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1
00:00:02,520 --> 00:00:04,600
(LAUGHS)
2
00:00:04,600 --> 00:00:09,520
'For as long as I can remember,
I've had a love of silent comedies,
3
00:00:09,520 --> 00:00:12,400
from the era of
Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd,
4
00:00:12,400 --> 00:00:14,760
and of course, Charlie Chaplin.'
5
00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:19,520
The timing is so good on this.
(LAUGHS)
6
00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:23,200
'I know his films by heart,
I've seen them so many times.'
7
00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:25,560
He's chatting
the policeman's wife up.
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00:00:25,560 --> 00:00:28,480
'They are as funny to me now
as when I first saw them.'
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Look at this brilliant moment
when the hands get swapped.
10
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The policeman grabs him.
11
00:00:37,120 --> 00:00:39,120
(CHUCKLES)
12
00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:49,680
'As a comedy writer and director,
13
00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:52,440
I can see what brilliant technique
he had.
14
00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:56,120
But I've always thought that there
was more to Chaplin than this.
15
00:00:56,120 --> 00:01:01,560
To me he's the greatest comic genius
of the 20th century.'
16
00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:03,520
It's just genius.
17
00:01:03,520 --> 00:01:08,080
'He went from the workhouse to being
the most famous man on the planet.
18
00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:13,520
He made a staggering 82 films in
total, spanning a period of 53 years.
19
00:01:13,520 --> 00:01:18,600
I have been given access to
a wealth of Chaplin home movies
20
00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:20,560
and personal archive,
21
00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:25,320
which gives a new and powerful
insight into this driven character.
22
00:01:25,320 --> 00:01:27,480
I can see his flaws.
23
00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:30,240
His private life
was mired in controversy.
24
00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:35,280
But it never got in the way of
the unceasing flow of ideas and films
25
00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:37,480
that came out of him.
26
00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:41,840
This is the Chaplin
I want to go in search of.'
27
00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:11,680
"This was the London of my childhood.
28
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Of my moods and awakenings.
29
00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:17,840
Memories of Lambeth in the spring,
30
00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:22,040
of riding with Mother
on top of a horse bus,
31
00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:25,960
of melancholy Sundays
and pale-faced parents
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00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:30,360
and their children escorting
toy windmills and coloured balloons
33
00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:32,400
over Westminster Bridge.
34
00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:35,440
And the maternal penny steamers
35
00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:39,360
that softly lowered their funnels
as they glided under it."
36
00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:46,960
"From such trivia
I believe my soul was born."
37
00:02:48,480 --> 00:02:53,120
'For me, the key to Chaplin's art
is in his extraordinary childhood.
38
00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:55,840
What happened in his first ten years.
39
00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:59,560
Incredibly,
there's no official record
40
00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:03,320
of the birth of one of London's
most famous sons.
41
00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:07,400
But Chaplin was convinced
he was born in 1889,
42
00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:11,160
not far from East Street Market
in South London.'
43
00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:17,000
Charlie Chaplin's mother Hannah
and his father Charles Chaplin
44
00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:20,400
were both singers
in the Victorian music halls.
45
00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:24,720
They could be found in every city and
large town throughout the country.
46
00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:47,040
All the programmes to us now
are just so lovely to look at. Yes.
47
00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:50,880
I like The Musical Macaronis.
(LAUGHS)
48
00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:52,760
"The Musical Macaronis.
49
00:03:52,760 --> 00:03:55,640
This marvellous party of
Viennese musicians
50
00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:59,600
play upon the most extraordinary
variety of instruments
51
00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:02,280
ever seen in this country."
52
00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:04,760
What was so wonderful
in those days of course
53
00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:07,400
was that when you were an act
in the music hall
54
00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:10,360
there were so many other acts
that you saw.
55
00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:14,160
You had to wait in the wings
and watch everybody else.
56
00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:17,360
So you watched the acrobats
and the singers and the clowns
57
00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:19,480
and the...everything.
58
00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:22,800
This is one of our pieces of
sheet music with Charlie's dad,
59
00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:24,840
Charles senior.
Yeah.
60
00:04:24,840 --> 00:04:29,280
"I love to meet with dear old pals,
wherever it may be.
61
00:04:29,280 --> 00:04:34,040
I like a song, a pipe, a glass
in jovial company."
62
00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:45,320
'Charles Chaplin Sr liked a glass
in jovial company so much
63
00:04:45,320 --> 00:04:48,360
he became an alcoholic,
and the marriage fell apart.
64
00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:55,360
Hannah Chaplin found herself
bringing up three-year-old Charlie
65
00:04:55,360 --> 00:04:57,840
and his brother Sydney on her own.'
66
00:04:57,840 --> 00:05:02,560
Her work on the stage dried up
as her singing voice faltered.
67
00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:04,640
One particular night when it failed
68
00:05:04,640 --> 00:05:09,200
she was booed off
at a rowdy theatre in Aldershot.
69
00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:14,560
Charlie, only six at the time,
went onstage, sang a popular song,
70
00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:17,360
and was showered with applause
and coins.
71
00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:19,680
As he said in his autobiography,
72
00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:22,640
"That night was my first appearance
on the stage
73
00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:24,440
and Mother's last."
74
00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:29,400
"When the fates deal in human destiny
75
00:05:29,400 --> 00:05:32,240
they heed neither pity nor justice.
76
00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:34,280
Thus they dealt with Mother.
77
00:05:34,280 --> 00:05:37,840
She never regained her voice.
78
00:05:37,840 --> 00:05:39,840
As autumn turns to winter,
79
00:05:39,840 --> 00:05:43,720
so our circumstances
turned from bad to worse."
80
00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:49,760
'The inevitable happened.
81
00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:52,800
Hannah and the children
were temporarily forced into
82
00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:56,360
the Lambeth workhouse.
Charlie was only nine.'
83
00:05:58,440 --> 00:06:02,240
"On the doleful day
I didn't realise what was happening
84
00:06:02,240 --> 00:06:05,440
until we actually entered
the workhouse gate.
85
00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:09,440
For there we were made to separate,
86
00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:12,400
Mother going in one direction
to the women's ward
87
00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:15,400
and we in another to the children's."
88
00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:25,400
"Sydney and I began to weep,
which made Mother weep,
89
00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:29,560
and large tears
began to run down her cheeks."
90
00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:42,800
'Worse was to follow
for the Chaplins.'
91
00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:47,760
"When I reached Pownall Terrace
92
00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:51,160
I was stopped at the gate by
some children of the neighbourhood.
93
00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:54,920
'Your mother's gone insane',
said a little girl.
94
00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:58,840
The words were like
a slap in the face."
95
00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:03,200
'Hannah was confined for a while
to an asylum.
96
00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:07,160
Charlie went to live with his father
until his mother was discharged.'
97
00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:12,160
His first ten years were hell.
The very fact that he survived it
98
00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:16,240
showed that there was something
very extraordinary in the man.
99
00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:19,200
It was not that he just
experienced poverty,
100
00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:21,560
but he saw an incredible amount
of life.
101
00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:24,680
He saw drunkenness,
he saw madness, he saw death,
102
00:07:24,680 --> 00:07:30,160
he saw homelessness, hunger,
everything.
103
00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:34,600
And instead of just laying down
and dying like most kids would do,
104
00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:36,760
he somehow absorbed all this.
