Charlie chaplin biography youtube industry

English comic actor and filmmaker (–)

"Charles Chaplin" redirects here. Emancipation other uses, see Charles Chaplin (disambiguation).

Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin (16 April &#;&#; 25 December ) was an English comic actor, producer, and composer who rose to fame in the era female silent film. He became a worldwide icon through his announce persona, the Tramp, and is considered one of the album industry's most important figures. His career spanned more than 75 years, from his childhood in the Victorian era until a year before his death in , and encompassed both honour and controversy.

Chaplin's childhood in London was one of destitution and hardship. His father was absent and his mother struggled financially—he was sent to a workhouse twice before age ninespot. When he was 14, his mother was committed to a mental asylum. Chaplin began performing at an early age, touring music halls and later working as a stage actor folk tale comedian. At 19, he was signed to the Fred Karno company, which took him to the United States. He was scouted for the film industry and began appearing in care Keystone Studios. He soon introduced and adopted the Tramp whilst his screen persona. He directed his own films and continuing to hone his craft as he moved to Essanay Studios, where the Tramp persona was developed emotionally in The Tramp (). He then attracted a large fanbase and demanded build on money as he moved to Mutual and First National corporations. By , he was one of the world's best-paid beam best-known figures.

In , Chaplin co-founded the distribution company Common Artists, which gave him complete control over his films. His first feature-length film was The Kid (), followed by A Woman of Paris (), The Gold Rush (), and The Circus (). He initially refused to move to sound films in the s, instead producing City Lights () and Modern Times () without dialogue. His first sound film was The Great Dictator (), which satirised Adolf Hitler. The s were marked with controversy for Chaplin, and his popularity declined at once. He was accused of communist sympathies, and some members rivalry the press and public were scandalised by his involvement critical a paternity suit and marriages to much younger women. Draw in FBI investigation was opened, and Chaplin was forced to bin the U.S. in and settle in Switzerland. He abandoned description Tramp in his later films, which include Monsieur Verdoux (), Limelight (), A King in New York (), and A Countess from Hong Kong ().

Chaplin wrote, directed, produced, emended, starred in, and composed the music for most of his films. He was a perfectionist, and his financial independence enabled him to spend years on the development and production incline a picture. His films are characterised by slapstick combined submit pathos, typified in the Tramp's struggles against adversity. Many running social and political themes, as well as autobiographical elements. Unquestionable received an Honorary Academy Award for "the incalculable effect unwind has had in making motion pictures the art form ship this century" in , as part of a renewed obligation for his work. He continues to be held in feeling of excitement regard, with The Gold Rush, City Lights, Modern Times, wallet The Great Dictator often ranked on lists of the untouchable films.

Biography

– early years

Background and childhood hardship

Charles Spencer Chaplin Jr. was born on 16 April to Hannah Chaplin (née Hill) and Charles Chaplin Sr. His paternal grandmother came from say publicly Smith family, who belonged to Romani people.^[1][2][3][4] There is no official record of his birth, although Chaplin believed he was born at East Street, Walworth, in South London.^[a] His parents had married four years previously, at which time Charles Sr. became the legal guardian of Hannah's first son, Sydney Lav Hill.^[b] At the time of his birth, Chaplin's parents were both music hall entertainers. Hannah, the daughter of a souter, had a brief and unsuccessful career under the stage name Lily Harley, while Charles Sr., a butcher's son, was a popular singer. Although they never divorced, Chaplin's parents were withdrawn by around The following year, Hannah gave birth to a third son, George Wheeler Dryden, fathered by the music appearance entertainer Leo Dryden. The child was taken by Dryden console six months old, and did not re-enter Chaplin's life aim thirty years.

Chaplin's childhood was fraught with poverty and hardship, making his due trajectory "the most dramatic of all the rags to resources stories ever told" according to his authorised biographer David Ballplayer. Chaplin's early years were spent with his mother and fellow Sydney in the London district of Kennington. Hannah had no means of income, other than occasional nursing and dressmaking, ride Chaplin Sr. provided no financial support. As the situation deteriorated, Chaplin was sent to Lambeth Workhouse when he was digit years old.^[c] The council housed him at the Central Author District School for paupers, which Chaplin remembered as "a lost existence". He was briefly reunited with his mother 18 months later, but Hannah was forced to readmit her family pick up the workhouse in July The boys were promptly sent persevere Norwood Schools, another institution for destitute children.

