship: He became very close to Jackie Coogan, to the point that when Coogan, now grown up (and shortly before being cast as Uncle Fester), saw Chaplin in LAX and went up to speak to him, Chaplin burst into tears and shouted, "My God! My dear sweet boy!" The two remained close for the rest of Chaplin's life.

* ''Film/TheRink''

* ''Film/TheCure1917''

Growing up in poverty in London, with a mother who was a failed music hall entertainer of declining mental health, Chaplin and his older brother Sydney worked themselves up until Charlie became a leading stage comedian himself. While on an American tour, he was hired by Mack Sennett's Creator/KeystoneStudios and began appearing in low budget one-reeler comedies in 1914. By the end of that year, Chaplin had starred in 35 films -- many of which he'd also directed -- and was recognized around the world. By 1916, he was working for the more prestigious Mutual Studios, where he produced, directed, wrote, edited, and starred in his own comedy films. In 1919, he co-founded Creator/UnitedArtists, one of the major film studios which still operates today. He made the groundbreaking feature-length comedy ''Film/{{The Kid|1921}}'' in 1921, and over the ensuing decades continued to make entertaining and highly influential films, often experimenting with more dramatic stories amid the hilarity.

Growing up in poverty in London, with a mother who was a failed music hall entertainer of declining mental health, Chaplin and his older brother Sydney worked themselves up until Charlie became a leading stage comedian himself. While on an American tour, he was hired by Mack Sennett's Creator/KeystoneStudios and began appearing in low budget one-reeler comedies in 1914. By the end of that year, Chaplin had starred in 35 films -- many of which he'd also directed -- and was recognized around the world. By 1916, he was working for the more prestigious Mutual Studios, where he produced, directed, wrote, edited, and starred in his own comedy films. In 1919, he co-founded Creator/UnitedArtists, one of the major film studios which still operates today. He made the groundbreaking feature-length comedy ''Film/TheKid'' in 1921, and over the ensuing decades continued to make entertaining and highly influential films, often experimenting with more dramatic stories amid the hilarity.

Outside of films, Chaplin was quite politically active, although this never directly showed itself in his films until ''Film/TheGreatDictator''. A scathing satire of UsefulNotes/NaziGermany, the film closes off with a narrative-breaking AuthorTract delivered directly to the camera, in which Chaplin touches on many of his RealLife personal beliefs (and which is incidentally widely regarded as one of the greatest speeches ever delivered). Accused of being a Communist sympathizer[[note]]Accurately, for what it's worth.[[/note]] by the United States government during the RedScare after the end of World War II -- the infamous FBI director, J. Edgar Hoover, had in particular been carrying a grudge, having seen Chaplin as a "subversive" ''for decades'' at this point, and was downright gleeful to get him into as much legal trouble as possible -- his visa was revoked in 1952 (he was a British citizen) and he lived the remainder of his life in Switzerland. As a result of his political beliefs, his last American film, ''Film/{{Limelight}}'', wasn't allowed to be released in the US until 1972, twenty years after it was actually filmed; the fact that it hadn't been screened in Los Angeles prior to then allowed it to be nominated for (and win) that year's UsefulNotes/AcademyAward for best original music score, the only competitive Oscar of Chaplin's career. At the previous year's ceremonies, the Academy had brought the Hollywood legend back to America to present him with an Honorary Award, earning him a 12-minute-long standing ovation in a supreme moment of "burying the hatchet".[[note]]However, the warmer reception was within limits: Chaplin was only granted a temporary visa by the US government, and he still endured scattered cranks protesting such a notorious "communist" being allowed into the country.[[/note]]

Growing up in poverty in London, with a mother who was a failed music hall entertainer of declining mental health, Chaplin and his older brother Sydney worked themselves up until Chaplin became a star stage comedian himself. While on an American tour, he was hired by Mack Sennett's Creator/KeystoneStudios and began starring in low budget one-reeler comedies in 1914. By the end of that year, Chaplin had starred in 35 movies -- many of which he'd also directed -- and was known around the world. By 1916, he was working for the more prestigious Mutual Studios, where he produced, directed, wrote, edited, and starred in his own comedy films. In 1919, he co-founded Creator/UnitedArtists, one of the major film studios which still operates today. Over the ensuing decades he would continue to make entertaining and highly influential comedy films, often experimenting with more dramatic stories amid the hilarity.

Growing up in poverty in London, with a mother who was a failed music hall entertainer of declining mental health, Chaplin and his older brother Sydney worked themselves up until Chaplin became a star stage comedian himself. While on an American tour, he was hired by Mack Sennett's Creator/KeystoneStudios and began starring in low budget one-reeler comedies in 1914. By the end of the year, Chaplin had starred in 35 movies -- many of which he'd also directed -- and was known around the world. By 1916, he was working for the more prestigious Mutual Studios, where he produced, directed, wrote, edited, and starred in his own comedy films. In 1919, he co-founded Creator/UnitedArtists, one of the major film studios which still operates today. Over the ensuing decades he would continue to make entertaining and highly influential comedy films, often experimenting with more dramatic stories amid the hilarity.

Growing up in poverty in London, with a mother who was a failed music hall entertainer of declining mental health, Chaplin and his older brother Sydney worked themselves up until Chaplin became a star stage comedian himself. While on an American tour, he was hired by Mack Sennett's Creator/KeystoneStudios and began starring in low budget one-reeler comedies in 1914. By the end of the year, Chaplin had starred in 35 movies, many of which he directed as well, and was known around the world. By 1916, he was working for the more prestigious Mutual Studios, where produced, directed, wrote, edited, and starred in his own comedy films. In 1919, he co-founded Creator/UnitedArtists, one of the major film studios that still operates today. In the ensuing decades he would continue to make entertaining and highly influential comedies, often experimenting with more dramatic stories amid the hilarity.

Chaplin is best known for his character of ''Charlot'' or ''The Tramp'' -- a poor, downtrodden man who nevertheless takes on life with vim and alacrity, defeating the bully/policeman/figure of authority and getting the girl before [[RidingIntoTheSunset walking into the sunset]].

->''"Has there ever been another artist [...] who has had more to say, and in such vivid detail, about what it means to be poor? Conceivably [[Creator/CharlesDickens Dickens]], another artist often reproached for sentimentality [...] but surely no other figure in the 20th century. And because there is arguably no other figure in the world during Chaplin’s heyday who was more widely known and loved -- not even a politician like his arch-enemy Hitler, much less another artist--discussing him as if he were just another writer-director or actor ultimately means short-changing that world and that history."''