105
00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:40,080
And then when he came to the point
where he expressed himself
106
00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:43,680
as an artist, there was all this
inside him which he had to express.
107
00:08:06,400 --> 00:08:09,320
Did your father talk about
his childhood?
108
00:08:09,320 --> 00:08:11,360
Yes, he talked about his childhood.
109
00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:13,440
He...
110
00:08:13,440 --> 00:08:17,240
He did...he did talk about
the poverty.
111
00:08:17,240 --> 00:08:20,040
And, you know, having nothing.
112
00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:24,840
And being hungry and
only having an orange at Christmas.
113
00:08:24,840 --> 00:08:28,680
He didn't like Christmas,
because he'd see all the...
114
00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:32,440
My mother showered us with presents.
She loved the whole ceremony.
115
00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:35,080
But my father was always...
he was a bit reticent.
116
00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:37,520
It reminded him of his childhood.
117
00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:49,440
'All this heartbreak and misery
118
00:08:49,440 --> 00:08:52,760
would be enough to break the spirit
of most people.
119
00:08:52,760 --> 00:08:56,600
But in amongst the sheer hardship
of Charlie's early life
120
00:08:56,600 --> 00:09:01,040
he found he could make people laugh.
121
00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:03,760
Outside the pub his father drank in
122
00:09:03,760 --> 00:09:06,640
there was an old man
who looked after the horses.
123
00:09:06,640 --> 00:09:10,080
Charlie would imitate his walk.'
124
00:09:10,080 --> 00:09:12,520
"When I showed my mother
how Rummy walked,
125
00:09:12,520 --> 00:09:14,440
she begged me to stop
126
00:09:14,440 --> 00:09:17,800
because it was cruel to imitate
a misfortune like that.
127
00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:22,920
But she pleaded while she had
her apron stuffed into her mouth.
128
00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:27,320
Then she went into the pantry
and giggled for ten minutes.
129
00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:30,800
Day after day
I cultivated that walk.
130
00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:33,280
It became an obsession.
131
00:09:33,280 --> 00:09:36,880
Whenever I pulled it,
I was sure of a laugh."
132
00:09:42,080 --> 00:09:45,360
Chaplin's walk is his signature.
133
00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:47,960
And he makes it look so simple.
134
00:09:47,960 --> 00:09:50,280
But it's damn difficult to do.
135
00:10:07,320 --> 00:10:11,160
'Charlie's immense drive,
along with his undoubted talent,
136
00:10:11,160 --> 00:10:13,240
got him his first break.
137
00:10:13,240 --> 00:10:15,760
He registered with
a theatrical agency
138
00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:19,640
and got a part in
a 1903 Sherlock Holmes drama.
139
00:10:19,640 --> 00:10:21,720
He was 14.'
140
00:10:21,720 --> 00:10:26,480
Here we have copies
of his very first reviews
141
00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:29,400
when he was in Sherlock Holmes.
142
00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:32,080
"One of the brightest bits of acting
in the play
143
00:10:32,080 --> 00:10:37,040
was given by Mr Charles Chaplin, who
as Billy, Sherlock Holmes' page boy,
144
00:10:37,040 --> 00:10:41,560
displayed immense activity
as well as dramatic appreciation."
145
00:10:41,560 --> 00:10:44,080
(CHUCKLES)
Then there's the last page there.
146
00:10:44,080 --> 00:10:47,720
"Master Chaz Chaplin is..."
147
00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:51,800
"..decidedly clever." (CHUCKLES)
148
00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:59,240
"I had suddenly left behind
a life of poverty
149
00:10:59,240 --> 00:11:02,680
and was entering
a long-desired dream.
150
00:11:02,680 --> 00:11:07,600
A dream my mother had often
spoken about, had revelled in.
151
00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:10,920
I was to become an actor."
152
00:11:10,920 --> 00:11:17,520
'In 1908, Charlie joined the most
successful comedy company of the era,
153
00:11:17,520 --> 00:11:20,280
Fred Karno's Speechless Comedians.
154
00:11:20,280 --> 00:11:23,400
Two years later,
he was a leading player.
155
00:11:23,400 --> 00:11:25,520
Fred Karno was obviously a brute.
156
00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:28,160
He ill-treated his artists terribly.
157
00:11:28,160 --> 00:11:31,520
But also a genius
at producing comedy.
158
00:11:31,520 --> 00:11:35,920
He always used to like to have
a grotesque piece of action going on
159
00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:40,640
but have an elegant 18th century
minuet or something going with it!
160
00:11:40,640 --> 00:11:46,440
And he saw this contrast
between the comic and the pathetic.
161
00:11:46,440 --> 00:11:49,520
Chaplin acknowledges
he learnt a lot from that.
162
00:11:49,520 --> 00:11:54,240
I found a review from about 1908
when he was on the music hall
163
00:11:54,240 --> 00:11:56,280
saying he's a genius.
164
00:11:57,840 --> 00:12:00,440
Chaplin learnt from watching
everybody.
165
00:12:00,440 --> 00:12:02,520
From watching people in the street.
166
00:12:02,520 --> 00:12:05,600
And he spent his life
in the theatres when he was little,
167
00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:08,240
because he was waiting for
his mother or his father,
168
00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:10,600
occasionally his father,
mostly his mother.
169
00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:15,800
And so he would have learnt from
just watching how everybody did it.
170
00:12:15,800 --> 00:12:18,760
And then when he was himself
in theatrical troupes
171
00:12:18,760 --> 00:12:21,720
he practised, rehearsed, rehearsed,
rehearsed.
172
00:12:21,720 --> 00:12:25,280
'By now Chaplin was 21
173
00:12:25,280 --> 00:12:28,360
and was looking for
a bigger stage for his talents.'
174
00:12:32,280 --> 00:12:34,320
"I was up at six in the morning.
175
00:12:34,320 --> 00:12:36,640
Therefore I did not bother
to wake Sydney,
176
00:12:36,640 --> 00:12:39,080
but left a note on the table stating,
177
00:12:39,080 --> 00:12:43,480
'Off to America. Will keep you
posted. Love, Charlie.'"
178
00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:48,200
'Charlie had set sail for America
with the Karno Company.
179
00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:51,400
They travelled the length and breadth
of the continent
180
00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:53,520
performing their English routines.
181
00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:57,280
The cast included
a young Stan Laurel.
182
00:12:57,280 --> 00:13:01,720
After two tours,
Chaplin's obvious talent was spotted.
183
00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:04,520
If only they could get his name
right!'
184
00:13:04,520 --> 00:13:07,120
In the spring of 1913,
185
00:13:07,120 --> 00:13:11,520
a telegram was sent to the manager of
Charlie's touring company
186
00:13:11,520 --> 00:13:15,480
from the owners
of the Keystone film studio.
187
00:13:15,480 --> 00:13:20,160
It read, "Is there a man named
Chaffin in your company,
188
00:13:20,160 --> 00:13:24,280
or something like that?
If so, will he communicate with
189
00:13:24,280 --> 00:13:28,200
Kessel and Baumann, Broadway,
New York."
190
00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:34,280
Charlie Chaplin was about to leave
the stage for the film studio.
191
00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:42,520
It's a rainy afternoon
in January 1914.
192
00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:47,000
In the communal dressing room at
Keystone Studios, California,
193
00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:50,160
Chaplin is looking for a costume
for his second film.
