Charles Spencer Chaplin

Charlie Chaplin is a famous actor, composer, screenwriter. He himself was the director, producer and editor of his paintings. He became famous thanks to the image of the tramp Charlie invented by himself.

If we say that the name of Charlie Chaplin is known to literally every inhabitant of the planet, it absolutely will not be an exaggeration. Films with his participation are still watched with undisguised interest by viewers of all generations, his biography is studied at courses of directors all over the world, as a model demonstrating a combination of talent and a practical approach to the filming process. He is rightfully considered the king of comedy, the genius of directing, and this is completely true. He managed to achieve everything by himself, although a difficult orphan childhood practically gave him no chance to rise to such a height.

CHILDHOOD

Charles Spencer Chaplin (the actor's real name) was born on April 16, 1889 in London, in a creative family. His parents served in the London Music Hall, and Charlie was their first child together. Before that, Charles's mother was in a relationship with a Jew Hawkes, and from him she gave birth to a son, Sidney, Charlie's half-brother. After Hannah married Charles Spencer Chaplin Sr., she and her son Sidney switched to the surname Chaplin.

The childhood of the boys was quite happy. Parents had constant earnings, the father was popular. Thanks to his pleasant baritone voice, he received invitations from London music halls, and often went on tour in European countries. One thing was bad, he liked to drink, and soon the intake of alcohol became almost constant and uncontrollable. It was alcohol that caused his death, which happened on May 9, 1901. He died in London, in the hospital of St. Thomas. He was only 37.

After the death of her husband, Hanna continued to work, she had to raise two children. But soon she had health problems. It turned out that the woman had a sick larynx, and she could not sing. Before that, she constantly took Charlie with her to concerts, he knew all my mother's repertoire. One day, Hannah realized that she couldn’t sing, and five-year-old Charlie took the stage instead. He began to sing, and the tender audience threw coins and small money at him. The boy stopped singing, rushed to collect generous gifts, and only when he coped with this task did he calmly finish singing. The hall laughed and rewarded the little artist with applause. So at the age of five, Chaplin began his creative biography.

And at the same time, childhood ended. Mom could no longer sing, and two years later she got mad and ended up in a psychiatric hospital. Charlie was seven, his brother was not much older. The boys ended up in an orphanage. At the age of nine, Charlie was already performing with a dance group called the Eight Lancashire Boys. It was at that time that he was able to cause the first laughter of the audience when he appeared before them in the form of a cat.

A year later, the boy left the group, he had to earn his own living, and there was no time left for dancing classes. Charlie did not refuse any work, he became a newspaper seller, worked in a printing house and even helped take care of the sick in the hospital.

Charlie's cherished dream came true at 14 - he got a permanent job in the theater, where he was immediately offered to become a messenger in the play "Sherlock Holmes". Since he did not have time to master the letter, his brother helped him with learning the role.

MOVIES

In 1908, Chaplin joined the Fred Karno Theater, which was famous for its pantomimes and sketches. In the shortest possible time, the guy became the leading artist and was involved in the main repertoire of the theater. Two years later, the theater went on a tour of America, and during this Chaplin decided to stay in the States.

During one of the performances, Charlie caught the eye of producer Mac Sennett. He was delighted with the performance of the artist, and immediately invited him to work with him. In the fall of 1913, Charlie signed his first major contract with Keystone Studios, which set him a salary of $150 a week.

At first, Chaplin's work did not work out. The producer already regretted calling him to work, and was even going to fire him. But less than a year later, Charlie became a leading artist. The audience was delighted with the masterful transformation of the actor into the rude heroes of the director's productions. But more success was brought to the artist by roles in which he demonstrates humanity and lyricism.

When Sennett started filming the comedy "Children's Car Races", he suggested that Chaplin put on some other make-up. After some thought, Charlie appeared before the producer in wide trousers, a tight-fitting jacket, a funny bowler hat and boots on different legs. A small mustache completed the look. So there was an image by which Chaplin is recognized even now.

Some time later, he added a cane to the image of the little Tramp, which he saw in the picture of his own father. His character gained enormous popularity. And after that, the artist realizes that he can independently write scripts and make films, and even more successfully than his current leaders.

In 1914, the artist took his first picture, which he called "Caught in the rain." He not only starred in this tape, but was also the scriptwriter and director. Chaplin terminated his contract with Keystone Studios and signed a new one with Esseny Film. Here, his fee was $ 1,250 per week and ten thousand dollars for the conclusion of the contract.

In 1916 and 1917, the artist found the Mutual Film studio, which offered him even more favorable terms. Now he receives $10,000 a week and was given $150,000 for the contract. At the end of 1917, Chaplin's talent was rated even higher.

FIRST NATIONAL STUDIO OFFERED HIM A $1MILLION CONTRACT. THIS WAS THE MOST EXPENSIVE CONTRACT AT THE TIME.

In 1919, Chaplin created his own United Artists studio, where he created his masterpieces until the 50s, until he left America forever. The best paintings created at this studio were "Gold Rush", "Parisian", "Modern Times", "City Lights".

The film "Parisian" did not please the audience. In this psychological drama, Chaplin played himself. However, according to critics, the picture turned out to be worthy, and the artist himself received laudatory reviews as an author. In the 1920s, he released the tapes "Gold Rush" and "Circus", which became classics of world cinema and fell in love with the audience.

PERSONAL LIFE

In the personal life of the great comedian, there were four official marriages and twelve children, one of which, after a genetic examination, was recognized as non-native. The first time Charlie married Mildred Harris, with whom he lived for only two years. Their son Norman died in infancy. The second wife of the comedian was Lita Gray Chaplin, and this marriage lasted four years.

The girl was only 16, and they had to go to Mexico, where such marriages were registered. The wife gave birth to Chaplin's two sons - Charles and Sidney. When they divorced, the artist paid his ex-wife an incredible amount, which ranges from 700-850 thousand dollars.

Chaplin's third wife was Pollet Goddard Chaplin, whom he married in 1932. Family life lasted 8 years, in 1940 they divorced, and soon the writer Erich Remarque became Pollet's husband.

The actor married Una O'Neill for the fourth time in 1943. The difference in the age of the spouses was 36 years. Chaplin lived with her until his death.

Una gave her husband 8 children - 3 sons and 5 daughters, with the youngest born when Chaplin was 72.