CHAPLIN
UK, 1992, 145 minutes, Colour.
Robert Downey Jr, Anthony Hopkins, Kevin Kline, Dan Aykroyd, Geraldine Chaplin, Milla Jovovich, Penelope Ann Miller, Diane Lane, Nancy Travis, Moira Kelly, John Thaw, Marisa Tomei, Paul Rhys, James Woods.
Directed by Richard Attenborough.
Chaplin, Charlie Chaplin, the little tramp who delighted audiences the world over. Richard Attenborough's biopic is frank but respectful, large-scale, star-studded, quite straightforward. It traces Chaplin's whole life, from the poverty of London and the music halls to his rapid rise to popularity in Hollywood, through his personal turmoil and the hostility to his acclamation at the 1972 Academy Awards. Robert Downey Jnr's impersonation is very good indeed and worth seeing. Downey has appeared in such films as Less Than Zero, The Pick- Up Artist, Air America. Downey makes you feel that you are watching Chaplin and appreciating the development of his skills. The history of early Hollywood is fascinating, with Kevin Cline as Douglas Fairbanks. Of interest, Geraldine Chaplin portrays her grandmother and her mental deterioration. Moira Kelly appears as the actress who was the early love of Chaplin's life, and reappears as Oona O'Neill, Chaplin's last wife.
In real life Chaplin was a sad clown with a strong social conscience, leading to his expulsion from the US in 1952. Richard Attenborough, maker of such films as Young Winston, Gandhi, A Bridge Too Far, A Chorus Line, holds the interest even though the film is more bland than it might have been. There are glimpses of the comic genius and the film touches on most of Chaplin's major films.
1.Interesting and entertaining biopic? Portrait of Chaplin, portrait of Hollywood, the beginnings and history of cinema?
2.The credits: the focus on Chaplin, the silhouette of the clown, the taking off of the mask and makeup?
3.The title and expectations?
4.Re-creation of period: Britain in the 1890s and early 20th century, the early years of Hollywood and the studios, the American background, Switzerland in the '60s? The re-creation of the period? The musical score - and the range of Chaplin's own music compositions?
5.The finale and the selection of film clips for the 1972 Oscars? A tribute to Chaplin and his comic skills? Robert Downey's skill in impersonation, the routines that he absorbed and their influence on his films?
6.Chaplin as a clown, skills, humour, acrobatic talent, social observation? Skills on stage, on screen? Physical comedy, pratfalls? Stories - sad, sentiment? An artist of the sound era? The transition to sound (and his clash with the visiting sound engineer)? The City Lights sequence and the discussion about sounds suggesting themes without dialogue? The social crises of his times - the First World War and conscription, the Depression, Nazism and Hitler? The span of his career, his popularity, audience response to his comedy?
7.Chaplin as English, the background of Britain, Chaplin as a Londoner, of the 1890s, poverty, the music hall? His homes? The music hall and stage? The transition to Hollywood - and part of the British colony? His accent? Not participating for Britain in World War I, his return and the experience of hostility? Hoover and his hostility, bringing his mother and Sidney to Hollywood? The exile from the United States? His return for the Oscars - and yet a British subject, knighted by the Queen?
8.The picture of his mother, of Sidney? The poverty of family life? The influence throughout his life? The love for Hetty - and Moira Kelly appearing as Hetty and then as Oona O'Neill? His attraction for the girls, backstage at the music hall, the young girls, his wives? The episode with Joan Barry, marrying Oona O'Neill and settling down?
9.Chaplin's contribution to comedy, to cinema, to music, to humanity?
10.The flashback technique: the writing of the biography, George the interviewer in the '60s, Chaplin and his retrospect, his ability to talk, his being reserved? Anthony Hopkins' style as the biographer, the interviews and questions? Chaplin's responses? The Swiss background, the house, walking? The framework for the memories and the episodic build-up of Chaplin's life?
11.The introduction to Chaplin, the mirror and the makeup - the ending with Chaplin on screen, his comic skills as a young man, the old man and a sense of satisfaction with his life?
12.Chaplin's mother, her singing, booed from the stage? Charlie and his going on stage, successful, the coins, the popularity? Life in the London streets, the kids? Sidney? The poverty at home, the lack of food, his mother and the fish heads? Hungry? His mother and her madness, the deterioration, being taken away to the institution? Her being brought to the United States, the sense of freedom, the sea? The crushing of the biscuits and the hiding of the food so that her children would never go hungry? The dramatic impact of Geraldine Chaplin performing this role?
13.Charlie growing up, his skills with pratfalls, the entrepreneur and performing for him, falling into the river? On stage, the performance as the interrupting drunk and his success? The entrepreneur, support of him? Hetty and the attraction, the girls and their changing in the back rooms? The date with Hetty, being snubbed in the restaurant? The portrait of the entrepreneur - support of Chaplin, friendship? Receiving him when he came back to England?
14.The American tour, the trip over, the music halls? Out in the western states and his discovery of the movies, watching the movies over and over? The cable to come to Hollywood? Train ride, arrival, Hollywood of the time? Meeting Mack Sennett and his disbelief? Performing the drunken act on this road? His acting, the comedy routines - the first film? Confidence, diffidence? Success? His wanting to direct? Their clashes with Mabel Normand and her wanting to direct? His diplomacy? His directing films, the clashes, the success, the studios? Sidney coming and working with him?
15.The rapidity of his success, the billboards? The outbreak of the war - his return to England? The hostility at the hotel? Meeting the entrepreneur? The discovery of Hetty's death? His return and making the United States his home?
16.Life in Hollywood, the friendship and support of Sidney, bringing his mother? The movies and the routines: the war film (and Chaplin as a tree)? The making of The Kid? The end of the war, the meal and the discussion with Hoover? His doing his gold rush bread rolls routine while Hoover spoke?
17.Hoover, his ambitions, hopes? Americanism? His assistants and their keeping files? The investigations into Chaplin, their ultimate success?
18.Chaplin and his relationship with women: Mildred, young, going out, at Hoover's dinner? Her behaviour, lack of intelligence? The sexual response? The false pregnancy? The break-up of the marriage? His second wife, her age? Having children? The sequence on the beach, distant from his wife, love for his sons? The meeting with Paulette Goddard, blonde, changing her, his acting with her, Modern Times? The separation, yet the presence of the parties? The significant party with the Nazi - and Chaplin taking a strong stance? Joan Barry and her attractions, the affair? The pregnancy, the tension, the blood tests? The trial and the prosecuting counsel and his abuse of Chaplin? The blood test as inadmissible evidence? His reputation?
19.The background of the Depression, City Lights and sound? The changing fascist times of the '30s, the antagonism towards Hitler - and his decision to mock Hitler? His war experience? The friendships in Hollywood - especially Douglas Fairbanks, the sequences of Fairbanks performing, the parties with Mary Pickford? Fairbanks and his advice about Chaplin's marriages? His illness and death?
20.Leaving the United States, the boat sequence, his being ousted? Limelight and his achievement (and the screenplay ignoring A King from New York and The Countess from Hong Kong)? The meeting with Oona O'Neill, the bond between them, her support during the trial, marriage, children?
21.The film's contribution to Chaplin's sense of achievement, dynamic presence, his not being satisfied with his performances, always wanting perfection? Yet his contribution to comedy?
