His whole autobiography is full of great stories. Traumatic childhood, going to America, making a huge success in movies, etc.
One story I really liked is a good example of what it was like to be super famous to an extent that no one had experienced before. With the popularity of movies, going from a fad to a international medium, Charlie was one of the first people to experience it.
He tells the story in his autobiography of how he fist found out how famous he really was. He was finishing up his film “Burlesque on Carmen” in 1915 (parody of the opera Carmen) and sent a telegram from California to his brother Sydney in New York saying that he’ll be leaving by train and to meet him in New York about various offers that were coming through.
With telegrams, a message is sent from city to city until it gets to its destination (this video from the Arizona Ghostriders helps explain it more). So each city got word that Chaplin was coming through, and so crowds began to gather in each train station. And each city there were bigger and bigger crowds. When the train got to Amarillo, Texas, this is what he saw:
Peeking out of the wash-room window, I saw the station packed with a large milling crowd. Bunting and flags were wrapped and hung from pillar to post, and on the platform were several long tables set with refreshments. A celebration to welcome the arrival or departure of some local potentate, I thought. So I began to lather my face. But the excitement grew, then quite audibly I heard voices saying: ‘Where is he?’ Then a stampede entered the car, people running up and down the aisle shouting: ‘Where is he? Where’s Charlie Chaplin?’
Chaplin, Charles . My Autobiography (Neversink) (p. 234). Melville House. Kindle Edition.
And a day or so later when reaching Kansas City:
The large railroad station in Kansas City was packed solidly with people. The police were having difficulty controlling further crowds accumulating outside. A ladder was placed against the train to enable me to mount it and show myself on the roof. I found myself repeating the same banal words as in Amarillo. More telegrams awaited me: would I visit schools and institutions? I stuffed them in my suitcase, to be answered in New York. From Kansas City to Chicago people were again standing at railroad junctions and in fields, waving as the train swept by. I wanted to enjoy it all without reservation, but I kept thinking the world had gone crazy! If a few slapstick comedies could arouse such excitement, was there not something bogus about all celebrity? I had always thought I would like the public’s attention, and here it was – paradoxically isolating me with a depressing sense of loneliness.
Chaplin, Charles . My Autobiography (Neversink) (pp. 236-237). Melville House. Kindle Edition.
It seemed that everyone knew me, but I knew no one…
Chaplin, Charles . My Autobiography (Neversink) (p. 238). Melville House. Kindle Edition.
Below is a shortened version on a 1921 newsreel when he returned for a visit to London. It’s not the same event as what he writes about above, but it gives you a brief idea of what it was like where you can get an idea of the crowds:
Okay, I have a whole bunch that I love (does every scene in his movies count?), but narrowing it down to just two.
The first one I have mentioned before (Day 6 – Favorite First National): From “The Kid” (100 years old this year! Huzzah! Soundtrack that Chaplin wrote is 50 years old this year! Huzzah again!). Below is from the official Chaplin YouTube channel (I was so happy when they uploaded the whole scene! YAY!)
A favorite vlogger of mine, Jordan from the YouTube channel “Daze with Jordan the Lion“, does Hollywood and musician locations, usually in the Los Angeles area. About 4 years ago he visited a couple location from The Kid: one (at was the alley where we first see Charlie walking towards the camera) is at about 7:56. The other alley (starting at 14:28) from the ending of the above scene.
Jackie Coogan was amazing, I really loved Michael Chaplin in A King in New York. Mack Swain in The Gold Rush was adorable (he was in some Chaplin shorts as well, but best in Gold Rush). Sydney Chaplin in Limelight was lovely.
King Shadov (Chaplin) o the left, and Ambassador Jaume (Oliver Johnston)
Coming out of left field, I’m going with Oliver Johnston from A King in New York. He played Ambassador Jaume, and was a great straight man to Chaplin’s King Shadov. Both of their reactions to American culture (wide screen movies, rock and roll, TV commercials, plastic surgery) as well as the growing paranoia that was McCarthyism was very funny. I have watched the film several times, and it never disappoints. Partly due to their onscreen camaraderie. Also Michael :).
It would have been interesting if Chaplin had been able to use him in any of his earlier films.
Johnston’s last film appearance was in Chaplin’s A Countess From Hong Kong, which was released shortly after he passed away.
Sometimes, depending on my mood, it is City Lights, or Shoulder Arms, or The Great Dictator, or if I was in a noir frame of mind, Monsieur Verdoux. Or really any one of them. Over the years some people have assumed my favorite was Limelight since I picked Calvero as my username. Nope. Though I do truly love and adore it.
In my MT post, I mentioned the feeding machine scene where I laughed so much I was crying and my sides hurt. A few months after my post, the Chaplin YouTube channel posted the scene:
And a interesting picture of Chaplin rehearsing the scene:
Another scene that I love, and that is the fascinating foreshadowing scene where he gets falsely arrested for being a communist leader:
And lastly, a neat behind the scenes of how the roller skating scene used some special effects:
Next in the 30 Day Charlie Chaplin Challenge – Least Favorite Film
