Chaplin – Das Leben der unsterblichen Filmlegende (1992)

Chaplin – Das Leben der unsterblichen Filmlegende: Directed by Richard Attenborough. With Robert Downey Jr., Geraldine Chaplin, Paul Rhys, John Thaw. An elderly Charlie Chaplin discusses his autobiography with his editor, recounting his amazing journey from his poverty-stricken childhood to world-wide success after the ingenious invention of the Little Tramp.

“Thankyou to Richard Attenborough for this film. I watched it many a time and enjoyed both the biographical aspect and the comedic one but it has also increased my interest in silent comics of this great era.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe film begins by exploring the early life of Charlie, his Brother Sid and his Mother as they try to scrape a living. Thankfully Attenborough doesnu0026#39;t concentrate too much on this deprived part of Chaplinu0026#39;s life. However it does reveal interesting facts about Charlie that he never forgot during his rise to superstardom.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAlthough Chaplin is played by younger actors at the begining it is the arrival of Robert Downey Jnr which Chaplin fans will anticipate the most. He puts in an amazing performance, his London accent is excellent and ability to do slapstick even better he also really makes you believe that the great man is alive and on the screen again.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe film rightly concentrates on the private life of Chaplin and the development of the cinema. Whilst others may want to see the film concentrate on Chaplinu0026#39;s great pictures e.g The Kid, Gold Rush, and the Great dictator Attenborough blends the creation of these films into specific turning points in Charlieu0026#39;s life. For example Modern times is used to show Chaplinu0026#39;s sympathy towards victims of the wall street crash, as he knew what it was like to be extremely poor. His Jewish connections are also highlighted by the Great dictator, which shows his sensitivities to the European Jews were more at heart than just a making a heap of cash by having a laugh at Hitleru0026#39;s moustache and goose stepping troops.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe film doesnu0026#39;t get bogged down by Chaplinu0026#39;s hectic love life, as Dickie explores Charlieu0026#39;s political beliefs and how J Edgar Hoover was convinced of he was a communist party member. By doing so it shows how Hoover was one of the most twisted individuals to hold public office, with a dangerous obsession on peoples private lives and background.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe film does a good job in showing how important silent stars were and how we should not forget that they were the true greats when films were developing all the time from shorts to feature length, from silent to sound.”