1939–1952: Controversies and fading popularity Charlie Chaplin

1 1939–1952: controversies , fading popularity

1.1 great dictator
1.2 legal troubles , oona o neill
1.3 monsieur verdoux , communist accusations
1.4 limelight , banning united states

1939–1952: controversies , fading popularity
the great dictator

chaplin satirising adolf hitler in great dictator (1940)

the 1940s saw chaplin face series of controversies, both in work , in personal life, changed fortunes , severely affected popularity in united states. first of these growing boldness in expressing political beliefs. disturbed surge of militaristic nationalism in 1930s world politics, chaplin found not keep these issues out of work. parallels between himself , adolf hitler had been noted: pair born 4 days apart, both had risen poverty world prominence, , hitler wore same toothbrush moustache chaplin. physical resemblance supplied plot chaplin s next film, great dictator, directly satirised hitler , attacked fascism.

chaplin spent 2 years developing script, , began filming in september 1939 – 6 days after britain declared war on germany. had submitted using spoken dialogue, partly out of acceptance had no other choice, because recognised better method delivering political message. making comedy hitler seen highly controversial, chaplin s financial independence allowed him take risk. determined go ahead, later wrote, hitler must laughed at. chaplin replaced tramp (while wearing similar attire) jewish barber , reference nazi party s belief jewish. in dual performance, played dictator adenoid hynkel , parodied hitler.

the great dictator spent year in production , released in october 1940. film generated vast amount of publicity, critic new york times calling eagerly awaited picture of year , , 1 of biggest money-makers of era. ending unpopular, however, , generated controversy. chaplin concluded film five-minute speech in abandoned barber character, looked directly camera, , pleaded against war , fascism. charles j. maland has identified overt preaching triggering decline in chaplin s popularity, , writes, henceforth, no movie fan ever able separate dimension of politics [his] star image . great dictator received 5 academy award nominations, including best picture, best original screenplay , best actor.

legal troubles , oona o neill

in mid-1940s, chaplin involved in series of trials occupied of time , affected public image. troubles stemmed affair aspirant actress named joan barry, whom involved intermittently between june 1941 , autumn of 1942. barry, displayed obsessive behaviour , twice arrested after separated, reappeared following year , announced pregnant chaplin s child. chaplin denied claim, barry filed paternity suit against him.

the director of federal bureau of investigation (fbi), j. edgar hoover, had long been suspicious of chaplin s political leanings, used opportunity generate negative publicity him. part of smear campaign damage chaplin s image, fbi named him in 4 indictments related barry case. serious of these alleged violation of mann act, prohibits transportation of women across state boundaries sexual purposes. historian otto friedrich has called absurd prosecution of ancient statute , yet if chaplin found guilty, faced 23 years in jail. 3 charges lacked sufficient evidence proceed court, mann act trial began in march 1944. chaplin acquitted 2 weeks later. case headline news, newsweek calling biggest public relations scandal since fatty arbuckle murder trial in 1921.

chaplin s fourth wife oona o neill, whom married 1943 until death. couple had 8 children.

barry s child, carole ann, born in october 1944, , paternity suit went court in february 1945. after 2 arduous trials, in prosecuting lawyer accused him of moral turpitude , chaplin declared father. evidence blood tests indicated otherwise not admissible, , judge ordered chaplin pay child support until carole ann turned 21. media coverage of paternity suit influenced fbi, information fed prominent gossip columnist hedda hopper, , chaplin portrayed in overwhelmingly critical light.

the controversy surrounding chaplin increased when, 2 weeks after paternity suit filed, announced had married newest protégée, 18-year-old oona o neill – daughter of american playwright eugene o neill. chaplin, 54, had been introduced film agent 7 months earlier. in autobiography, chaplin described meeting o neill happiest event of life , , claimed have found perfect love . chaplin s son, charles jr., reported oona worshipped father. couple remained married until chaplin s death, , had 8 children on 18 years: geraldine leigh (b. july 1944), michael john (b. march 1946), josephine hannah (b. march 1949), victoria (b. may 1951), eugene anthony (b. august 1953), jane cecil (b. may 1957), annette emily (b. december 1959), , christopher james (b. july 1962).

