Transcript Charlie Chaplin - Willowcreek Drama

Charlie Chaplin
Humble Beginnings
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Born to Hannah and
Charles Chaplin on
April 16, 1889
 London, England
 Brother Sidney
 Parents Divorced at
early age
Beginning a Life of
Performance
First performance at the
age of 5 when he filled in
for his sick mother at the
dance hall
Early Childhood
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Hannah sent to asylum
when Charlie is 7
Charlie and Sidney sent
to government workhouse
Hannah released and
then sent back to asylum
Charlie and Sidney sent
to live with father and
stepmother
Sidney leaves home
Charlie Left Alone
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At age of 9 Charlie joins 8 Lancashire Lads
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Stan Laurel part of this troupe
At age 12, Charlie’s father dies
 In 1903, Hannah is readmitted to the asylum
 Charlie provides for himself the best he can to
avoid returning to the workhouse
 Hannah is readmitted when Charlie is 16--this
time for 7 years.
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Change in Luck
Charlie’s Theater Performances
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Earns a part in “Jim, A Romance of Cockney” and
“Sherlock Holmes” and gets glowing reviews
Joins Karno Troupe with brother Sidney
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Pantomime troupe that includes Stan Laurel again
Tour the United States and England
1912 tours the U.S. again and decides to stay
In The Movies
Keystone Films Studio
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In 2 months Charlie
appears in 9 films
 Introduces his most
famous character called
“The Tramp” or “Little
Fellow”
 Explodes into a major
star
 At 25 he directs his first
film “Twenty Minutes of
Love”
 Leaves in November of
same year and joins
Essanay Film Company
The Fight for Creative
Control
Essanay Film Company
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1915
 Has more to do with
films but still fights for
creative control
 Meets Edna
Purviance
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On again off again
relationship
Mutual Film Company
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1916
 Makes many of his
short films
 Hires Henry Bergman
(villain in many of
Charlie’s films) and
Tom Harrington as his
personal secretary
First National
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1917
Begins building his
own studio
Makes some more
short films
First time he has
complete creative
control
1918
Marries Mildred Harris
Love is in the Air
The Wives
Charlie Chaplin
Mildred Harris
1918-1921
Deformed infant son
dies at birth
Lita Grey
1924-1927
Biggest Divorce Settlement
$825,000
Charles Spencer Chaplin Jr.
1925-1968
Sidney
1926
Paulette Goddard
1932-1942
Oona O'Neill
1943-1977
Has 8 Children
Michael
Victoria
Josephine
Jane
Annette
Christopher
Eugene
Geraldine
Pathos and Comedy
United Artists
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1919
 Formed this company
with Mary Pickford
and Douglas
Fairbanks in effort to
keep big studios from
having all control over
a production
 Still a production
company today
The Kid
The Kid
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First full-length movie
Took over a year to
produce
Causes Charlie’s
divorce from Mildred
Released in 1921
Huge box office
success
Some Time Off
Vacation to Europe
Returns to crowds beyond his wildest
dreams
 Meets and becomes friends with H.G.
Wells
 Sidney and he take Hannah to the States
to care for her
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Returning to Work
The Gold Rush
The Gold Rush
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Lita Grey is replaced
by Georgia Hale
because she is
pregnant with
Charlie’s son. (16 yrs.
Old)
 Considered one of his
finest films
 Alaskan Gold Rush
Births in 1925

Charles Spencer Chaplin Jr.
 Oona O’Neill
Trouble in Paradise
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1926-Son Sidney is born
Lita and Charlie split in a
highly publicized divorce
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Highest divorce settlement
of $825,000
Turned Charlie’s hair
permanently white
Continued work on The
Circus and won a special
Oscar in 1928 for his
work as a director, actor,
and producer.
1928-Mother dies
Charlie Chaplin
The End of “The Tramp”
City Lights
Released in 1931
 Was Charlie’s first non-silent film
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 Not
a “Talking” picture--only included sound
effects and a musical soundtrack
Major gamble since talking pictures was
now the standard
 Was a financial and critical success
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Modern Times
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Takes a vacation for
two years
 Almost assassinated
in Japan
 Meets Paulette
Goddard who co-stars
with him in Modern
times
 Modern Times is “The
Tramp’s” final film
Charlie and Paulette marry in secret after the film’s release
Charlie’s Attack
Hitler and The Great Dictator
First “Talking” Picture released in 1940
Makes fun of Hitler and his politics
House Un-American Committee
1942
A Busy Year
1942
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Paulette divorces Charlie and goes on to be a
star in her own right
 Charlie meets Oona O’Neill and falls deeply and
permanently in love (marry in 1943)
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Oona’s father, a distinguished playwright named
Eugene O’Neill does not approve of his daughter’s
relationship
Joan Barry breaks into Charlie’s home with a
gun and files a paternity suit
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Blood test proves that Charlie is not the father but the
evidence is inadmissable and Charlie is ordered to
pay child support
Charlie’s Final Films
Limelight
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Made in 1951
 Teamed with Buster
Keaton--first and only
time they make a film
together
 Did not do well in
American movie houses
because of the rumors
that Charlie was a
communist symphathizer
 Years later is nominated
for Academy Award and
wins for Best Music
In Exile
Exile
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Leaves on vacation to England and cannot get
back into the U.S.
 Oona returns and gathers Charlie’s assets
 Relocate to Vevey, Switzerland in 1953 where
they live for the remainder of their lives
Life after the Movies
Life After the Movies
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Wins World Peace Council Prize in 1954
Reedits some of his earlier movies and
composes new music for some of them
Charlie’s name removed from Walk of Fame
1964 published an autobiography
1965 brother Sidney dies
1966 works on final film, A Countess in Hong
Kong with Marlon Brando and Sophia Loren
1968 son Charlie Jr. dies
A Forgiven Hero
Charlie Returns to the U.S.
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Accepts Lifetime
Achievement
Academy Award
 He is 83 yrs. Old
 Chaplin gets his
name back on Walk of
Fame
He is knighted by Queen
Elizabeth II and becomes
Sir Charles Spencer
Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin
Passes away at his home in
Switzerland on Dec. 25, 1977
Charlie’s Words
“To truly laugh, you must be able
to take your pain, and play with it!”
“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.”
“Laughter is the tonic, relief, and
surcease for pain.”