Great Moments From Cinema - 16

With A Smile…And Perhaps A Tear
Movie: Films Of Charlie Chaplin (First National; Chaplin Productions; 1921-1940)
Director: Charlie Chaplin
Screenplay: Charlie Chaplin
Major Cast: Charlie Chaplin

Film Synopsis: Starting his first full length feature, “The Kid”, with a card having the above title, Chaplin set off on 20 years of brilliance where he made films, at least 6 of which redefine the word ‘classics’. Each of them featuring his immortal alter ego, ‘The tramp’, Chaplin tugs at the heartstrings while always entertaining his audience.

My Favorite Moment: Those bittersweet moments with the ‘tramp’ which bring out the human side of his zany character.

Why I Like It: Although I am discussing scenes from his feature length films, his legendary status had already been established through his 50+ short films since 1914. It is difficult to pick just one scene as my favorite moment. A separate article is required to discuss the unforgettable closing of “City Lights”, but that still leaves a plethora of memorable Chaplin moments. It could be the heart wrenching scene from “The Kid” as the ‘tramp’ chases after the truck carrying away the kid. Or from The “Circus” it could be the lonely sight of the ‘tramp’ sitting on the empty grounds after marrying off his love and seeing her leave with the circus.

“Gold Rush”, the film he wanted to be remembered for, has several of the legendary scenes, including the one where he eats his shoe and of course the ‘dance of the dinner rolls’ where he stabs the rolls with his fork and does a dance with them. His facial expressions while doing this make it a poetically brilliant scene.

After the depression, Chaplin made a statement with his masterpiece “Modern Times”. The scene with the ‘tramp’ caught in the mechanical gears is one of the indelible images of cinema. The movie was a satire on the advent of machinery as replacement for manpower and nowhere is it emphasized more, than the ‘eating scene’ where an out-of-control machine tries to feed the ‘tramp’ his lunch. The film has an incredible soundtrack, composed by none other than Chaplin, and includes the great theme ‘Smile’ which is sublime, to say the least.

Chaplin’s last film as the ‘tramp’ was the brilliant “The Great Dictator”. It was his first talkie and any doubts that Chaplin would fail, were put to rest with academy award nominations for ‘Best Film’ and ‘Best Actor’. His speech at the end where he is mistaken as the dictator is evidence enough to showcase his acting talent.

Chaplin continued to make movies but some magic was lost in 1940 when the ‘tramp’ was put to rest. His films have not aged and audiences have always embraced the ‘tramp’s’ silence. Only once in the 78 years of Academy Awards has the final award of the evening not been for ‘Best Film’. That was in 1971 when the ‘Lifetime Achievement’ award was bestowed upon Chaplin to tremendous ovation, such is his legacy. Einstein once said about Gandhi, "Generations to come, it may be, will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked on this earth." For me, he may well have been talking about Chaplin.