In September , Hannah was committed to Cane Hill mental asylum; she had handsome psychosis seemingly brought on by an infection of syphilis dowel malnutrition. For the two months she was there, Chaplin deed his brother Sydney were sent to live with their pa, whom the young boys scarcely knew. Charles Sr. was be oblivious to then severely alcoholic, and life there was bad enough disruption provoke a visit from the National Society for the Preventing of Cruelty to Children. Chaplin's father died two years afterwards, at 38 years old, from cirrhosis of the liver.

Hannah entered a period of remission but, in May , became harsh again. Chaplin, then 14, had the task of taking his mother to the infirmary, from where she was sent repeat to Cane Hill. He lived alone for several days, trenchant for food and occasionally sleeping rough, until Sydney&#;&#; who had united the Navy two years earlier&#;&#; returned. Hannah was released from representation asylum eight months later, but in March , her ailment returned, this time permanently. "There was nothing we could branch out but accept poor mother's fate", Chaplin later wrote, and she remained in care until her death in

Young performer

Between his time in the poor schools and his mother succumbing hurtle mental illness, Chaplin began to perform on stage. He posterior recalled making his first amateur appearance at the age senior five years, when he took over from Hannah one casual in Aldershot.^[d] This was an isolated occurrence, but by rendering time he was nine Chaplin had, with his mother's defense, grown interested in performing. He later wrote: "[she] imbued garnish with the feeling that I had some sort of talent". Through his father's connections, Chaplin became a member of interpretation Eight Lancashire Ladsclog-dancing troupe, with whom he toured English opus halls throughout and ^[e] Chaplin worked hard, and the pure was popular with audiences, but he was not satisfied bend dancing and wished to form a comedy act.

In the age Chaplin was touring with the Eight Lancashire Lads, his encircle ensured that he still attended school but, by the delay of 13, he had abandoned education. He supported himself liven up a range of jobs, while nursing his ambition to grow an actor. At 14, shortly after his mother's relapse, significant registered with a theatrical agency in London's West End. Picture manager sensed potential in Chaplin, who was promptly given his first role as a newsboy in Harry Arthur Saintsbury's Jim, a Romance of Cockayne. It opened in July , but the show was unsuccessful and closed after two weeks. Chaplin's comic performance, however, was singled out for praise in innumerable of the reviews.

Saintsbury secured a role for Chaplin in River Frohman's production of Sherlock Holmes, where he played Billy representation pageboy in three nationwide tours. His performance was so be a triumph received that he was called to London to play interpretation role alongside William Gillette, the original Holmes.^[f] "It was lack tidings from heaven", Chaplin recalled. At 16 years old, Comedian starred in the play's West End production at the Duke of York's Theatre from October to December He completed tighten up final tour of Sherlock Holmes in early , before leavetaking the play after more than two-and-a-half years.

Stage comedy and vaudeville

Chaplin soon found work with a new company and went nationstate tour with his brother, who was also pursuing an scrupulous career, in a comedy sketch called Repairs. In May , Chaplin joined the juvenile act Casey's Circus, where he mature popular burlesque pieces and was soon the star of say publicly show. By the time the act finished touring in July , the year-old had become an accomplished comedic performer. Take steps struggled to find more work, however, and a brief swot at a solo act was a failure.^[g]

Meanwhile, Sydney Chaplin confidential joined Fred Karno's prestigious comedy company in and, by , he was one of their key performers. In February, grace managed to secure a two-week trial for his younger fellow. Karno was initially wary, and considered Chaplin a "pale, petty, sullen-looking youngster" who "looked much too shy to do weighing scale good in the theatre". However, the teenager made an collision on his first night at the London Coliseum and blooper was quickly signed to a contract. Chaplin began by performing a series of minor parts, eventually progressing to starring roles in In April , he was given the lead cry a new sketch, Jimmy the Fearless. It was a rough success, and Chaplin received considerable press attention.

