Charles Spencer Chaplin’s much-imitated but essentially inimitable style of comedy made him one of the most celebrated figures in the world of entertainment. Born in London on April 16, 1889, Charlie Chaplin was the son of an alcoholic vaudevillian who sporadically supported his estranged wife and two children. His mother lost her sanity under the strain of penury and Chaplin, six years old, was tossed into the nightmare world of work-houses and schools for destitute children. He survived with an understanding of poverty and a strong social consciousness that operated in all his best films. At an early age he started performing professionally as one of the Eight Lancashire Lads, a clog-dancing group and later he began playing small comic roles on the London stage, finally landing a place with the celebrated Karno troupe. By the age of 21, when the troupe went to America, Chaplin was already a music-hall star. Three years later, in 1913, Chaplin went to work at Keystone studios for $ 150 a week. Much of Chaplin’s inspiration came from the baggy pants, undersized coat and oversized shoes he sported in his early roles at Keystone. He added a moustache to conceal his youth. He explained later, I had no idea of the character. But the moment I was dressed, the clothes and the make-up made me feel the person he was. I began to know him and by the time I walked on to the stage, he was fully born.
Some of his great films were The Tramp (1915), Shoulder Arms (1918), The Kid (1920) and Gold Rush (1925). In Modern Times (1936) he attained his peak in his sublime subjugation by a huge, mindless factory machine. The Great Dictator? (1940) was to ridicule Hitler in the touchy time before America entered World War II. During the post-war years, came Monsieur Verdoux (1947), Limelight (1952) and A King in New York? (1957).
At 76, Chaplin returned to the cameras once more, directing Sophia Loren and Marlon Brando in A Countess from Hong Kong. Six years later, Chaplin finally got the recognition he deserved from Hollywood, In awarding him an honorary Oscar, the Motion Picture Academy cited the incalculable effect he has had in marketing motion pictures the art form of this century. In 1975, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth. His death in his sleep on Christmas day, 1977, peaceful and calm, according to his physician was befitting his role on the screen. He had many times earlier made an exit from life’s troubles as the Little Tramp, hitching up his pants, shuffling towards the horizon.
The P & T Departments issued a commemorative stamp in honour of Charlie Chaplin an international personality.
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