Charlie Chaplin essays

Charlie Chaplin essays Charlie Chaplin was an English motion-picture actor, director, producer, and composer. He was one of the most creative artists in the film history. He was the first to achieve worldwide fame through his performances in silent films. Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin was born in London, England in poverty on April 16, 1889. His parents were Sr and Hannah Chaplin. They were both music hall performers. His father was an alcoholic. He left shortly after Charlie was born, leaving Hannah to provide for the children. Charlie got his first taste of the spot light when he was very young. He debuted in the place of his mother because she was hoarse. His childhood was filled with horrible poverty. His mother, Hannah became a chronically psychotic woman who was in and out of mental institutes. When Hannah could no longer take care of Charlie and his siblings, they were admitted into Lambeth Workhouse and later to Hanwell School for Orphans and Destitute Children. His father died when Charlie was only 12 years old. As a young child Charlie had been forced to sleep on the streets of London and he had to look for food in garbage pails. It was this same poverty in which he would develop his identification with the little person. He used the misery of his childhood to create his own style, which was a combination of comedy and melodrama. This is known as pathos. He achieved his ambition when he joined a dancing group called the Eight Lancashire Lads. This eventually led on to parts in Sherlock Holmes and Caseys Court Circus. His half brother Sydney joined the Fred Karno Company and managed to get Charlie involved also. He soon became a Karno star. In 1910 Charlie toured the United States with the Karno group and returned for another in 1912. On this tour he was hunted by Mack Sennette and his Keystone Film Company. Charlie was then introduced into the medium of film. His first film, 1914, was title...