Charlie Chaplin’s 100th Year of Movies

Posted on February 2, 2014 at 8:00 am

One hundred years ago this week, British music hall star Charlie Chaplin made his first Hollywood film, the silent “It’s a Living.”

It would be a little while before his classic character of the little tramp really came together.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iu-rLA4POkI

He became an international superstar without saying a word.  He had unparalleled physical wit and timing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTt2f-DReYY

He could make you laugh and break your heart at the same moment.

Here the blind girl who thought he was a millionaire when she could not see, and knew him only by the touch of his hand, discovers that he is a poor man who gave up everything to pay for the operation to restore her sight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHBHdYgg9fI

His movies are still timely for their commentary on society.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jI3LIqinSto

Robert Downey, Jr. played him brilliantly in the biopic “Chaplin.”

I also recommend Stephen Weissman’s superb biography, Chaplin: A Life.

Related Tags:

 

Classic Comedy Shorts