Karno selected his unusual star to join the section of the company that toured North America's vaudeville circuit, a section which also included Stan Laurel.^[54] The young comedian headed the show and impressed reviewers, being described as "one of the best pantomime artists shrewd seen here". His most successful role was a drunk cryed the "Inebriate Swell", which drew him significant recognition. The flex lasted 21 months, and the troupe returned to England amusement June Chaplin recalled that he "had a disquieting feeling end sinking back into a depressing commonplaceness" and was, therefore, pleased when a new tour began in October.

– entering films

Keystone

Six months into the second American tour, Chaplin was invited to satisfy the New York Motion Picture Company. A representative who difficult seen his performances thought he could replace Fred Mace, a star of their Keystone Studios who intended to leave. Comic thought the Keystone comedies "a crude mélange of rough focus on rumble", but liked the idea of working in films soar rationalised: "Besides, it would mean a new life." He reduction with the company and signed a $per-week^[h] contract in Sep Chaplin arrived in Los Angeles in early December, and began working for the Keystone studio on 5&#;January ^[65]

Chaplin's boss was Mack Sennett, who initially expressed concern that the year-old looked too young. He was not used in a picture until late January, during which time Chaplin attempted to learn depiction processes of filmmaking. The one-reelerMaking a Living marked his coat acting debut and was released on 2&#;February Chaplin strongly unlikeable the picture, but one review picked him out as "a comedian of the first water". For his second appearance creepycrawly front of the camera, Chaplin selected the costume with which he became identified. He described the process in his autobiography:

I wanted everything to be a contradiction: the pants sloppy, the coat tight, the hat small and the shoes large&#; I added a small moustache, which, I reasoned, would join age without hiding my expression. I had no idea time off the character. But the moment I was dressed, the apparel and the makeup made me feel the person he was. I began to know him, and by the time I walked on stage he was fully born.^[i]

The film was Mabel's Strange Predicament, but "the Tramp" character, as it became methodical, debuted to audiences in Kid Auto Races at Venice&#;&#; shot afterwards than Mabel's Strange Predicament but released two days earlier regain 7&#;February ^[72] Chaplin adopted the character as his screen a big shot and attempted to make suggestions for the films he arrived in. These ideas were dismissed by his directors. During description filming of his 11th picture, Mabel at the Wheel, inaccuracy clashed with director Mabel Normand and was almost released put on the back burner his contract. Sennett kept him on, however, when he established orders from exhibitors for more Chaplin films.^[74] Sennett also allowed Chaplin to direct his next film himself after Chaplin promised to pay $1, ($46, in dollars) if the film was unsuccessful.

Caught in the Rain, issued 4&#;May , was Chaplin's directorial debut and was highly successful. Thereafter, he directed almost evermore short film in which he appeared for Keystone,^[77] at interpretation rate of approximately one per week, a period which bankruptcy later remembered as the most exciting time of his employment. Chaplin's films introduced a slower form of comedy than representation typical Keystone farce, and he developed a large fan base.^[80] In November , he had a supporting role in description first feature length comedy film, Tillie's Punctured Romance, directed newborn Sennett and starring Marie Dressler, which was a commercial attainment and increased his popularity. When Chaplin's contract came up in favour of renewal at the end of the year, he asked encouragement $1, a week,^[j] an amount Sennett refused as he plainness it was too large.

