The Tramp

Charlie Chaplin as The Tramp

As we look forward to a new year of fresh faces, rising stars and 'ones to watch' we pay tribute to screen legend Charlie Chaplin, who died 30 years ago on Christmas Day.

Charlie Chaplin passed away in his house in Vevey, Switzerland.
Thirty years later, audiences from all countries and of all ages still remember his immortal persona, the Tramp.

One of the influences that led to the birth of this character was Chaplin’s dismal childhood: born on April 16, 1889 in Walworth, London from two music hall entertainers, he soon walked the stages as a performer.

 The Chaplins lived in utter misery, which formed Charlie’s critical views of society and politically radical ideas.

 In 1908 he joined impresario Fred Karno and his stage company.
 In 1912 the troupe went to perform in America, and Chaplin decided to stay. In 1913 he signed a contract with producer Mack Sennett (a sort of Harvey Weinstein of the time) and left for Hollywood.
 His first movie, Making A Living, premiered in 1914.
Soon followed Kid Auto Races In Venice, the first appearance of Chaplin as the Tramp.
“I had no idea what makeup to put on… However on the way to the wardrobe I thought I would dress in baggy pants, big shoes, a cane and a derby hat. I wanted everything to be a contradiction... I added a small moustache... I had no idea of the character. But the moment I was dressed, the clothes and the makeup made me feel the person he was. I began to know him, and by the time I walked on stage he was fully born."

As the Tramp, a vagrant who maintains the dignity of a gentleman through the asperities of life, he shot a pack of short films and his full-length masterworks: sentimental comedies The Kid (1921) and City Lights (1931) are hilarious, cruel and tear-jerking at the same time, Modern Times (1936) is a social allegory in which an alienated worker is literally swallowed by machinery.

 They irrevocably prove that "Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long shot", as Chaplin said.

The Tramp, his attire and moustache immediately became an icon.
Then Nazism raised its head in Europe and the artist responded with The Great Dictator (1940). His portrayal of Adenoid Hynkel, a not so subtle lampooning of Hitler, dancing with an inflatable world globe, went down in history.
 Chaplin said that had he foreseen the proportions of the murderous folly of Nazism, he wouldn’t have made fun of it; but it is known that the film, although banned in many countries, was watched by Hitler. "I'd give anything to know what he thought of it", Chaplin commented.

His radicalism looked too eager, and in the McCarthy era Chaplin was accused of Communism.
After releasing Monsieur Verdoux (1947), a vitriolic attack against capitalism, he was subpoenaed by the House Un-American Activities Council.
Although discharged, Chaplin and his family were denied re-entry in the USA in 1952, after travelling to London to promote drama Limelight.
They settled in Switzerland and Chaplin’s film career declined.

He would return to America only in 1972 to be awarded an honorary Oscar.
 In 1975 he was named Knight Commander of the British Empire. In 1977 he died.

Aside from his professional achievements, Chaplin was a goldmine of gossip-fodder: he caused controversies by marrying women much younger than himself.
His last wife Oona O’Neill was 18 when Chaplin, 54, wed her; he had his last child  aged 73

.These elements reveal that his nature was energetic and full of life. Chaplin put all the passion his heart could convey into the Tramp films: a victim of Fate (when separated from the kid in The Kid), of human meanness (in City Lights he is rejected by the blind flower-girl when she discovers he is not the wealthy sir she had imagined), of the alienating system (in Modern Times) - yet we sympathize with his immense generosity and naiveté.

The Tramp takes to the surface the good in us: as disillusioned Calvero (one of Chaplin’s late roles) says in Limelight, “There’s greatness in everyone”.

Vera Brozzoni

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