Charlie Chaplin (1889–1977) was an English internationally renowned Academy Award-winning comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who was best known for his career in Hollywood motion pictures from his debut in 1914 until 1952, he however subsequently appeared in two films in his native England. During his early years in the era of silent film, he rose to prominence as a worldwide cinematic idol renowned for his tramp persona. In the 1910s and 1920s, he was considered the most famous person on the planet.
Chaplin was born in Walworth, South London, and began acting on stage at the age of five when his mother's voice cracked. In 1913, while on tour in the United States with Fred Karno's comedy group, he accepted a contract to work for Keystone Film Company. During his time at Keystone, he began writing and directing some of the films in which he starred. Chaplin signed with the Essanay Film Manufacturing Company in 1915, and the year after with the Mutual Film Corporation.
Chaplin by 1918, began producing his own films, initially releasing them through First National Pictures and then through United Artists, a corporation he co-founded with Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, and D. W. Griffith. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, Chaplin was accused of being a Communist sympathiser, which he denied. He remained a British subject and, while travelling to England in 1952 to attend the premiere of his film Limelight, his American re-entry permit was rescinded. Chaplin eventually settled in Switzerland, where he remained for the rest of his life. He made his last two films in England.
During his lifetime, Chaplin received three awards from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. At the first Academy Awards ceremony, held on 16 May 1929, he was originally nominated for Best Actor and Best Director for The Circus (1928). The Academy dropped his two nominations, and he won an honorary award for writing, directing, producing, and acting. In 1972, he returned to the United States after nearly two decades to receive another honorary award, this time for his overall achievements in cinema. The following year, Chaplin's score for Limelight received the Academy Award for Best Music. Although 20 years old by this time, Limelight had not been released in the Los Angeles area until 1972, and had not been eligible for Academy Award consideration before then. Chaplin also received Academy Award nominations in 1940 for Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay for The Great Dictator. In 1942, Chaplin released a new version of The Gold Rush, taking the original silent 1925 film and composing and recording a musical score. The Gold Rush was nominated for Best Music (Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture). Notwithstanding the belated nomination for Limelight, his final contemporary nomination was in 1947 for his screenplay of Monsieur Verdoux.
For his work in motion pictures, Chaplin has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the American Film Institute has listed him among the best actors of the Classical Hollywood cinema era Note: Type in "Charlie Chaplin"
Seven of the films in which Chaplin starred have been added to the Library of Congress National Film Registry: Kid Auto Races at Venice (1914), The Immigrant (1917), The Kid (1921), The Gold Rush (1925), The Circus (1928), City Lights (1931), Modern Times (1936), and The Great Dictator (1940). Also selected was Show People (1928), which featured Chaplin in a cameo.
Chaplin filmography
In 1964, Chaplin established his official filmography with the publication of his book, My Autobiography. The filmography consisted of 80 motion pictures released since 1914. Further detail was added by David Robinson's 1985 biography, Chaplin: His Life and Art, which included Chaplin's last film, A Countess from Hong Kong (1967), as the 81st entry. In 2010 the 82nd film was added with the discovery of A Thief Catcher, an early Keystone film hitherto thought lost, with Chaplin's involvement previously unconfirmed.
All of Chaplin's films up to and including The Circus (1928) were silent, although many were re-issued with soundtracks. City Lights (1931) and Modern Times (1936) were essentially silent films, although they were made with soundtracks consisting of music and sound effects; the latter film also included talking sequences. All of Chaplin's last five films were talking pictures. Aside from A Countess From Hong Kong, all of Chaplin's films were photographed in 35mm black-and-white.
Unlike many of his contemporaries, Chaplin's film canon substantially survives, with only a handful of his films considered lost (one, A Woman of the Sea, due to Chaplin's own actions).
Except where otherwise referenced, the release dates, character names, and annotations presented here are derived from Chaplin's autobiography, Robinson's book, and The Films of Charlie Chaplin (1965) by Gerald D. McDonald, Michael Conway, and Mark Ricci.
Keystone Chaplin appeared in 36 films for Keystone Studios, all produced by Mack Sennett. Except where noted, all films were one reel in length.
Release date Title Credited as Notes Composer Producer Writer Director Role Making a Living Swindler Kid Auto Races at Venice Tramp Released on a split-reel (i.e. two films on one reel) with an education film, Olives and Trees. First released appearance of the Tramp, but see below. Added to the National Film Registry in 2020. Mabel's Strange Predicament Tramp Filmed before but released after Kid Auto Races at Venice, hence it was in this film that the Tramp costume was first used. A Policeman Print discovered in 2010. Between Showers Masher (The Tramp) The Film Johnnie (The Tramp) Tango Tangles Tipsy Dancer His Favorite Pastime Drinker (The Tramp) Cruel, Cruel Love Lord Helpus The Star boarder (The Tramp) Mabel at the Wheel Villain Two reels Twenty Minutes of Love Pickpocket (The Tramp) Caught in a Cabaret Waiter (The Tramp) Two reels. Co-writer: Mabel Normand Caught in the Rain Tipsy Hotel Guest (The Tramp) Wife Released on a split-reel with an educational short, The Morning Papers. Suitor (The Tramp) Her Friend the Bandit Bandit Lost film. Co-director: Mabel Normand. Referee (Considered by some to be The Tramp) Two reels Mabel's Busy Day Tipsy Nuisance Mabel's Married Life Mabel's Husband (The Tramp) Co-writer: Mabel Normand Laughing Gas Dentist's Assistant (The Tramp) The Property Man (The Tramp) Two reels Artist (The Tramp) Based on the poem by Hugh Antoine d'Arcy. Recreation Tramp Released as a split-reel with a travel short, The Yosemite. Film Actor (The Tramp) His New Profession Charlie (The Tramp) Reveller Co-starring Roscoe Arbuckle Janitor (The Tramp) Those Love Pangs Masher (The Tramp) Dough and Dynamite Waiter (The Tramp) Two reels. Co-writer: Mack Sennett Gentlemen of Nerve Impecunious Track Enthusiast (The Tramp) His Musical Career Piano Mover (The Tramp) His Trysting Place Husband (The Tramp) Two reels Getting Acquainted Spouse (The Tramp) His Prehistoric Past Weakchin (The Tramp) Two reels Tillie's Punctured Romance Charlie, a City Slicker Six reels. From the play, Tillie's Nightmare, by A. Baldwin Sloane and Edgar Smith.
