Lita Grey and The Circus Charlie Chaplin

lita grey, bitter divorce chaplin caused scandal

while making gold rush, chaplin married second time. mirroring circumstances of first union, lita grey teenage actress, set star in film, surprise announcement of pregnancy forced chaplin marriage. 16 , 35, meaning chaplin have been charged statutory rape under california law. therefore arranged discreet marriage in mexico on 25 november 1924. first son, charles spencer chaplin, jr., born on 5 may 1925, followed sydney earl chaplin on 30 march 1926.

it unhappy marriage, , chaplin spent long hours @ studio avoid seeing wife. in november 1926, grey took children , left family home. bitter divorce followed, in grey s application – accusing chaplin of infidelity, abuse, , of harbouring perverted sexual desires – leaked press. chaplin reported in state of nervous breakdown, story became headline news , groups formed across america calling films banned. eager end case without further scandal, chaplin s lawyers agreed cash settlement of $600,000 – the largest awarded american courts @ time. fan base strong enough survive incident, , forgotten, chaplin affected it.

before divorce suit filed, chaplin had begun work on new film, circus. built story around idea of walking tightrope while besieged monkeys, , turned tramp accidental star of circus. filming suspended 10 months while dealt divorce scandal, , trouble-ridden production. completed in october 1927, circus released in january 1928 positive reception. @ 1st academy awards, chaplin given special trophy versatility , genius in acting, writing, directing , producing circus . despite success, permanently associated film stress of production; chaplin omitted circus autobiography, , struggled work on when recorded score in later years.

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