So, here we are for the letter C at the A to Z:) Travel on over to the A to Z Challenge to see what the others have written about today.
CITY LIGHTS-1931
DIRECTOR: Charlie Chaplin
STARS:Charlie Chaplin, Virginia Cherrill, Harry Myers
OSCAR NOMS:Nil
OSCAR WINS:Nil
PLOT:A bum falls in love with a blind girl who thinks he is a millionaire. The real millionaire only knows the bum when the millionaire is drunk.
LOVE: The Boxing scene
TRIVIA: Chaplin brought Albert Einstein to the opening and when the film ended, Chaplin saw Einstein was weeping. Virginia Cherrill and Chaplin didn't like each other even though he picked her for the lead. He even fired her and hired someone else, but since so much was already filmed, he had to bring her back.
CHARLIE CHAPLIN-April 16, 1889-December 25, 1977
OCCUPATION: Actor, Director, Composer, Screenwriter, producer, Editor
OSCAR NOMS: Monsieur Verdoux (writing), The Great Dictator (Best Actor)
OSCAR WINS:Honourary award for The Circus, Honourary Award for Life Acheivement, Limelight(best Score)
ANECDOTE: He won for best score in Limelight in 1972 even though the film came out in 1952 but this film was censored in the States at that time because they thought Chaplin was a Communist and would not allow him back in the country(disgusting) until 1972. Adolph Hitler took his mustache from Chaplin's Little Tramp. Chaplin loved young girls-teens actually-First wife was 17 (he was 29), 2nd wife was 16 (he was 35), 3rd wife was 26 (he was 47) and his last wife was 17 (he was 54)! His last wife was Oona O'Neill, daughter of Eugene O'Neill, and they stayed married until Chaplin's death. They had 8 kids together and both loved each other deeply.
I'm pretty sure I have never seen any movie with Chaplin in its entirely.
ReplyDeleteOh wow...must not like him much
DeleteHi, Birgit!
ReplyDeleteI studied the works of Charlie Chaplin in my college film course. However I can't remember seeing this particular film. It amazes me how often personalities and egos clash in the process of making movies or hit television shows. (Example: Fred hated Ethel and Ethel hated him right back.)
It's rather scandalous that Chaplin took all of those young teenage wives. By chance were any of them named Robin D. Cradle? :)
C you later, dear friend BB!
You are funny:)....love that name:) Vivian Vance and William Frawley hated each other
DeleteBirgit, I have never seen a Charlie Chaplin film other than a clip here and there. This is an interesting story line. :) Perhaps, whenever you get a chance, check out some critters I drew for the letter "C" in my A2Z series, Art Sketching Through the Alphabet! Happy a2zing, my friend!
ReplyDeleteHe was such a great comedian, songwriter, writer....love your critters
DeleteI've only seen a few Charlie Chaplin shorts, I believe. I should probably fix that some day lol.
ReplyDeleteThis film is excellent and hope you see some of his one day
DeleteWhat is it with filmmakers and young women? Or talented artists being weirdos and jerks in general?
ReplyDeleteChaplin was an amazingly talented fellow, but he certainly had his quirks. Not as bad as some, and his films and performances still shine today.
C is for The Toronto Circus Riot of 1855
He had his quirks and seemed to enjoy painted his...you know, with red iodine and chase the gals...according to Louise Brooks
DeleteFourth time he got it right in the marriage department. Wow, 8 kids!
ReplyDeleteBetty
Yup, 8 kids but with the woman he loved
DeleteChaplin was a great talent. Too bad he left Hollywood to avoid paying income tax, which was new at the time.
ReplyDeleteYes, he did leave for that but didn't expect to have his passport revoked.
DeleteChaplin's a great pick for C. There's a tv channel always playing his movies, and another fills the breaks with scenes from his films. Imagine being friends with Einstein! Have you read Chaplin's autobiography? It is great! Hugs, Birgit!
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy you visited and much blessings to you. He was quite talented but he left out some major stuff in autobiography
DeleteHmm, I didn't know he was a slightly unsavoury character too. Or that Hitler stole his moustache!
ReplyDeleteChaplin was world famous in the teens when Hitler was in WW 1 and so Hitler thought he would be more approachable if he had that same moustache.
DeleteI like Chaplin, but his desire for young women was very concerning
ReplyDeleteYup, well he was excellent at what he did...I guess both ways
DeleteI've heard of this film but don't think I ever watched it. Charlie Chaplin was considered a comedic genius but his less than exemplary personal life kind of overshadowed that. Interesting bit of trivia about Hitler's mustache. Looks like banning people from entry into the U.S. has become popular again. :(
ReplyDeleteIt has been horrible about the new way people think...or old way actually. Chaplin had many issues and his love for young women was at the top. He also really pissed off J. Edgar Hoover.
DeleteDamn, 8 kids was a bunch, especially at 54. He sure got very close to jail bait though.
ReplyDeleteI think he was more than close to jailbait..I think he swam in it
DeleteI'm a big Chaplin fan. I loved this movie. I also enjoyed the Chaplin bioflick starring Robert Downey, Jr., who should have received the Oscar for which he was nominated.
ReplyDeleteThis movies always makes me laugh and cry. Robert Downey Jnr was excellent in the role as Chaplin.
DeleteCharlie was a skilled entertainer. Hes played so many characters and hammed up so many scenes perfectly by getting the timing right and cocking up spot on is what won the audiences over.
ReplyDeleteHe knew exactly what he was doing.
DeleteCharlie Chaplin was brilliant. I wonder if he was disgusted that Hitler (I almost said Trump) modeled his mustache after Chaplin.
ReplyDeleteWell, have you ever seen The Great Dictator
DeleteSorry I never saw a Charlie Chaplin movie.
ReplyDeleteYou should change that...he is really good
DeleteAs a few others have said, I don't think I've actually seen an entire Charlie Chaplin film. Of course, I've seen clips. He figures in my memory almost the way cartoon characters do! I've known of him my entire life!
ReplyDeleteThat just tells you how big he really is since his Tramp character is over 100 years old.
DeleteI have seen several CC movies but cannot now remember which ones. A looong time ago.
ReplyDeleteHe is so good and knew how to use film to manipulate the audience
DeleteI was covering some class or other and a Charlie Chaplin film was the lesson. Nowadays they watch things on a big screen in the classroom. They were captivated.
ReplyDeleteThat's actually nice to hear
DeleteI watched Charlie Chaplin when I was a kid. Don't much like it now. Maybe I've grown out of his kind of humor?
ReplyDeleteHappy AtoZing!
Chicky @ www.mysteriouskaddu.com
I love the part of the anecdotes. Most of them, I didnt' know.
ReplyDelete@JazzFeathers
The Old Shelter - 1940s Film Noir
I recently saw a documentary on Charlie Chaplin, or I would not have known he was also a director. Although I never saw any of his films, I enjoyed the documentary that showed clips. Great review and choice for C.
ReplyDelete