Four Films That Define A Character-----------Charlie, "the Tramp".

Most movie viewers identify Charlie Chaplin as "The Tramp", not as Charles Spencer Chaplin. This shows us how developed a Character "The Tramp" was. Here are four films that showcase The Tramp and the way Chaplin used the character to display turmoil, happiness, naivete, loneliness, and love from his own personal life.    

Kid Auto Races at Venice (1914)

His development of the character of "The Tramp" was showcased in this early film. You see the Tramps desire to be in the spotlight despite the reactions of the cameraman and racers in the background. This is Chaplin and the Tramp introducing themselves to the movie viewers.

The Kid (1921)

The Tramp has honed his place in Chaplin's storytelling by the time this film is released. He shows compassion for humanity in taking in an abandoned child. He raises the kid to survive despite the hardships they endure. Chaplin uses his own experiences as a child of poverty on the streets of London to display the agony and despair that both the Tramp and kid encounter. 

Modern Times (1936)

In this late "silent" film you see Chaplin proving to the viewer that silent films are not completely irrelevant. The machines (both mechanically and socially) are the only subjects in the film that create sound, or noise to the Tramp. The Tramp in this film has become the every man, the victim of the Great Depression and of the abuse that the "machines"and the "bosses" of the time were, to the desperate. In this film Chaplin becomes a true Renaissance man by acting as composer, actor, director, producer and writer. He was in complete control of how the Tramp was to be viewed.  

Limelight (1952)

By this stage of Chaplin's career, the Tramp has become a faded memory in Silver Screen history. Though Calvero speaks, Chaplin uses situations that call for physical emotions. The character is a renown mime who is now lurking in the shadows of a new set of actors (dancers in this movie's case). Chaplin wanted to use his expertise playing the Tramp to create a self realization for his current place in movie making. Chaplin was the king of pantomime and was a maverick in creating a character without sound. Between the films Modern Times and Limelight, he was competing with characters who displayed emotions physically and vocally. He felt his candle was fading in this ever developing medium.  

In these four films the viewer can see quite literally the development from beginning to end of the character of the Tramp. Not only the most iconic screen character of all time but from the mind of our most iconic actor all time. 

----Monique 

Most excited for?

The TCM Festival in LA is just a few days away. A schedule so jam packed it is hard to find a suitable itinerary that doesn't still lead to many missed opportunities (as I spoke about in my last post)

But what about that one movie in which you look forward to the most...

Some might say Steamboat Bill Jr.

Or possibly The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Maybe it could be the conversation with the timeless Sophia Loren?

For me, while I am excited for all of the above, my favorite movie being shown at this years film fest is Limelight with Charlie Chaplin.

Sure he has other movies that were better

- Namely- 

The Kid 

City Lights 

The Great Dictator 

Modern Times 

The Gold Rush 

But that is the problem with a talented performer like Chaplin. He has so many iconic movies and all time greats that a wonderful movie like Limelight rarely get spoken about.
Made in 1952 the movie is without question Chaplin's farewell movie, an epilogue of sorts. While he did one more movie after this (A King in New York 1957). This was clearly his take a bow and walk off stage movie.

While the spotlight burned bright for Chaplin and Buster Keaton in prior years, they were thought of as legends but beyond their prime. The casting of Keaton in the movie was a nod from Chaplin to his greatness and a help to Keaton financially who was broke at the time.

When the spotlight dimmed for the last time on Calvero, the lead character, and for Chaplin himself there is a sense of melancholy at having to walk away. You can feel it coming through on the screen as you could with most of the emotions that Chaplin wanted you to feel. By this time, the way he was treated by a country Hell bent on a witch hunt, had simply worn him down, and the sadness of being forgotten is a theme that pops up in the movie and in Chaplin's own life at this point.

This will be my first time seeing the movie on the big screen. I hope the crowd has packed the theaters, nothing would please Charlie more than to know that people would be packing the theaters almost 60 years later to see this underrated gem.