5 published parts · in reading order
Charlie Chaplin
Follow Chaplin’s life, films and changing world, from the birth of the Tramp to his lasting legacy.
Start with part oneRead the series
Begin with part one, or pick up where you left off.
Charlie Chaplin: From Poverty to the Birth of the Tramp
Before the hat, cane, and moustache came a childhood of uncertainty and years on stage. We return to Chaplin’s beginnings to explore how observation, training, and physical timing gave the Tramp a language of his own.
Read articleCharlie Chaplin: How He Became Master of His Films
From the Tramp in front of the camera to the artist shaping filming, production and distribution: the time that made Chaplin’s rhythm possible.
Read articleWhy Did Chaplin Refuse to Let Cinema Speak?
From City Lights to Modern Times: body, music, effects and a song in an imaginary language. How did Chaplin negotiate the sound revolution without losing the Tramp’s language?
Read articleWhen Chaplin Spoke and Clashed with Politics
From The Great Dictator and Monsieur Verdoux to the return crisis of 1952 and A King in New York: how did Chaplin’s relationship with his voice and public image change?
Read articleThe Man Behind the Tramp: Chaplin Between Legend and Legacy
The conclusion of the Charlie Chaplin special: the man behind the Tramp, life with Oona in Switzerland, work and music, the Oscar return and a legacy still moving on screen.
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