194
00:13:50,160 --> 00:13:53,840
A comedy called
Mabel's Strange Predicament.
195
00:13:53,840 --> 00:13:58,280
Chaplin puts together
a selection of contrasts.
196
00:13:58,280 --> 00:14:00,880
A pair of voluminous trousers,
197
00:14:00,880 --> 00:14:03,040
a tiny jacket,
198
00:14:03,040 --> 00:14:05,320
size 14 shoes,
199
00:14:05,320 --> 00:14:08,080
a too-small bowler hat,
200
00:14:08,080 --> 00:14:12,400
a cane, and a moustache
trimmed to toothbrush size.
201
00:14:14,400 --> 00:14:18,920
The most famous movie character
of the century had been born.
202
00:14:20,120 --> 00:14:22,080
The Tramp.
203
00:14:23,640 --> 00:14:26,400
"I had no idea of the character.
204
00:14:26,400 --> 00:14:29,240
But the moment I was dressed
205
00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:33,440
the clothes and the make up
made me feel the person he was.
206
00:14:33,440 --> 00:14:37,960
I began to know him, and
by the time I walked onto the stage
207
00:14:37,960 --> 00:14:39,960
he was fully born."
208
00:14:41,000 --> 00:14:47,320
"Shuf-shuf-shuffle with ease,
pointing your toes out at 90 degrees.
209
00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:50,120
Next you raise your right foot so
210
00:14:50,120 --> 00:14:54,760
and round and round
on your left foot you go."
211
00:14:56,320 --> 00:14:58,040
Canes varied a lot.
212
00:14:58,040 --> 00:14:59,960
Well, I mean, he had many.
213
00:14:59,960 --> 00:15:01,800
There are so many
throughout the world.
214
00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:03,600
Collectors have canes.
215
00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:05,600
Some people sometimes contact us
and say,
216
00:15:05,600 --> 00:15:07,760
"I want to know what film
my cane comes from."
217
00:15:07,760 --> 00:15:10,480
So we say, "OK, we'll look at
every single photograph
218
00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:13,720
of every single film
and try and identify the knobs!"
219
00:15:17,680 --> 00:15:21,640
'The character instantly
became known as the Tramp.
220
00:15:21,640 --> 00:15:25,160
But Charlie's son Michael,
who has looked into the family tree,
221
00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:27,480
has a different take on the matter,
222
00:15:27,480 --> 00:15:32,040
based on a mysterious letter
hidden by Chaplin in a drawer.'
223
00:15:32,040 --> 00:15:34,120
It was found when my mother died
224
00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:37,720
and my sister
took the piece of furniture.
225
00:15:37,720 --> 00:15:41,440
And the drawer was locked.
No-one could find the key.
226
00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:43,480
She had a locksmith
come and open it.
227
00:15:43,480 --> 00:15:46,400
There was a letter inside
by a man called Jack Hill,
228
00:15:46,400 --> 00:15:49,560
who had read his autobiography.
229
00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:53,000
This was shortly after
his autobiography was published.
230
00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:55,080
And says...you know...
231
00:15:55,080 --> 00:15:57,600
He actually tells him,
"You're a little liar,
232
00:15:57,600 --> 00:15:59,680
cos you were not born in Kennington,
233
00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:06,880
you were born in Queen Sentina's
caravan on Black Patch."
234
00:16:06,880 --> 00:16:11,640
'The letter puts the place of
Chaplin's birth in a gypsy caravan
235
00:16:11,640 --> 00:16:16,040
in Birmingham. There's no other
evidence to support this claim.
236
00:16:16,040 --> 00:16:21,800
But it got Michael thinking about
who Chaplin's alter ego really was.'
237
00:16:26,560 --> 00:16:28,560
You know,
you look at his early films,
238
00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:32,120
it's not a tramp, it's a gypsy.
239
00:16:32,120 --> 00:16:36,560
Because a tramp is usually
quite humble or down.
240
00:16:36,560 --> 00:16:41,800
Or he's in the street
because he's failed in some way.
241
00:16:41,800 --> 00:16:43,920
The character he invented
is not at all that.
242
00:16:43,920 --> 00:16:47,960
He's someone who goes into these
bourgeois milieus,
243
00:16:47,960 --> 00:16:50,640
especially in the early films,
and he takes over.
244
00:16:50,640 --> 00:16:53,360
He's not at all intimidated.
He's got that cheek
245
00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:56,160
that really belongs to gypsies.
You can see that.
246
00:17:06,240 --> 00:17:09,640
'With this character set,
Chaplin produced film after film -
247
00:17:09,640 --> 00:17:14,760
82 in all - showcasing his talent
at physical comedy.
248
00:17:14,760 --> 00:17:18,760
But this was more than just
shoving a pie in someone's face.'
249
00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:23,520
In Chaplin films
the slapstick is nuanced.
250
00:17:23,520 --> 00:17:26,480
Even violence is balletic.
251
00:17:26,480 --> 00:17:30,480
His understanding and execution
of physical gags
252
00:17:30,480 --> 00:17:34,840
showed an artist in total command
of his craft.
253
00:17:56,800 --> 00:18:01,280
But if a talent for slapstick was
the only weapon in Chaplin's armoury,
254
00:18:01,280 --> 00:18:03,240
like Buster Keaton's,
255
00:18:03,240 --> 00:18:06,720
then he would have been
one among many talented artists
256
00:18:06,720 --> 00:18:08,840
of the silent era.
257
00:18:08,840 --> 00:18:12,040
He wouldn't have changed the face
of movie comedy.
258
00:18:13,400 --> 00:18:15,360
Which is what he did.
259
00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:27,600
'When Charlie Chaplin
started in the movies
260
00:18:27,600 --> 00:18:29,920
silent comedies were
knockabout farces.
261
00:18:29,920 --> 00:18:31,960
Anything for a laugh.
262
00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:34,040
Chaplin changed all that.
263
00:18:34,040 --> 00:18:38,040
He took the comedy
and added another ingredient to it.'
264
00:18:38,040 --> 00:18:42,400
"I did not have to read books
to know that the theme of life
265
00:18:42,400 --> 00:18:44,720
is conflict and pain.
266
00:18:44,720 --> 00:18:48,760
Instinctively all my clowning
was based on this.
267
00:18:48,760 --> 00:18:53,160
My means of contriving comedy plot
was simple.
268
00:18:53,160 --> 00:18:59,360
It was the process of getting people
in and out of trouble."
269
00:19:01,840 --> 00:19:04,840
'The Kid,
the story of an abandoned baby
270
00:19:04,840 --> 00:19:09,320
raised at first unwillingly by
the Tramp, and their life together,
271
00:19:09,320 --> 00:19:12,200
before the reunion of the boy
with his mother
272
00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:14,280
perfectly illustrates this.
273
00:19:14,280 --> 00:19:17,720
It pulls off
the previously unheard of feat
274
00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:21,760
of being both hugely funny
and profoundly moving.'
275
00:19:31,360 --> 00:19:34,880
"Please love and care
for the orphan child."
276
00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:39,600
(WHIMPERS)
277
00:19:45,200 --> 00:19:47,160
Gets to like him.
278
00:19:52,280 --> 00:19:54,880
I'm still moved by it.
279
00:19:54,880 --> 00:20:01,120
It's full of sentiment and...
I just really love it.
