| Charlie Chaplin | |
| ...about this site |
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| My name is Ally Cook, and these pages are my tribute to Charlie Chaplin. So what qualifies me to host a Charlie Chaplin website? Well, the truth is, nothing really. I am no expert, and have little interest in silent movies, as such. My interest in Chaplin began one winter's evening, while in bed recovering from flu. Flicking impatiently through the channels on the TV, I kept coming back to this old black-and-white movie playing on BBC2. Finally, it stuck, and I watched the last 30 minutes or so, totally transfixed. The film was "The Gold Rush", and it is fair to say it totally changed my perception of Chaplin, and I have been a fan ever since. This site is not really for dedicated Chaplin fans. There are plenty of other websites which offer more in-depth information. My intention, though, is to give the casual visitor an insight into the life and career of the man who made the little tramp character one of the most recognisable icons of all time. Everyone has heard of Charlie Chaplin and everyone knows the tramp character, but a lot fewer people have actually watched his films or know much about his life. At his height Charlie Chaplin was the biggest superstar of all time, eclipsing Elvis or even the Beatles. His appeal crossed generation, class and creed. Many of his films, especially the early ones, are now dated and admittedly difficult for the modern audience to watch. However, three films, in particular, remain classics - "The Gold Rush" (1925), "The Circus" (1928) and "City Lights" (1931). This was Chaplin at his very best, in the last years of the silent movie. The settings may be pre-war, but the appeal is timeless. Other films of note are "The Immigrant" (1917), "The Kid" (1921), "Modern Times" (1936) and "Limelight" (1952). Chaplin's life story is, if anything, more fascinating than any of his films. Raised in poverty in London, Chaplin moved to America where he moved into the movies. His private life was to captivate not only the public, but the FBI, who considered him a subversive, a communist and a tax evader. After failing for years to find any concrete evidence, the US authorities finally succeeding in exiling him from the country in 1952. Chaplin was knighted by the Queen in 1975, and died in Switzerland, on Christmas Day, 2 years later. I hope this website will kindle something of the spirit of Charlie Chaplin to those who know little about him. |