A Rare Candid Photo Of Charlie Chaplin, Colorized
Everyone knows who Charlie Chaplin was, even if you never saw one of his films. The iconic mustache, bowler hat, and his pantomiming perfection cemented him as an immortalized comedic genius. Even though the legendary actor’s exploits began over 100 years ago, people still know the name and the unforgettable tramp that set the bar for what was funny.
As ubiquitous as Chaplin remains in our culture, there's something special about seeing him in color. Photos of a young Chaplin are all in black and white, placing him very firmly in the past. Through colorization techniques we can actually see what it would look like if Chaplin were around today.
However, Chaplin’s actual life was far from the high jinx-laden theatre that became his calling card. Many famous people live through a controversy or two but Chaplin lived through more difficult times than most of Hollywood combined. Naturally, a few of the scandals were of his own making.
An Early Start & Difficult Upbringing
Chaplin’s parents were both down on their luck entertainers who’d perform for anyone who’d pay them. Whether it was music halls or street corners, young Charlie got a taste of the life of a performer before he could read properly. At age 5, his mother lost her voice on stage and a precocious Chaplin was ushered on stage to fill the gap.
According to the History Channel, Chaplin belted out a popular song called, “Jack Jones,” which endeared him to the crowd. He further won them over by announcing he’d pick up the money showered upon him before continuing and mimicking his mother’s lost voice.
Tragically, his mother’s lost voice was part of her never ending battle with a litany of health issues. Ultimately, she was committed to an insane asylum for many years before a successful Chaplin rescued her. His father abandoned his two kids and died of alcoholism; Charlie and his brother ended up in a public boarding school. The 18 months spent there became the longest period of schooling he would receive.
Finding his niche
Chaplin made his way by acting in his traveling troupe and vaudeville tours which brought him to America. Eventually, Keystone Studios saw him and hired him away for the princely sum of $150 a week. Adjusting for inflation, that netted Chaplin nearly $4,000 weekly. Pretty good for your first movie gig in your mid-twenties.
Naturally, the famous idealist absolutely detested his work on “Making a Living.” He thought, “I was stiff. I took all the surprise out of the scenes by anticipating the next motion.” Chaplin also accused the director of cutting his best material due to jealousy. Infamously, Chaplin forced an actress to repeat the line “Flower, sir,” 342 times before she got it right. Say what you will about him, the man knew what he wanted.
From Literal Rags To Riches
Before his second film, Chaplin expanded on the role he played in “Making a Living” and unveiled the full Little Tramp. Dressed in his seminal baggy pants, oversized shoes, bowler hat, mustache, and bamboo cane, he strutted around the set while his fellow actors played pinochle. Apparently, the head of Keystone Studios thought this was the funniest thing he’d ever seen, nearly wet himself, and “giggled until his body began to shake.”
Supposedly, he then told Chaplin, “You do exactly what you’re doing now in your next picture. Remember to do it in that get-up.” Obviously, the studio head possessed a keen eye because Chaplin’s shtick immediately took off. Imitators and marketing campaigns quickly appeared everywhere. One writer called the craze, “Chaplinitis.”
For a quarter-century, Chaplin played the Little Tramp to enormous success. Almost overnight he became a millionaire when he signed with Essanay Studios and Mutual Film Corporation. Essanay paid him $1,250 a week plus a $10,000 bonus. Mutual Film Corporation literally backed up the Brinks truck to the tune of $670,000 plus another million for eight other comedies.
For a child who grew up destitute, the money was beyond magical. As he said, “I went into the business for money, and the art grew out of it. If people are disillusioned by that remark, I can’t help it. It’s the truth.”
Love Hurts
While Chaplin mastered the art of making people laugh seemingly before he reached puberty, understanding love and women came much, much later. The conqueror of comedy harbored an unhealthy love for teenage girls. Three of his four wives all consecrated their marriages before they reached the age of 20. More than one of the women he married became pregnant and he feared reprisal due to their age.
Chaplin was also a serial philanderer, hopping into bed with every starry-eyed beauty who crossed his path. His uncouth actions landed him in hot water with paternity suits that sullied his good name. In one instance he was found not to be the father but was forced to pay child support anyway.
Eventually, Chaplin did find love that lasted. He married Oona O'Neil, who at the time was 18 while he was 54. Her father was Eugene O’Neil, a famous playwright, and understandably apoplectic about their union. O’Neil even disinherited young Oona, but thankfully everything worked out. The couple stayed together until his death more than 30 years later and they ended up having eight children together.
Blacklisted In America
Unfortunately, for Chaplin, the many paternity suits and accusations of licentious behavior was far from the worst controversy he faced. In 40 years of living and acting in America, he never became a citizen. During his filming of “Modern Times,” a satire of the industrial age, he got caught in the crosshairs of the McCarthy era communist witch hunt. The FBI put him under surveillance and a congressman called for his deportation.
When Chaplin left for an English vacation, America revoked his re-entry permit. Instead of returning to interrogation by immigration officials, Chaplin moved his family to Switzerland and vowed never to return to the United States. Ultimately, he did return 20 years later for an honorary Academy Award which was accompanied by a 12-minute standing ovation. Perhaps, that was Hollywood’s way of apologizing for the government.
For the godfather of silent movies and the man who said “Words are cheap. The biggest thing you can say is ‘elephant.'” He was characteristically brief. “Words seem so futile and so feeble… you are all wonderful, sweet people. Thank you,” said Chaplin.