280
00:20:01,120 --> 00:20:06,880
'Released in 1921,
The Kid was an instant success,
281
00:20:06,880 --> 00:20:09,240
distributed to 50 countries,
282
00:20:09,240 --> 00:20:12,680
from Norway to Malaya,
Egypt to Australia.'
283
00:20:12,680 --> 00:20:18,560
In the world of silent films,
realism, drama, and sentiment
284
00:20:18,560 --> 00:20:21,280
were kept well apart from comedy.
285
00:20:21,280 --> 00:20:24,200
Comedy was about
being kicked up the arse
286
00:20:24,200 --> 00:20:26,600
or being hit on the head by a brick.
287
00:20:26,600 --> 00:20:30,960
But Chaplin was always striving
for more,
288
00:20:30,960 --> 00:20:34,000
always driven to break convention.
289
00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:38,840
He wanted to make raw slapstick
and sentiment work together.
290
00:20:38,840 --> 00:20:41,680
He wanted them to complement
each other
291
00:20:41,680 --> 00:20:43,960
in a way that strengthened his art.
292
00:20:49,440 --> 00:20:55,160
When we have a sweet moment,
he undercuts it by slapstick.
293
00:20:57,640 --> 00:21:01,680
I like the way
he kicks the child away from him.
294
00:21:01,680 --> 00:21:03,680
(LAUGHS)
295
00:21:06,200 --> 00:21:08,160
Bolts round the corner!
296
00:21:11,720 --> 00:21:15,000
Chaplin really did have something
special as an artist,
297
00:21:15,000 --> 00:21:19,960
had an incredible understanding of
human nature, of what is human.
298
00:21:19,960 --> 00:21:23,400
And that, added to the fact that
he was a great actor
299
00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:26,840
so he admits you to his thoughts,
he admits you to his feelings
300
00:21:26,840 --> 00:21:29,760
in a way that very few actors
can do.
301
00:21:33,160 --> 00:21:36,320
'Chaplin had created
that rarest of creatures -
302
00:21:36,320 --> 00:21:39,720
the Tramp had universal appeal.'
303
00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:43,240
"Man who makes the whole world
laugh."
304
00:21:45,120 --> 00:21:49,360
What is still mysterious to me
is how fast it happened.
305
00:21:49,360 --> 00:21:55,120
By mid-1915
he's already a universal figure,
306
00:21:55,120 --> 00:21:57,960
after less than two years in films.
307
00:21:57,960 --> 00:22:01,520
That's extraordinary, because
you have no television, no radio.
308
00:22:01,520 --> 00:22:04,840
It was only done from the screen.
309
00:22:04,840 --> 00:22:12,000
'In 1916, on the way to New York from
California to sign a new contract,
310
00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:15,800
vast crowds mobbed Charlie's train
at every stop.
311
00:22:15,800 --> 00:22:19,600
Chaplin-mania had arrived.'
312
00:22:19,600 --> 00:22:22,560
"The formalities of
signing the contract followed.
313
00:22:22,560 --> 00:22:27,920
I was photographed
receiving the $150,000 cheque.
314
00:22:27,920 --> 00:22:32,320
That evening I stood with the crowd
in Times Square
315
00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:35,200
as the news flashed onto
the electric sign
316
00:22:35,200 --> 00:22:37,520
that runs round the Times building.
317
00:22:37,520 --> 00:22:44,800
It read 'Chaplin signs with Mutual
at 670,000 a year.'
318
00:22:44,800 --> 00:22:50,200
I stood and read it objectively,
as though it were about someone else.
319
00:22:50,200 --> 00:22:55,160
So much had happened to me,
my emotions were spent."
320
00:22:55,160 --> 00:23:00,680
'It was during the First World War
that he truly became a global star,
321
00:23:00,680 --> 00:23:03,160
with a salary to match.'
322
00:23:03,160 --> 00:23:06,640
In all, 675,000,
which was more than the president,
323
00:23:06,640 --> 00:23:08,720
which was more than anywhere.
324
00:23:08,720 --> 00:23:12,000
And Mutual actually
advertised in the press
325
00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:15,320
that Chaplin was more expensive
than the war.
326
00:23:15,320 --> 00:23:17,320
(LAUGHS)
327
00:23:22,680 --> 00:23:26,280
'Chaplin came from abject poverty
in South London
328
00:23:26,280 --> 00:23:30,080
to become one of the highest paid
actors in Hollywood.
329
00:23:30,080 --> 00:23:36,680
That's amazing enough, but for me
the really remarkable thing about him
330
00:23:36,680 --> 00:23:39,680
is what he did with his money.
331
00:23:39,680 --> 00:23:43,280
He went as far as to build
his own studio.
332
00:23:43,280 --> 00:23:47,680
He set up his own distribution
company, United Artists,
333
00:23:47,680 --> 00:23:50,720
with Mary Pickford
and Douglas Fairbanks Jr,
334
00:23:50,720 --> 00:23:53,160
the superstars of their day.
335
00:23:53,160 --> 00:23:56,480
He ploughed profits
back into his own films,
336
00:23:56,480 --> 00:24:00,600
which meant he could exercise
complete artistic freedom.
337
00:24:00,600 --> 00:24:05,000
As a child he'd been powerless
in the face of misfortune.
338
00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:10,040
Now, as an adult,
he wanted and got total control
339
00:24:10,040 --> 00:24:12,280
over his art and career.'
340
00:24:14,280 --> 00:24:16,640
This is the daily production report,
341
00:24:16,640 --> 00:24:20,120
where they write down
who was employed that day,
342
00:24:20,120 --> 00:24:22,280
how much film footage they shot,
343
00:24:22,280 --> 00:24:25,720
what sequences they were shooting,
and the weather.
344
00:24:25,720 --> 00:24:28,000
This day it happened to be fair.
345
00:24:28,000 --> 00:24:30,000
And sometimes little anecdotes.
346
00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:34,200
For example, I was looking at
the one for Dog's Life the other day
347
00:24:34,200 --> 00:24:37,520
and it said that
the shooting was delayed
348
00:24:37,520 --> 00:24:40,600
because
"pocketbook was run away with".
349
00:24:40,600 --> 00:24:43,520
So the dog must have just run off
with the wallet.
350
00:24:43,520 --> 00:24:47,280
And you can imagine... But it was
a very sort of serious thing.
351
00:24:47,280 --> 00:24:51,680
His position was unique, because he
made the films with his own money.
352
00:24:51,680 --> 00:24:54,640
Nobody else in Hollywood
was putting up their own money
353
00:24:54,640 --> 00:24:56,560
to make their own films.
354
00:24:56,560 --> 00:24:59,040
He had his own studio.
355
00:24:59,040 --> 00:25:04,240
And it was a big risk. Fortunately,
it almost always paid off.
356
00:25:04,240 --> 00:25:09,280
Chaplin was always trying to push
the boundaries of his art.
357
00:25:09,280 --> 00:25:12,320
Not just to get bigger laughs,
always important,
358
00:25:12,320 --> 00:25:15,600
but to see where these innovations
would take him.
359
00:25:15,600 --> 00:25:21,720
With The Kid he made the first
full-length comedy of the silent era.
360
00:25:21,720 --> 00:25:25,240
He proved there was an appetite
for something more
361
00:25:25,240 --> 00:25:27,640
than the old two-reelers.