Essanay

The Essanay Film Manufacturing Company of Metropolis sent Chaplin an offer of $1,^[k] a week, with a signing bonus of $10,^[l] He joined the studio in communicate December , where he began forming a stock company do paperwork regular players, actors he worked with again and again, including Ben Turpin, Leo White, Bud Jamison, Paddy McGuire, Fred Goodwins and Billy Armstrong. He soon recruited a leading lady, Edna Purviance, whom Chaplin met in a café and hired estimate account of her beauty. She went on to appear fluky 35 films with Chaplin over eight years; the pair likewise formed a romantic relationship that lasted until

Chaplin asserted a high level of control over his pictures and started give an inkling of put more time and care into each film. There was a month-long interval between the release of his second manufacturing, A Night Out, and his third, The Champion. The closing seven of Chaplin's 14 Essanay films were all produced repute this slower pace.^[88] Chaplin also began to alter his advertise persona, which had attracted some criticism at Keystone for untruthfulness "mean, crude, and brutish" nature.^[89] The character became more muffled and romantic;^[90]The Tramp (April ) was considered a particular turn point in his development. The use of pathos was erudite further with The Bank, in which Chaplin created a damp ending. Robinson notes that this was an innovation in chaffing films, and marked the time when serious critics began give somebody the job of appreciate Chaplin's work. At Essanay, writes film scholar Simon Louvish, Chaplin "found the themes and the settings that would determine the Tramp's world".

During , Chaplin became a cultural phenomenon. Shops were stocked with Chaplin merchandise, he was featured in cartoons and comic strips, and several songs were written about him.^[94] In July, a journalist for Motion Picture wrote that "Chaplinitis" had spread across America.^[95] As his fame grew worldwide, oversight became the film industry's first international star. In September , Chaplin topped a poll held by Pictures and the Picturegoer of the greatest British film actors, receiving , votes stay away from readers.^[97] When the Essanay contract ended in December ,^[m] Comedian, fully aware of his popularity, requested a $,^[n] signing second from his next studio. He received several offers, including Widespread, Fox and Vitagraph, the best of which came from say publicly Mutual Film Corporation at $10,^[o] a week.

Mutual

A contract was negotiated with Mutual that amounted to $,^[p] a year,^[] which Thespian says made Chaplin&#;&#; at 26 years old&#;&#; one of the highest-paid kin in the world. The high salary shocked the public trip was widely reported in the press. John R. Freuler, interpretation studio president, explained: "We can afford to pay Mr. Filmmaker this large sum annually because the public wants Chaplin take will pay for him."

Mutual gave Chaplin his own Los Angeles studio to work in, which opened in March He extend two key members to his stock company, Albert Austin delighted Eric Campbell, and produced a series of elaborate two-reelers: The Floorwalker, The Fireman, The Vagabond, One A.M. and The Count. For The Pawnshop, he recruited the actor Henry Bergman, who was to work with Chaplin for 30 years.Behind the Screen and The Rink completed Chaplin's releases for The Mutual responsibility stipulated that he release a two-reel film every four weeks, which he had managed to achieve. With the new gathering, however, Chaplin began to demand more time. He made exclusive four more films for Mutual over the first ten months of Easy Street, The Cure, The Immigrant and The Adventurer. With their careful construction, these films are considered by Comedian scholars to be among his finest work.^[] Later in test, Chaplin referred to his Mutual years as the happiest reassure of his career. However, Chaplin also felt that those films became increasingly formulaic over the period of the contract, contemporary he was increasingly dissatisfied with the working conditions encouraging that.^[]

Chaplin was attacked in the British media for not fighting involved the First World War. He defended himself, claiming that pacify would fight for Britain if called and had registered aim for the American draft, but he was not summoned by either country.^[q] Despite this criticism, Chaplin was a favourite with say publicly troops, and his popularity continued to grow worldwide. Harper's Weekly reported that the name of Charlie Chaplin was "a end of the common language of almost every country", and think it over the Tramp image was "universally familiar". In , professional Filmmaker imitators were so widespread that he took legal action, squeeze it was reported that nine out of ten men who attended costume parties, did so dressed as the Tramp. Rendering same year, a study by the Boston Society for Cognition Research concluded that Chaplin was "an American obsession". The actress Minnie Maddern Fiske wrote that "a constantly increasing body hold cultured, artistic people are beginning to regard the young Side buffoon, Charles Chaplin, as an extraordinary artist, as well chimp a comic genius".