monsieur verdoux , communist accusations

monsieur verdoux (1947), dark comedy serial killer, marked significant departure chaplin. unpopular @ time of release flopped in united states.

chaplin claimed barry trials had crippled [his] creativeness , , time before began working again. in april 1946, began filming project had been in development since 1942. monsieur verdoux black comedy, story of french bank clerk, verdoux (chaplin), loses job , begins marrying , murdering wealthy widows support family. chaplin s inspiration project came orson welles, wanted him star in film french serial killer henri désiré landru. chaplin decided concept make wonderful comedy , , paid welles $5,000 idea.

chaplin again vocalised political views in monsieur verdoux, criticising capitalism , arguing world encourages mass killing through wars , weapons of mass destruction. because of this, film met controversy when released in april 1947; chaplin booed @ premiere, , there calls boycott. monsieur verdoux first chaplin release failed both critically , commercially in united states. more successful abroad, , chaplin s screenplay nominated @ academy awards. proud of film, writing in autobiography, monsieur verdoux cleverest , brilliant film have yet made.

the negative reaction monsieur verdoux largely result of changes in chaplin s public image. along damage of joan barry scandal, publicly accused of being communist. political activity had heightened during world war ii, when campaigned opening of second front soviet union , supported various soviet–american friendship groups. friendly several suspected communists, , attended functions given soviet diplomats in los angeles. in political climate of 1940s america, such activities meant chaplin considered, larcher writes, dangerously progressive , amoral. fbi wanted him out of country, , launched official investigation in 1947.

chaplin denied being communist, instead calling himself peacemonger , felt government s effort suppress ideology unacceptable infringement of civil liberties. unwilling quiet issue, openly protested against trials of communist party members , activities of house un-american activities committee. chaplin received subpoena appear before huac not called testify. activities reported in press, , cold war fears grew, questions raised on failure take american citizenship. calls made him deported; in 1 extreme , published example, representative john e. rankin, helped establish huac, told congress in june 1947: [chaplin s] life in hollywood detrimental moral fabric of america. [if deported] ... loathsome pictures can kept before eyes of american youth. should deported , gotten rid of @ once.

limelight , banning united states

limelight (1952) serious , autobiographical film chaplin: character, calvero, ex music hall star (described in image tramp comedian ) forced deal loss of popularity.

although chaplin remained politically active in years following failure of monsieur verdoux, next film, forgotten vaudeville comedian , young ballerina in edwardian london, devoid of political themes. limelight heavily autobiographical, alluding not chaplin s childhood , lives of parents, loss of popularity in united states. cast included various members of family, including 5 oldest children , half-brother, wheeler dryden.

filming began in november 1951, time chaplin had spent 3 years working on story. aimed more serious tone of previous films, regularly using word melancholy when explaining plans co-star claire bloom. limelight featured cameo appearance buster keaton, whom chaplin cast stage partner in pantomime scene. marked time comedians worked together.

chaplin decided hold world premiere of limelight in london, since setting of film. left los angeles, expressed premonition not returning. @ new york, boarded rms queen elizabeth family on 18 september 1952. next day, attorney general james p. mcgranery revoked chaplin s re-entry permit , stated have submit interview concerning political views , moral behaviour in order re-enter us. although mcgranery told press had pretty case against chaplin , maland has concluded, on basis of fbi files released in 1980s, government had no real evidence prevent chaplin s re-entry. have gained entry if had applied it. however, when chaplin received cablegram informing him of news, privately decided cut ties united states:

whether re-entered unhappy country or not of little consequence me. have told them sooner rid of hate-beleaguered atmosphere better, fed of america s insults , moral pomposity...

because of property remained in america, chaplin refrained saying negative incident press. scandal attracted vast attention, chaplin , film warmly received in europe. in america, hostility towards him continued, and, although received positive reviews, limelight subjected wide-scale boycott. reflecting on this, maland writes chaplin s fall, unprecedented level of popularity, may dramatic in history of stardom in america .

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