362
00:25:27,640 --> 00:25:32,040
'In The Gold Rush,
made four years later in 1925,
363
00:25:32,040 --> 00:25:34,880
he hit new heights of innovation.
364
00:25:34,880 --> 00:25:41,480
In this scene he used a combination
of elaborate stage set, models,
365
00:25:41,480 --> 00:25:44,280
and beautifully choreographed
slapstick
366
00:25:44,280 --> 00:25:47,400
to create a seamless piece of
film comedy
367
00:25:47,400 --> 00:25:50,920
that also adds a thrill factor
to the mix.'
368
00:25:52,200 --> 00:25:55,640
Oh, no! It's... (LAUGHS)
369
00:25:58,640 --> 00:26:01,480
Oooooh!
370
00:26:01,480 --> 00:26:03,480
(LAUGHS)
371
00:26:08,400 --> 00:26:10,360
(LAUGHS)
372
00:26:12,640 --> 00:26:15,960
How innovative
was Chaplin technically?
373
00:26:15,960 --> 00:26:19,400
Well, over the years people have...
374
00:26:19,400 --> 00:26:22,440
Critics and historians
have been inclined to say,
375
00:26:22,440 --> 00:26:25,040
"Oh, well, he maybe is very funny,
376
00:26:25,040 --> 00:26:27,160
but he's a very primitive
filmmaker."
377
00:26:27,160 --> 00:26:29,240
It's not true at all.
378
00:26:29,240 --> 00:26:32,280
It's fascinating really to look at
the Keystone films.
379
00:26:32,280 --> 00:26:34,160
It's almost like a film school.
380
00:26:34,160 --> 00:26:36,200
He'll be teaching himself
what happens
381
00:26:36,200 --> 00:26:39,440
if you throw somebody out of a shot
and they come in the other side.
382
00:26:39,440 --> 00:26:41,280
He really is learning it.
383
00:26:41,280 --> 00:26:45,760
And by 1916/17, when he's got
much more independence,
384
00:26:45,760 --> 00:26:48,040
the shots are very, very
sophisticated.
385
00:26:54,320 --> 00:26:56,640
'In search of what he had
in his head,
386
00:26:56,640 --> 00:27:00,240
Chaplin could be an absolute monster
on set,
387
00:27:00,240 --> 00:27:06,160
flying into rages with cast and crew
if things weren't going his way.
388
00:27:06,160 --> 00:27:10,840
One scene in City Lights, from 1931,
389
00:27:10,840 --> 00:27:15,240
features a blind flower seller
offering the Tramp a flower.'
390
00:27:15,240 --> 00:27:21,520
The scene took 342 takes
before he was satisfied with it.
391
00:27:21,520 --> 00:27:27,040
Chaplin worked himself up into
a state of nervous exhaustion
392
00:27:27,040 --> 00:27:29,280
in the search for perfection.
393
00:27:30,440 --> 00:27:33,400
People say, "What was the genius
of Charlie Chaplin?"
394
00:27:33,400 --> 00:27:36,160
And my conclusion at the moment is
395
00:27:36,160 --> 00:27:40,040
his genius was
that he knew when he'd got it right.
396
00:27:40,040 --> 00:27:41,840
(LAUGHTER)
However many times...
397
00:27:41,840 --> 00:27:43,600
"Ah! I've got it!" You know?
398
00:27:46,440 --> 00:27:49,800
'Chaplin was such a good mimic,
he would often act out
399
00:27:49,800 --> 00:27:51,600
each part for his cast,
400
00:27:51,600 --> 00:27:54,800
showing them exactly the way
he wanted them to play it.
401
00:27:54,800 --> 00:27:57,480
This even applied to the extras.'
402
00:28:05,320 --> 00:28:07,680
This is something
that we found quite recently
403
00:28:07,680 --> 00:28:11,120
in The Great Dictator papers,
which is somebody who's transcribed
404
00:28:11,120 --> 00:28:15,520
Chaplin directing Paulette Goddard
at the end of The Great Dictator.
405
00:28:15,520 --> 00:28:18,520
I think that what he says
was rather beautiful.
406
00:28:18,520 --> 00:28:21,640
"This scene is
the poetry of this picture.
407
00:28:21,640 --> 00:28:23,800
You have to be happy - hope!
408
00:28:23,800 --> 00:28:26,600
I want to see that smiling spirit.
409
00:28:26,600 --> 00:28:30,200
I want this as music,
not as a human being.
410
00:28:30,200 --> 00:28:34,000
It's got to be joy, but not fake joy.
411
00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:37,760
You'll find you'll get it more
if you relax.
412
00:28:37,760 --> 00:28:43,120
As long as you believe it, when
you express real joy, they'll cry."
413
00:28:45,600 --> 00:28:50,440
'I couldn't direct like Chaplin.
I like actors to do their own stuff.
414
00:28:50,440 --> 00:28:53,920
But it shows
his uncrushable self-belief
415
00:28:53,920 --> 00:28:56,640
that his way was best.
416
00:28:56,640 --> 00:29:00,880
Chaplin the artist went from success
to success.
417
00:29:00,880 --> 00:29:06,320
His private life was another matter,
mired in unhappiness and scandal.
418
00:29:06,320 --> 00:29:08,800
Like so many things in his life,
419
00:29:08,800 --> 00:29:12,240
I think this can be traced back
to his childhood.'
420
00:29:17,320 --> 00:29:20,760
"The intensity of my emotion
must have bewildered her,
421
00:29:20,760 --> 00:29:23,400
for all during the drive
I kept repeating,
422
00:29:23,400 --> 00:29:27,240
'I know I'm going to regret this.
You're too beautiful.'
423
00:29:27,240 --> 00:29:30,920
I tried vainly to be amusing
and impress her.
424
00:29:30,920 --> 00:29:34,080
I had drawn three pounds
from the bank
425
00:29:34,080 --> 00:29:36,920
and had planned to take her
to the Trocadero,
426
00:29:36,920 --> 00:29:40,840
where, in an atmosphere
of music and plush elegance,
427
00:29:40,840 --> 00:29:44,440
she could see me under the most
romantic auspices.
428
00:29:44,440 --> 00:29:47,360
I wanted to sweep her off her feet,
429
00:29:47,360 --> 00:29:52,280
but she remained cool-eyed, and
somewhat perplexed at my utterances.
430
00:29:52,280 --> 00:30:00,320
To meet elegance and beauty
in my station of life was rare."
431
00:30:03,720 --> 00:30:08,240
'Charlie's first love was
Hetty Kelly, a 15-year-old dancer.
432
00:30:08,240 --> 00:30:12,080
Chaplin was 19,
a music hall comedian.
433
00:30:12,080 --> 00:30:15,240
The romance lasted all of 11 days,
434
00:30:15,240 --> 00:30:18,360
but left an indelible mark on him.'
435
00:30:18,360 --> 00:30:22,760
He did like very young,
still in their teens,
436
00:30:22,760 --> 00:30:28,120
and...well, one might dream
virginal young girls.
437
00:30:28,120 --> 00:30:33,080
'The age difference between him
and Hetty had been four years.
438
00:30:33,080 --> 00:30:37,520
But as Chaplin got older, the age
of his partners stayed the same.
439
00:30:37,520 --> 00:30:42,720
His wealth and charm meant he could
pick and choose whoever he wanted.
