when we kids got out of hand at gran’s “It’s like Fred Karno’s Circus in here.”
By 1914 he was already in the new film industry where over the years he developed the now world-famous persona of the Tramp. Due to his early years’ experience, is it any wonder that he developed such a character.
By the 1940s he was world famous as his films were box office sell outs. Chaplin was deeply disturbed by the rise in Fascism and militaristic nationalism during the 1930s, whilst his earlier works had depicted the little man verse the system or the powers that impose their will on people. The film The Great Dictator took Chaplin to another level. A film which mocked Adolf Hitler. Released in 1940 it was a box office smash. Receiving 5 academy award nominations.
During his life Chaplin did have personal troubles Charlie Chaplin
The dangerously progressive comedy genius. Born in 1889 Chaplin was born into poverty and hardship in London he lived in Kennington. During his childhood he was sent to the workhouse twice, his father was never around, and his mother was sent into a mental institution for a period of time. Despite this Chaplin by the age of 19 was signed to the Fred Karno Company. Which reminds me of my grandads saying with the various women in his life, in the 1940s J Edgar Hoover who suspected Chaplin of being a communist used the opportunity of Chaplin’s troubles to generate bad publicity for the world-famous star. Chaplin faced scandal as the FBI conducted a smear campaign using the mainstream media and charged him with 4 indictments related to his personal life note not his political activity. Not unlike today where the press decides an icon or national treasure needs to be taken down.
All the cases were thrown out of court, 3 for insufficient evidence and the last he was acquitted but in my opinion the damage was done.
During World War 2 his politics took him into the world of Soviet/US relations, and he supported groups that looked to that end. He was accused of being a communist which he denied.
Its interesting to note that Chaplin regarded the US governments attempts to suppress the ideology of Communism an unacceptable breach of civil liberties. Covered in the First Amendment which states:- people have the right to free speech. Clearly J Edgar Hoover thought more on the lines of today’s politicians, what constitutes free speech is determined by them not us.
He Boarded the Queen Elizabeth on 18th September 1952 after deciding to premier the film Limelight in London . The next day the US Attorney General revoked Charlies re-entry permit. Claiming on re-entry to the US he would need to submit to an interview about his political and moral beliefs. In effect banning him from re-entry. I do not think Charlie was to bothered by this notion and settled in Switzerland making more films. Ironically, Limelight bombed in the US as the smear campaign by the FBI and the State organisations proved successful with a nation-wide boycott.
Chaplin’s film career continued, and he received political and academic accolades including a doctorate from Oxford and a world peace prize from the then World Peace Council he died in 1977.
written by MARK ROWE
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