Charlie Chaplin once named his favourite Charlie Chaplin movie: “A real comedy”
The early days of cinema were defined by certain faces, and none were more recognisable than Charlie Chaplin. The comic actor grew up performing on stage, making his debut at the age of five. As he grew older, he continued starring in vaudeville, comedy troupes and plays, establishing himself as a talented presence.
Chaplin soon transitioned to starring in films as the medium started to become more popular, making his acting debut in the 1914 short film Making A Living. Enthralled by the process of making movies, he quickly began to pick up more roles, developing a character that he would become known for.
He introduced his comedic persona, The Tramp, also known as The Little Tramp, in the 1914 film Kid Auto Races at Venice, directed by Henry Lehrman. His little moustache and bowler hat are instant signifiers of his character, which he played in many of his films. Chaplin made his directorial debut with Twenty Minutes of Love in 1914, in which he also played The Tramp, although he took on the role of a pickpocket for the movie.
Talking to Richard Meryman for Life magazine, the silent era star once explained his approach to creating The Tramp’s outfit. “It all came about in an emergency. The cameraman said put on some funny makeup, and I hadn’t the slightest idea what to do. I went to the dress department and on the way I thought, well, I’ll have them make everything in contradiction—baggy trousers, tight coat, large head, small hat—raggedy hut at the same time a gentleman.”
He continued: “I had a sad, serious face. I wanted to hide that and make it comic, so I found a little mustache. And that mustache was no concept of the characterisation—only saying that it was rather silly. It doesn’t hide my expression.”
Chaplin would end up playing The Tramp in some of his most iconic movies, like The Kid, The Tramp, The Gold Rush and Modern Times. However, arguably his greatest was City Lights, which was released in 1931. Despite sound cinema now dominating the industry, Chaplin still made films without audio, choosing to stick with what he was used to.
The actor once picked the film as his favourite thing he’d ever created, telling Meryman, “Well, I think I liked City Lights. I think it’s solid, well done. City Lights is a real comedy.” The film follows The Tramp as he falls in love with a woman who is blind and selling flowers. However, due to her visual impairment, she doesn’t realise that she is being wooed by The Tramp, mistakenly believing he is a rich man.
There are, of course, plenty of slapstick moments and misunderstandings, with Chaplin on top form as he hangs out with a millionaire he saves from committing suicide, gets himself a job sweeping the streets, and tries to win the affections of the flower girl. The film is now considered one of the greatest movies ever made, with its influence on comedy proving monumental. Most people associate Chaplin with City Lights, which has endured over 100 years later as a classic piece of comedic cinema.