440
00:30:42,720 --> 00:30:47,720
His marriages and relationships
fell into a predictable pattern.
441
00:30:47,720 --> 00:30:51,880
His first wife, Mildred Harris,
a child actress,
442
00:30:51,880 --> 00:30:55,600
was 16 when they first met -
Chaplin, 29.
443
00:30:55,600 --> 00:30:59,400
Ill-matched,
they were divorced two years later.
444
00:30:59,400 --> 00:31:03,560
Lita Grey, his second wife, was 16
445
00:31:03,560 --> 00:31:05,920
and pregnant
when Chaplin married her.
446
00:31:05,920 --> 00:31:10,360
He was 35.
The marriage only lasted three years.
447
00:31:10,360 --> 00:31:15,800
It was, however, his involvement with
another young actress, Joan Barry,
448
00:31:15,800 --> 00:31:19,800
in the early 1940s
that really hit the headlines.
449
00:31:19,800 --> 00:31:23,160
It involved a court case
and paternity suit,
450
00:31:23,160 --> 00:31:27,760
where the messy details of their
affair were dragged into public view.
451
00:31:27,760 --> 00:31:33,240
In the middle of the trial,
he met his fourth wife, Oona O'Neill,
452
00:31:33,240 --> 00:31:36,920
daughter of the American playwright
Eugene O'Neill.
453
00:31:36,920 --> 00:31:43,400
Only with her did he find
any sort of happiness.
454
00:31:43,400 --> 00:31:47,360
Despite the age difference -
she was 18 and he 51 -
455
00:31:47,360 --> 00:31:49,960
the marriage lasted until his death.
456
00:31:52,280 --> 00:31:56,640
Chaplin's private life
had long provoked moral outrage
457
00:31:56,640 --> 00:31:58,720
in right-wing America.
458
00:31:58,720 --> 00:32:02,800
But it was his films and politics
that really sparked their anger.
459
00:32:02,800 --> 00:32:06,840
Part of Chaplin's genius
was to take risks.
460
00:32:06,840 --> 00:32:10,760
He didn't shy away from sending up
controversial subjects.
461
00:32:10,760 --> 00:32:16,800
In 1918, with soldiers dying in
their thousands on the Western front,
462
00:32:16,800 --> 00:32:18,920
Chaplin released Shoulder Arms,
463
00:32:18,920 --> 00:32:22,640
in which he made life in the trenches
a source of comedy.'
464
00:32:24,800 --> 00:32:27,240
(CHUCKLES)
465
00:32:27,240 --> 00:32:29,920
'Bad taste? Unfunny?
466
00:32:29,920 --> 00:32:32,440
Not according to the soldiers
who saw it.
467
00:32:32,440 --> 00:32:36,400
They thought it hilarious.
468
00:32:36,400 --> 00:32:39,800
20 years later he decided to send up
469
00:32:39,800 --> 00:32:42,520
one of the greatest monsters
of the century.'
470
00:32:42,520 --> 00:32:46,680
Excellency, here are the notes
for your speech. Thank you.
471
00:32:46,680 --> 00:32:51,640
'In The Great Dictator he made
Adolf Hitler an object of ridicule.'
472
00:32:51,640 --> 00:32:56,440
Nobody in Hollywood
dared to take off Hitler.
473
00:32:56,440 --> 00:33:00,360
(MUTTERS IN GERMAN)
474
00:33:00,360 --> 00:33:04,800
'Pro-Nazi Americans weren't
the only people who hated it.'
475
00:33:04,800 --> 00:33:07,880
"The Chaplin picture
is barred in Germany,
476
00:33:07,880 --> 00:33:11,960
ostensibly because it has
communistic tendencies.
477
00:33:11,960 --> 00:33:16,360
But this official announcement
is sceptically received elsewhere.
478
00:33:16,360 --> 00:33:19,240
The real reason,
the doubters suspect,
479
00:33:19,240 --> 00:33:24,920
is that Charlie's twitching moustache
looks too much like Der Fuhrer's."
480
00:33:28,920 --> 00:33:30,880
(LAUGHS)
481
00:33:33,440 --> 00:33:39,680
I don't know why anyone
hasn't thought of this before.
482
00:33:39,680 --> 00:33:42,280
The world as a balloon.
483
00:33:45,480 --> 00:33:47,200
(LAUGHS)
484
00:33:47,200 --> 00:33:50,240
It's just genius.
485
00:33:50,240 --> 00:33:53,080
'When it opened in London
at the height of the Blitz,
486
00:33:53,080 --> 00:33:56,280
audiences lapped it up.
487
00:33:56,280 --> 00:34:01,560
Back in the US, Chaplin
threw himself into the war effort,
488
00:34:01,560 --> 00:34:03,760
drumming up support for Russia.
489
00:34:03,760 --> 00:34:07,160
Getting carried away giving a speech
at a rally,
490
00:34:07,160 --> 00:34:11,560
he uttered a phrase
that was to come back and haunt him.'
491
00:34:11,560 --> 00:34:15,240
"I was wearing a black tie
and dinner jacket.
492
00:34:15,240 --> 00:34:19,280
There was applause, which gave me
a little time to collect myself.
493
00:34:19,280 --> 00:34:24,200
When it subsided, I said one word -
'Comrades.'
494
00:34:24,200 --> 00:34:27,520
And the house went up
in a roar of laughter.
495
00:34:27,520 --> 00:34:33,960
When it subsided, I said
emphatically, 'And I MEAN comrades'.
496
00:34:33,960 --> 00:34:36,720
There was renewed laughter,
then applause."
497
00:34:36,720 --> 00:34:39,840
He wasn't alone though, look.
498
00:34:39,840 --> 00:34:41,880
"Artists Front to win the war."
499
00:34:41,880 --> 00:34:43,760
There were lots of them there.
500
00:34:43,760 --> 00:34:48,760
"Ladies and gentlemen, comrades -
I mean comrades -
501
00:34:48,760 --> 00:34:52,960
any people who can fight as
the Russian people are fighting now,
502
00:34:52,960 --> 00:34:55,920
fighting and dying for our democracy,
503
00:34:55,920 --> 00:34:58,920
then it is time, a pleasure,
and a privilege
504
00:34:58,920 --> 00:35:01,760
to refer to them as comrades."
505
00:35:01,760 --> 00:35:04,040
What's bad about that?
506
00:35:04,040 --> 00:35:06,400
(LAUGHS) That's what he thought!
507
00:35:06,400 --> 00:35:10,400
And that was that, really,
wasn't it? Yes!
508
00:35:10,400 --> 00:35:14,120
From that moment
the FBI began compiling evidence
509
00:35:14,120 --> 00:35:16,840
of his supposed communist sympathies.
510
00:35:16,840 --> 00:35:19,760
Even a favourable review
of one of his films
511
00:35:19,760 --> 00:35:22,800
in a communist newspaper from 1923
512
00:35:22,800 --> 00:35:27,840
was proof to the paranoid
head of the FBI, J Edgar Hoover,
513
00:35:27,840 --> 00:35:32,160
that Chaplin was
a dangerous anti-American radical.
514
00:35:54,880 --> 00:35:59,920
Hoover took every opportunity
to hound Chaplin subsequently.
515
00:35:59,920 --> 00:36:06,600
And by 1952
the FBI file on him ran to 115 pages.
