FILM: Modern Times (1931)

Country:           USA

Director:           Charles Chaplin

I decided to start my Chaplin series by watching Modern Times – one of Charlie Chaplin’s most memorable films and the last to have his Tramp character.  The film was also a commentary on how the Industrial Age has affected human society – dehumanized workers as they became mere appendages of machines, severe unemployment as much of the work is mechanized, and loss of human dignity as many are forced to live in horrible conditions.  Sounds Marxist, and this was probably one of the things that led those unscrupulous FBI agents to label Charlie as a communist.

It’s hard to imagine how it must have been to create a silent film during an era that was already crazy over talkies.  From my research, Chaplin was supposed to make Modern Times a talking film and even got to the point of having a script written.  Fortunately, he decided to keep it as a silent film believing that the Tramp would have lost his charm if he were to talk. 

Still, Chaplin did not disappoint moviegoers who longed to hear the Tramp’s voice.  Near the end of the film, the Tramp was required to sing in front of an audience. Now, how can that possibly happen in a silent film?  I remember thinking. But the character did sing.  The catch was, the words were nonsensical and audiences still had to infer what he was saying through his gestures and his facial expressions.  Now that’s pantomime!

In the film, I especially liked the scenes shot inside (and some just outside) the factory.  The first part of the film with the feeding machine and the crazed Tramp running amok were exceptionally funny.  The other factory scene somewhere in the middle of the movie where the Tramp managed to trap the mechanic in the machine was also hilarious.

One of my most favorite songs was written by Chaplin for this film – Smile.  Too many artists have covered this song but I suppose the first version that was recorded by Nat King Cole was the one I liked the most.  (Celine Dion’s emotionally laden version during the 83^rd Oscars was also magnificent.)  The lyrics by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons were just perfect for the melody and would have been the appropriate theme song for the film.  I have always liked the lyrics but upon seeing the movie’s ending with the Tramp trying to cheer up the depressed Gamine character puts another meaning to the words.  The Tramp was shown walking towards the horizon as he did in many of his films, but this time, he was walking away with the woman he loves in what I consider as the best possible exit for such a lovable character.

I liked the soundtrack of the movie so much that I became curious if there were any recordings available.  I did find two nice compilation albums of music used in Chaplin’s films. 

(On a side note, Paulette Goddard who played the Gamine was married to Charlie Chaplin from 1936 to 1942.  I guess that explains the apparent chemistry between the two actors.)

FILM: Chaplin (1992)

Country:           USA

Director:           Richard Attenborough

When I was still on second grade, I usually get home from school at 1 PM just in time to sit or lie down on the couch and watch reruns of classic movies on broadcast TV.  One of the movies I remember watching was “The Gold Rush.”  I still remember bits and pieces of the movie but the storyline and most of the film has been lost to memory after a couple of decades since I saw it. But I definitely remember laughing out loud.  And that is why I want to devote the next blogs to Charlie Chaplin in what I consider a small tribute to one of the titans of the film industry. 

I “rediscovered” Chaplin several years ago when I watched this biopic by Richard Attenborough with Robert Downey, Jr. in the title role.  Learning about Chaplin’s life and the many hardships he had had to endure makes me wonder where he got the inspiration for his films.

Robert Downey, Jr. was perfect for the role.  Not only did he come up to the challenge of playing a real life character at different ages, Downey also had to imitate Charlie in his famous Tramp character.  Now, Downey really had to do good as moviegoers would definitely compare his acting with the real thing.  Towards the end of the film, a montage of the memorable scenes from several Chaplin films were played.  That was the part where one can definitely say that Downey did do a good job at playing The Tramp.  Downey was nominated but did not win the Academy Award.  He was up against Al Pacino who also played a memorable role in Scent of a Woman.  Downey got the BAFTA for Best Actor though.

The film was based on two books: “My Autobiography” by Charles Chaplin himself and “Chaplin: His Life and Art” by David Robinson.  I would like to read both books, especially the autobiography.  Perhaps later when I have the money and the time.  I have checked the local bookstores but did not find any copy so Amazon’s my best bet.

The film showed to some degree how Charles was helped and influenced by his half-brother Sydney, by introducing him to Fred Karno (played by John ‘Inspector Morse’ Thaw) with whose troupe they were able to come to the USA and by later becoming Charlie’s business manager and adviser.  It was only later that I learned that there was a third brother – Wheeler Dryden.  This brother came to the knowledge of the Chaplin brothers a bit late as Charlie had already found success in Hollywood, but Dryden did work with his two half-brothers from 1918 until Charlie’s exile in 1952.  I guess Dryden got the brunt of the FBI’s inquiries as he was the one who remained in Hollywood to take care of selling Charlie’s studio and other properties.  He became mentally ill (inherited from his mother?) and died a recluse in 1957.

The film Chaplin was probably too short a film to cover all the essential aspects of Charlie Chaplin’s life, not to mention his influences and the political turmoil he found himself in.  Still, I don’t expect anyone’s life can be fully captured by film or by any other media.  It is enough for me to get a glimpse of that wonderful life well lived by this artistic genius.