Charlie Chaplin
From a London workhouse kid to a global film star
For many people, Charlie Chaplin and the Tramp, a character he created at the start of his film career, are synonymous. This funny little man with a black moustache and a waddling gait, dressed in baggy trousers and a tight jacket, with oversized shoes and a small bowler hat, made millions of people laugh, turned Chaplin into a household name and - in his day - the highest paid entertainer in the world.
But there was more to Chaplin than just a virtuoso physical comedian: he was a versatile actor, writer, musician and director. He carefully fine-tuned every aspect of his feature films, no matter how long it took or what the cost, making him - possibly - the only complete auteur in film history. He had an eye to posterity: even in the early days when films were thought of as disposable, he carefully preserved all his works. And he also had business acumen: with his brother Sydney he masterminded brilliant publicity campaigns, re-releases and lucrative deals.
Bridget Kendall is joined by silent film historians Ellen Cheshire, Donna Kornhaber and Paul Duncan to explore Chaplin's world: the films that made him famous, the people who helped him become a star, and the hidden depths and contradictions behind the slapstick humour.
Photo: Charlie Chaplin in the comedy film The Gold Rush (Bettmann/Getty Images)
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How Hollywood nearly missed out on its greatest comedian
Duration: 00:42
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- Thu 22 Nov 2018 09:06GMT麻豆社 World Service
- Fri 23 Nov 2018 00:06GMT麻豆社 World Service
- Sat 24 Nov 2018 14:06GMT麻豆社 World Service News Internet
- Sun 25 Nov 2018 15:06GMT麻豆社 World Service except Americas and the Caribbean, East Asia & South Asia
- Mon 26 Nov 2018 04:06GMT麻豆社 World Service except East and Southern Africa, Europe and the Middle East, News Internet & West and Central Africa
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