The unsurpassed comedian of the silent film

By Amal HEWAVISSENTI

Charles Spenser Chaplin's film producer Sennet was moving heaven and earth to plan an extremely humorous character and an ideal costume for it in the film "The Little Tramp". Strangely enough, Charles Spenser Chaplin (popularly known as Charlie Chaplin) took upon himself the task of inventing the best attire which fitted perfectly into his comic hue.

In his autobiography, he plainly acknowledges to have worn a trouser too big for him and tightened it with a coir rope at the hip in his experiment for the ridiculous character in "The little tramp".

Uncontrollable laughter!

Then he wore an equally fitting derby hat and an awkward jacket which noticeably appeared to be too small for him. He misplaced his right foot and left foot in a giant pair of shoes and fixed a funny moustache which excited immediate laughter.

Though Chaplin had a vague picture of the character he was given the funny but complete makeup readily convinced him that it fitted perfectly into the funny character he was to play in his first film. Chaplin's debut in the film "The Little Tramp" marks the beginning of his film career and virtually brings him to the wider focus of public attention.

As recorded in his autobiography, he explained to Sennet, "This character is that of a multifaceted personality. He is a gentleman and a poet. He is, on the other hand, a dreaming vagabond. He has something of a musician and a scientist in him and he prefers solitude.

He earnestly believes in love and in everything he means business. Yet, if occasion permits, he would kick a woman and it is accompanied by anger... (As I said these words, Sennet my film producer, burst into laughing and suggested rehearsals and performing in the location)

Just as I was making for the location, I tripped over the feet of a woman and fell flat on the ground. I turned back and raised my hat in token of apologetic salutation. When I was doing so, I tripped once again over a spittoon and raised my hat at it in apology. Suddenly I was overwhelmed by a thunderous laughter from those behind cameras. I thus realised that my acting was realistic and successful.

The silent film "The Little Tramps" (screened in 1915) signalised a major turnaround in Chaplin's cinematic career. The film is readily acclaimed the marvel of Chaplin's 52 year cinematic career and it is his first class classical film. Through this film Chaplin gives free expression to what any person has got to reveal about himself. He achieves surprising success in entertaining the audience with whatever role he plays though at the same time his role stands for fundamental human nature.

However, his acting is powerful enough to plunge the viewers into uncontrollable laughter and thunderous clapping reverberates the cinema hall.

His critics and fans 'unanimously' agree that he outdoes everything under the sun in providing light-hearted fun. The film "The Little Tramps" grossly represents the quintessence of human nature and ends in an unimaginably tragic note in spite of its prevalent humour.

Silent film

His masterly acting in the film popularised him as an emerging script writer, film director, a producer and an influential actor within the first half of twentieth century. the synopsis of the film runs as follows.

Chaplin manages to rescue a girl trapped in the custody of a gang of robbers. As a reward for his "valour", the girl's father employs Chaplin in his farm promising attractive wages.

Once again Chaplin comes out with a superb opportunity to display his bravery when the gang of robbers break into the farm to seize the girl. Chaplin successfully neutralizes the aggression by the criminals but unfortunately a gunshot from the criminals leaves his foot seriously injured.

Chaplin enjoys the therapeutic nursing by the farmer's daughter who gradually develops feelings of love for him.

Here he finds himself powerless to resit the "shock" produced by the unexpected but undisguised love from the lady and he sets out on his journey as usual with the shabby bag on his back.

Money thrown on stage

The boy who tasted abject poverty in orphanages and poor houses for around two years, used to be a vagrant and to earn a living by acting on streets of London. Yet as a young man of 28 years, he became one of the famous billionaire actors in America, says Chaplin in his autobiography.

"My mother who had enfeebled mental condition was acting on stage when I was just five years old. The particular scene in which she was performing on that memorable day was an extremely squalid inn which was frequented by soldiers.

I noticed that her voice was being deteriorating and spectators were beginning to laugh insolently at her. Ultimately the manager of the theatre asked me (still six years old) to do something to supplant my mother's weak performance. The manager introduced me to the audience before he left the stage for me..."

"I sang a popular song and in no time, the enthraled audience threw money on the stage.

I discontinued singing and declared that I would resume singing after collecting the money on stage. At this the audience laughed and clapped more and more.

I entertained them well by funny talking, singing, dancing and imitating the voices of famous people of the time. I did not forget to imitate the weak voice of my mother in singing the song "Irish March" previously sung by her on the stage. This performance brought more money on to the stage and uninterrupted clapping almost deafened me. This was my first and last appearance on stage..."

Wealth and status

Charles Spenser Chaplin's role of "Little Tramp" inevitably popularised him as a silent film star, film director, script writer and a film producer.

More than eighty films are among his immortal cinema productions which enraptured audience crushing down all discriminations, tastes and differences. He was a multi-millionaire when he died at the age of 88.

The most distinguishable characteristic of his life is the uniformity of his ideas, attitudes and lifestyle whether he is living miserably or leading a life of a multi-millionaire.

During the first half of twentieth century, he was at the forefront of popularity earning the praise and admiration from all sorts of people. A close study of his life shows that his was an arduous journey from poverty and humiliation to the apex of success.

The unexpected in flux of wealth from his popularity failed to bring about any change in the attitudes inherent in him from childhood. He spent his wealth lavishly for people who interested him but no sign of extravagance was observable in his personal life.

Playing accordion

Chaplin is the producer, script writer and the director of his films and sometimes he composed fitting music for them. In 1916 he signed a 670000 dollar contract even though he was ever prepared to embrace poverty at any moment. In 1952 the American government prohibited his return to America as he was charged with upholding communism and improper behaviour. America labelled him a miscreant.

Chaplin was often seen playing an accordion or humming a famous melody of his films in a separate room while he was on location. Even in functions and public shows, Chaplin had the strange habit of either talking with a friend or reading a book rather than enjoying the responses from audience.

In course of three divorces got married with Ona Onil, an 18 year old girl and permanently resided in a fabulous house on the banks of a tank in Switzerland. Strangely, Chaplin failed in all attempts to be a sensitive friendly father to his children who strongly detested him.

Having dressed in unrecognisably shabby clothes, Chaplin used to take his children on evening walks and expose them to the miserable atmosphere where orphan children lived.

Back at home, he would tell his children to contemplate on the unlucky situation where most poor children live.

Later on he was honoured with a knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II and awarded Oscar in the Hollywood city. Even after his death, people throng to watch the superb films by the nonpareil comedian. The appeal of the films still attract a massive audience because Chaplin's humour still lives on.