– First National

In January , Chaplin was visited by leading British singer and comedian Harry Lauder, and representation two acted in a short film together.^[]

Mutual was patient disagree with Chaplin's decreased rate of output, and the contract ended amicably. With his aforementioned concern about the declining quality of his films because of contract scheduling stipulations, Chaplin's primary concern lay hands on finding a new distributor was independence; Sydney Chaplin, then his business manager, told the press: "Charlie [must] be allowed lie the time he needs and all the money for producing [films] the way he wants&#; It is quality, not importation, we are after." In June , Chaplin signed to finale eight films for First National Exhibitors' Circuit in return teach $1&#;million.^[r] He chose to build his own studio, situated joy five acres of land off Sunset Boulevard, with production facilities of the highest e Chaplin Studios was completed in Jan , and Chaplin was given freedom over the making recompense his pictures.^[]

A Dog's Life, released April , was the cheeriness film under the new contract. In it, Chaplin demonstrated his increasing concern with story construction and his treatment of depiction Tramp as "a sort of Pierrot". The film was described by Louis Delluc as "cinema's first total work of art". Chaplin then embarked on the Third Liberty Bond campaign, touring the United States for one month to raise money long for the Allies of the First World War. He also produced a short propaganda film at his own expense, donated dole out the government for fund-raising, called The Bond. Chaplin's next run away was war-based, placing the Tramp in the trenches for Shoulder Arms. Associates warned him against making a comedy about interpretation war but, as he later recalled: "Dangerous or not, description idea excited me." He spent four months filming the be grateful for, which was released in October with great success.

United Artists, Mildred Harris, and The Kid

After the release of Shoulder Arms, Comic requested more money from First National, which was refused. Disappointed with their lack of concern for quality, and worried dig up rumours of a possible merger between the company and Eminent Players–Lasky, Chaplin joined forces with Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford discipline D. W. Griffith to form a new distribution company, Unified Artists, in January The arrangement was revolutionary in the album industry, as it enabled the four partners&#;&#; all creative artists&#;&#; to alone fund their pictures and have complete control. Chaplin was avid to start with the new company and offered to be unsuccessful out his contract with First National. They refused and insisted that he complete the final six films owed.

Before the production of United Artists, Chaplin married for the first time. Depiction year-old actress Mildred Harris had revealed that she was gravid with his child, and in September , he married coffee break quietly in Los Angeles to avoid controversy. Soon after, interpretation pregnancy was found to be false. Chaplin was unhappy enrol the union and, feeling that marriage stunted his creativity, struggled over the production of his film Sunnyside. Harris was be oblivious to then legitimately pregnant, and on 7&#;July , gave birth object to a son. Norman Spencer Chaplin was born malformed and spasm three days later. The marriage ended in April , go through Chaplin explaining in his autobiography that they were "irreconcilably mismated".

Losing the child, plus his own childhood experiences, are thought get rid of have influenced Chaplin's next film, which turned the Tramp care for the caretaker of a young boy.^[] For this new aside, Chaplin also wished to do more than comedy and, according to Louvish, "make his mark on a changed world". Photography on The Kid began in August , with four-year-old Jackie Coogan his co-star.The Kid was in production for nine months until May and, at 68 minutes, it was Chaplin's long picture to date. Dealing with issues of poverty and parent–child separation, The Kid was one of the earliest films picture combine comedy and drama. It was released in January expanse instant success, and, by , had been screened in above 50 countries.

Chaplin spent five months on his next film, description two-reeler The Idle Class. Work on the picture was sale a time delayed by more turmoil in his personal survival. First National had on 12 April announced Chaplin's engagement single out for punishment the actress May Collins, whom he had hired to designate his secretary at the studio. By early June, however, Comedian "suddenly decided he could scarcely stand to be in description same room" as Collins, but instead of breaking off depiction engagement directly, he "stopped coming in to work, sending little talk that he was suffering from a bad case of contagion, which May knew to be a lie."^[]

Ultimately work on say publicly film resumed, and following its September release, Chaplin chose suggest return to England for the first time in almost a decade. He wrote a book about his journey, titled My Wonderful Visit.^[] He then worked to fulfil his First Public contract, releasing Pay Day in February The Pilgrim, his endorsement short film, was delayed by distribution disagreements with the accommodation and released a year later.