Essanay Chaplin wrote, directed, and starred in 15 films for the Essanay Film Manufacturing Company, all produced by Jesse T. Robbins. Except where noted all films are two-reelers.
Release date Title Credited as Notes Composer Producer Writer Director Role His New Job Film Extra (The Tramp) Reveller (The Tramp) Debut of Edna Purviance Aspiring Pugilist (The Tramp) In the Park Charlie (The Tramp) One reel Suitor, the Fake Count (The Tramp) The Tramp By the Sea Stroller (The Tramp) One reel Work Decorator's Apprentice (The Tramp) Charlie / "The Woman" (The Tramp) Janitor (The Tramp) Shanghaied Charlie (The Tramp) Mr. Pest and Mr. Rowdy A Burlesque on Carmen Darn Hosiery Re-issued on 22 April 1916, as an unauthorised four-reeler with new footage shot and assembled by Leo White. Police Ex-Convict (The Tramp) Triple Trouble Janitor (The Tramp) Compilation assembled by Leo White with scenes from Police and an unfinished short, Life, along with new material shot by White. Chaplin includes this production in the filmography of his autobiography.
Mutual Chaplin wrote, produced, directed, and starred in 12 films for the Mutual Film Corporation, which formed Lone Star Studios solely for Chaplin's films. All of the Mutual releases are two reels in length. In 1932, Amadee J. Van Beuren of Van Beuren Studios purchased Chaplin's Mutual comedies for $10,000 each, added music by Gene Rodemich and Winston Sharples and sound effects, and re-released them through RKO Radio Pictures.SilentComedians entry
Release date Title Credited as Notes Composer Producer Writer Director Role Impecunious Customer (The Tramp) Co-writer: Vincent Bryan Fireman (The Tramp) Co-writer: Vincent Bryan Street Musician (The Tramp) Co-writer: Vincent Bryan One A.M. Drunk Tailor's Apprentice (The Tramp) Pawnbroker's Assistant (The Tramp) Behind the Screen Property Man's Assistant (The Tramp) Waiter and Skating Enthusiast (The Tramp) Easy Street Vagabond recruited to Police Force (The Tramp) Alcoholic Gentleman at Spa (Considered by some to be The Tramp) Immigrant (The Tramp) Added to the National Film Registry in 1998. Escaped Convict (The Tramp)
First National Chaplin wrote, produced, directed, and starred in 9 films for his own production company between 1918 and 1923. These films were distributed by First National.
Release date Title Credited as Notes Composer Producer Writer Director Role Tramp Three reels. Score composed for compilation, The Chaplin Revue Tramp Half-reel. Co stars brother Sydney Chaplin Shoulder Arms Recruit (The Tramp) Three reels. Score composed for compilation, The Chaplin Revue. Sunnyside Farm Handyman (The Tramp) Three reels. Score composed for 1974 re-release. Father (The Tramp) Two reels. First film with Jackie Coogan, future star of The Kid. Score composed for 1973 re-release. Tramp Six reels. Score composed for 1971 re-release. Added to the National Film Registry in 2011. Tramp / Husband Two reels. Score composed for 1971 re-release. Pay Day Laborer (The Tramp) Two reels. Score composed for 1972 re-release. Chaplin's final short (of less than 30 minutes running time). Escaped Convict (Considered by some to be The Tramp) Four reels. Score composed for compilation, The Chaplin Revue.
United Artists Chaplin began releasing his films through United Artists in 1923. From this point on all of his films were of feature length. He produced, directed, and wrote these eight films and starred in all but the first. Beginning with City Lights Chaplin wrote the musical scores for his films as well.
Release date Title Credited as Notes Composer Producer Writer Director Role Porter Chaplin has a small cameo role. Score composed for 1976 re-issue. Lone Prospector (The Tramp) Score composed for 1942 re-issue. Added to the National Film Registry in 1992. Tramp Score composed for 1970 re-issue. The Academy Film Archive preserved The Circus in 2002. City Lights Tramp Added to the National Film Registry in 1991. Modern Times A factory worker (The Tramp) Added to the National Film Registry in 1989. Adenoid Hynkel / The Barber (Considered by some to be The Tramp) Added to the National Film Registry in 1997. Nominated for Academy Award for Best Actor, Best Picture and Best Writing. Monsieur Verdoux Monsieur Henri Verdoux Based on an idea by Orson Welles. Nominated for Academy Award for Best Writing (Original Screenplay). Limelight Calvero Pulled from American screens shortly after its release when Chaplin became a political exile from the United States. Academy Award for Best Music (Scoring). (Awarded in 1973 when the film became first eligible for Academy Award consideration via Los Angeles screenings.)
British productions