Saved from a life of hardship by his unsurpassed comic genius, Charlie Chaplin went on to win the hearts of nations with his unforgettable films.
Born into a theatrical family, Chaplin’s father died of drink while his mother, unable to bear the poverty, suffered bouts of insanity. Despite his tragic childhood, his gift for making people laugh was soon recognized and he embarked on a film-making career that would bring him immeasurable success, as well as controversy, particularly in the United States.
Chaplin’s immortal creation, the tramp, blended humour with pathos and in classic films such as City Lights, The Great Dictator and Limelight left audiences laughing through their tears. Yet Chaplin had to survive the coming of sound and fight political and sexual censorship and state persecution on his way to becoming the best-loved screen legend in the history of the cinema.