516
00:36:06,600 --> 00:36:11,600
In the Communist witch hunts
that consumed American public life
517
00:36:11,600 --> 00:36:16,000
after the Second World War,
Chaplin became a prime target
518
00:36:16,000 --> 00:36:20,000
for red baiters, though they could
never prove that he'd been a member
519
00:36:20,000 --> 00:36:21,880
of the Communist Party.
520
00:36:21,880 --> 00:36:26,880
But Hoover was determined
to bring him down.
521
00:36:26,880 --> 00:36:32,520
In 1952 he decided he would premiere
his film Limelight in London,
522
00:36:32,520 --> 00:36:37,320
and planned a trip to Europe
with his new family.
523
00:36:37,320 --> 00:36:40,560
Little did he know
when he got on the vote in New York,
524
00:36:40,560 --> 00:36:43,840
he wouldn't be coming back.
525
00:36:43,840 --> 00:36:47,400
The Queen Elizabeth had been at sea
for two days
526
00:36:47,400 --> 00:36:51,640
when Chaplin received a message
from the attorney general's office.
527
00:36:51,640 --> 00:36:55,640
"It stated that I was to be barred
from the United States
528
00:36:55,640 --> 00:36:58,240
and that before I could
re-enter the country
529
00:36:58,240 --> 00:37:02,120
I would have to go before
an Immigration Board of Enquiry
530
00:37:02,120 --> 00:37:07,720
to answer charges of a political
nature and of moral turpitude."
531
00:37:07,720 --> 00:37:10,080
He decided to have the premiere
in London.
532
00:37:10,080 --> 00:37:12,160
I'm not quite sure why, actually.
533
00:37:12,160 --> 00:37:15,040
I think the whole atmosphere
on the set was very tense
534
00:37:15,040 --> 00:37:16,920
all the way through.
535
00:37:16,920 --> 00:37:20,520
And so they decided to go to London
for a holiday,
536
00:37:20,520 --> 00:37:23,040
and then his re-entry permit
was rescinded.
537
00:37:28,000 --> 00:37:32,560
I remember... What I do remember
was going to the premiere.
538
00:37:32,560 --> 00:37:34,680
And there was a massive crowd.
539
00:37:34,680 --> 00:37:39,520
And I think it's the first time
I realised just how famous he was.
540
00:37:39,520 --> 00:37:42,120
Amazing crowd shouting and screaming
541
00:37:42,120 --> 00:37:45,160
that we had to walk through
to get into the cinema.
542
00:37:45,160 --> 00:37:48,040
And it was a shock, yeah.
It was quite a shock.
543
00:37:49,920 --> 00:37:54,240
'Limelight was set in the world that
gave birth to Chaplin as a performer.
544
00:37:54,240 --> 00:37:56,600
That of the Victorian music hall.
545
00:37:56,600 --> 00:37:59,600
It's full of autobiographical
references,
546
00:37:59,600 --> 00:38:05,600
and Chaplin plays Calvero, an ageing
clown afraid of losing his audience.'
547
00:38:11,520 --> 00:38:15,480
How did your father react
to not going back to the US?
548
00:38:19,200 --> 00:38:21,760
I think it was a huge blow to him.
549
00:38:21,760 --> 00:38:28,240
I've seen newsreel of a
press conference he gave in London,
550
00:38:28,240 --> 00:38:35,440
and you can see he's really...
His voice is cracking with emotion.
551
00:38:35,440 --> 00:38:38,840
He's trying to put on a brave face
552
00:38:38,840 --> 00:38:42,880
and say "goodbye, good riddance",
that sort of thing.
553
00:38:42,880 --> 00:38:45,680
But I think it was a huge blow.
554
00:38:45,680 --> 00:38:49,480
He hadn't realised
it would come to that.
555
00:38:49,480 --> 00:38:51,240
They had really no right to do it.
556
00:38:51,240 --> 00:38:53,600
They were terrified
that he would come back,
557
00:38:53,600 --> 00:38:57,080
because there would have been such
a huge scandal and embarrassment.
558
00:38:57,080 --> 00:38:59,280
But he didn't give them
that embarrassment,
559
00:38:59,280 --> 00:39:02,760
because he said,
"I'm not going back." He left.
560
00:39:06,240 --> 00:39:10,320
'Once Chaplin had been untouchable
because of his fame.
561
00:39:10,320 --> 00:39:14,800
Now he was banished from the country
he had lived in for 40 years.
562
00:39:14,800 --> 00:39:18,280
He was going to have to make
a new life.'
563
00:39:26,400 --> 00:39:30,880
'Once Charlie Chaplin had been
the most famous person on earth.
564
00:39:30,880 --> 00:39:35,520
Now, in his 60s, he had been
hounded out of his adopted homeland,
565
00:39:35,520 --> 00:39:38,880
America,
and vilified for his political views.
566
00:39:38,880 --> 00:39:43,520
But in amongst all this turmoil
and enforced exile,
567
00:39:43,520 --> 00:39:46,640
he found a new happiness
with his family.
568
00:39:50,600 --> 00:39:54,640
He finally settled in Switzerland,
on the shores of Lake Geneva.
569
00:39:54,640 --> 00:39:59,440
He and Oona and the children
took residence near Montreux.
570
00:39:59,440 --> 00:40:04,640
It was here he could,
for the first time in his life,
571
00:40:04,640 --> 00:40:07,560
devote proper time to his family.'
572
00:40:07,560 --> 00:40:12,640
What was the nature of their
relationship, your father and mother?
573
00:40:14,920 --> 00:40:16,920
(SIGHS)
574
00:40:16,920 --> 00:40:19,360
I think they were very much in love.
575
00:40:22,560 --> 00:40:25,240
I think my mother
hadn't had a family,
576
00:40:25,240 --> 00:40:29,200
and he gave her a family,
he gave her eight children.
577
00:40:29,200 --> 00:40:31,240
(LAUGHTER)
578
00:40:31,240 --> 00:40:33,280
And...
579
00:40:33,280 --> 00:40:36,160
That's almost too much!
580
00:40:36,160 --> 00:40:40,440
Yes! Yes, I think probably it was.
581
00:40:45,040 --> 00:40:48,720
This man had
a very turbulent love life
582
00:40:48,720 --> 00:40:51,760
and...I think he found peace
with her.
583
00:40:51,760 --> 00:40:54,080
She gave herself totally to him
584
00:40:54,080 --> 00:40:56,920
and seemed to be enjoying herself.
585
00:40:56,920 --> 00:41:00,800
And he seemed to worship her.
586
00:41:04,960 --> 00:41:08,480
What was he like
with his large family?
587
00:41:08,480 --> 00:41:10,480
Close or distant?
588
00:41:12,080 --> 00:41:19,080
Well, he was a bit of...
a bit of a Victorian gentleman.
589
00:41:19,080 --> 00:41:22,440
At supper
we'd all gather round the table
590
00:41:22,440 --> 00:41:25,280
and he'd tell us stories
and we'd have debates.
591
00:41:25,280 --> 00:41:27,480
He enjoyed our company.
592
00:41:27,480 --> 00:41:29,840
But the rest of the time
we didn't see him.
593
00:41:29,840 --> 00:41:32,720
He was working.
And we had to toe the line.
594
00:41:32,720 --> 00:41:36,360
He was, I think,
quite strict in that sense.
