1923–1938: Silent features Charlie Chaplin

1 1923–1938: silent features

1.1 woman of paris , gold rush
1.2 lita grey , circus
1.3 city lights
1.4 travels, paulette goddard, , modern times

1923–1938: silent features
a woman of paris , gold rush

having fulfilled first national contract, chaplin free make first picture independent producer. in november 1922, began filming woman of paris, romantic drama ill-fated lovers. chaplin intended star-making vehicle edna purviance, , did not appear in picture himself other in brief, uncredited cameo. wished film have realistic feel , directed cast give restrained performances. in real life, explained, men , women try hide emotions rather seek express them . woman of paris premiered in september 1923 , acclaimed subtle approach, innovation. public, however, seemed have little interest in chaplin film without presence, , box office disappointment. filmmaker hurt failure – had long wanted produce dramatic film , proud of result – , withdrew woman of paris circulation could.

the tramp resorts eating boot in famous scene gold rush (1925).

chaplin returned comedy next project. setting standards high, told himself: next film must epic! greatest! inspired photograph of 1898 klondike gold rush, , later story of donner party of 1846–47, made geoffrey macnab calls epic comedy out of grim subject matter. in gold rush, tramp lonely prospector fighting adversity , looking love. georgia hale new leading lady, chaplin began filming picture in february 1924. elaborate production, costing $1 million, included location shooting in truckee mountains 600 extras, extravagant sets, , special effects. last scene not shot until may 1925, after 15 months of filming.

chaplin felt gold rush best film had made point. opened in august 1925 , became 1 of highest-grossing films of silent era profit of $5 million. comedy contains of chaplin s famous sequences, such tramp eating shoe , dance of rolls . macnab has called quintessential chaplin film . chaplin stated, picture want remembered @ time of film s release.

lita grey , circus

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.

city lights


—chaplin explaining defiance against sound in 1930s

by time circus released, hollywood had witnessed introduction of sound films. chaplin cynical new medium , technical shortcomings presented, believing talkies lacked artistry of silent films. hesitant change formula had brought him such success, , feared giving tramp voice limit international appeal. he, therefore, rejected new hollywood craze , began work on new silent film. chaplin nonetheless anxious decision , remained throughout film s production.

city lights (1931), regarded 1 of chaplin s finest works

when filming began @ end of 1928, chaplin had been working on story year. city lights followed tramp s love blind flower girl (played virginia cherrill) , efforts raise money sight-saving operation. challenging production lasted 21 months, chaplin later confessing had worked himself neurotic state of wanting perfection . 1 advantage chaplin found in sound technology opportunity record musical score film, composed himself.

chaplin finished editing city lights in december 1930, time silent films anachronism. preview before unsuspecting public audience not success, showing press produced positive reviews. 1 journalist wrote, nobody in world charlie chaplin have done it. person has peculiar called audience appeal in sufficient quality defy popular penchant movies talk. given general release in january 1931, city lights proved popular , financial success – grossing on $3 million. british film institute cites chaplin s finest accomplishment, , critic james agee hails closing scene greatest piece of acting , highest moment in movies . city lights became chaplin s personal favourite of films , remained throughout life.

travels, paulette goddard, , modern times

city lights had been success, chaplin unsure if make picture without dialogue. remained convinced sound not work in films, obsessed depressing fear of being old-fashioned. in state of uncertainty, in 1931, comedian decided take holiday , ended travelling 16 months. in autobiography, chaplin recalled on return los angeles, confused , without plan, restless , conscious of extreme loneliness . briefly considered retiring , moving china.

modern times (1936), described jérôme larcher grim contemplation on automatization of individual

chaplin s loneliness relieved when met 21-year-old actress paulette goddard in july 1932, , pair began successful relationship. not ready commit film, however, , focused on writing serial travels (published in woman s home companion). trip had been stimulating experience chaplin, including meetings several prominent thinkers, , became increasingly interested in world affairs. state of labour in america troubled him, , feared capitalism , machinery in workplace increase unemployment levels. these concerns stimulated chaplin develop new film.

modern times announced chaplin satire on phases of our industrial life. featuring tramp , goddard endure great depression, took ten , half months film. chaplin intended use spoken dialogue changed mind during rehearsals. predecessor, modern times employed sound effects no speaking. chaplin s performance of gibberish song did, however, give tramp voice time on film. after recording music, chaplin released modern times in february 1936. first feature in 15 years adopt political references , social realism, factor attracted considerable press coverage despite chaplin s attempts downplay issue. film earned less @ box-office previous features , received mixed reviews, viewers disliked politicising. today, modern times seen british film institute 1 of chaplin s great features, while david robinson says shows filmmaker @ unrivalled peak creator of visual comedy.

following release of modern times, chaplin left goddard trip far east. couple had refused comment on nature of relationship, , not known whether married or not. time later, chaplin revealed married in canton during trip. 1938, couple had drifted apart, both focused heavily on work, although goddard again leading lady in next feature film, great dictator. divorced chaplin in mexico in 1942, citing incompatibility , separation more year.

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