595
00:41:36,360 --> 00:41:38,440
You know, he wanted us to behave.
596
00:41:38,440 --> 00:41:43,160
We couldn't really be too rowdy
in his company.
597
00:41:47,040 --> 00:41:50,400
Here he is picking a flower.
598
00:41:50,400 --> 00:41:53,840
And eating it! (LAUGHS)
599
00:41:57,000 --> 00:42:00,920
That was one of his
old music hall gags.
600
00:42:00,920 --> 00:42:02,920
He's marching off. (LAUGHS)
601
00:42:09,560 --> 00:42:12,400
He'd do things for us.
He'd do little magic tricks,
602
00:42:12,400 --> 00:42:16,480
or funny things like
having his hats flip off his head.
603
00:42:16,480 --> 00:42:19,480
You know, music hall tricks
which he'd do.
604
00:42:19,480 --> 00:42:25,200
But he didn't really talk much
about his films, as I remember.
605
00:42:29,080 --> 00:42:31,880
He was maybe easier on my sisters.
606
00:42:31,880 --> 00:42:35,920
I think maybe he himself,
he never really knew his own father.
607
00:42:35,920 --> 00:42:38,000
He met him once or twice,
608
00:42:38,000 --> 00:42:41,760
but they certainly didn't have
any lasting relationship.
609
00:42:49,360 --> 00:42:52,280
"The Three Stags
in the Kennington Road
610
00:42:52,280 --> 00:42:54,960
was not a place my father frequented.
611
00:42:54,960 --> 00:43:00,040
Yet as I passed it one evening,
an urge prompt a great to peek inside
612
00:43:00,040 --> 00:43:02,120
to see if he was there.
613
00:43:02,120 --> 00:43:07,080
I opened the saloon door, and
there he was, sitting in the corner.
614
00:43:07,080 --> 00:43:10,720
He looked very ill.
His eyes were sunken
615
00:43:10,720 --> 00:43:14,280
and his body had swollen
to an enormous size.
616
00:43:14,280 --> 00:43:20,160
That evening he was most solicitous,
enquiring after mother and Sydney.
617
00:43:20,160 --> 00:43:23,560
And before I left
he took me in his arms
618
00:43:23,560 --> 00:43:26,400
and for the first time, kissed me.
619
00:43:26,400 --> 00:43:29,640
That was the last time
I saw him alive."
620
00:43:30,760 --> 00:43:37,560
It was the first time his father
had hugged him or kissed him. Yes.
621
00:43:37,560 --> 00:43:43,200
Well, you know, I think some of that
sort of passed down.
622
00:43:43,200 --> 00:43:48,800
He was awkward. He didn't quite know
how to behave with a son.
623
00:43:48,800 --> 00:43:50,920
But he certainly did with daughters.
624
00:43:50,920 --> 00:43:55,920
But he loved us.
I feel he really...he did love us.
625
00:44:00,680 --> 00:44:05,520
He seems to be drawn to
the places of his childhood.
626
00:44:05,520 --> 00:44:11,200
This is West Square, I think.
627
00:44:11,200 --> 00:44:15,600
Yes. West Square.
It's all in Lambeth.
628
00:44:18,040 --> 00:44:20,040
He was right at the end of his life.
629
00:44:20,040 --> 00:44:23,800
Nobody recognised him with his
mackintosh and his hat pulled down.
630
00:44:23,800 --> 00:44:26,480
He'd get on a bus or a tube
and go down to Kennington.
631
00:44:26,480 --> 00:44:30,520
I think one of the extraordinary
things about Chaplin
632
00:44:30,520 --> 00:44:32,840
is that although he was so famous,
633
00:44:32,840 --> 00:44:36,520
although he was wooed by
kings and prime ministers,
634
00:44:36,520 --> 00:44:40,320
he kept his, sort of, ordinariness
635
00:44:40,320 --> 00:44:46,240
and his link with real life
and real people and ordinary people.
636
00:44:46,240 --> 00:44:48,720
I think he knew that
that was essential to him.
637
00:44:51,960 --> 00:44:56,200
One had the feeling that he went
to Kennington not from nostalgia
638
00:44:56,200 --> 00:44:59,040
but because he knew that
that was the food...
639
00:44:59,040 --> 00:45:01,080
This was what had nourished him.
640
00:45:07,600 --> 00:45:10,760
He liked going to Kennington,
and people respected him there.
641
00:45:10,760 --> 00:45:14,720
They didn't mob him or fuss him.
642
00:45:23,080 --> 00:45:27,440
"I stopped the taxi
a little before 3, Pownall Terrace.
643
00:45:27,440 --> 00:45:31,520
A strange calm came over me
as I walked towards the house.
644
00:45:31,520 --> 00:45:35,200
I stood a moment taking in the scene.
645
00:45:35,200 --> 00:45:37,840
3, Pownall Terrace.
646
00:45:37,840 --> 00:45:41,520
There it was,
looking like a gaunt old skull.
647
00:45:41,520 --> 00:45:43,920
I looked up at the two top windows,
648
00:45:43,920 --> 00:45:49,520
the garrett where Mother had sat weak
and undernourished, losing her mind.
649
00:45:49,520 --> 00:45:54,120
The windows were closed tight.
They were telling no secrets.
650
00:45:54,120 --> 00:45:57,520
Yet their silence communicated
more than words.
651
00:45:57,520 --> 00:46:00,760
Eventually some little children
came up and surrounded me
652
00:46:00,760 --> 00:46:02,760
and I was obliged to move on."
653
00:46:06,080 --> 00:46:09,800
'Following in Charlie's footsteps
around South London,
654
00:46:09,800 --> 00:46:13,680
seeing where he and his mother
had endured terrible poverty
655
00:46:13,680 --> 00:46:19,440
and humiliation, has made me realise
what an incredible life he had.
656
00:46:19,440 --> 00:46:23,120
From sleeping rough
on the streets of London as a child
657
00:46:23,120 --> 00:46:25,840
to a figure loved
all over the world.'
658
00:46:27,160 --> 00:46:29,600
He's not essentially
the little American,
659
00:46:29,600 --> 00:46:33,040
he's not a little Londoner
or anything, he's a human being.
660
00:46:33,040 --> 00:46:35,640
Which did seem to be
universally recognised.
661
00:46:35,640 --> 00:46:39,040
Every country in the world
adopted Chaplin, loved Chaplin.
662
00:46:39,040 --> 00:46:45,240
And there was in him a universality
to which the whole responded.
663
00:46:50,200 --> 00:46:54,080
'Chaplin's fame gave him
fantastic freedom as an artist.
664
00:46:54,080 --> 00:46:56,960
He took physical comedy
to new heights,
665
00:46:56,960 --> 00:47:02,440
making films that moved you
and made you laugh at the same time.
666
00:47:02,440 --> 00:47:05,480
He was a one-off, a genius.
667
00:47:05,480 --> 00:47:10,080
But like a lot of geniuses,
he had his flaws.
668
00:47:10,080 --> 00:47:14,880
And while I love his work,
I'm not so sure about the man.
669
00:47:14,880 --> 00:47:17,760
He could be a bit of a monster
when he chose to be,
670
00:47:17,760 --> 00:47:20,320
especially in his private life.
671
00:47:20,320 --> 00:47:24,120
But his legacy, his films,
are timeless.'
672
00:47:31,120 --> 00:47:33,080
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