I just read the blogs by Andy36 and TheLittleFellow1991. I am 15 years old. I first discovered Charlie Chaplin last January by watching the movie "Chaplin" with Robert Downey Jr. as suggested by my mom. After the movie was over...I popped in "The Gold Rush". I had never seen a silent movie before and wasn't sure what to expect. But as soon as that "Little Tramp" walked around the mountain in the very first scene...I fell in love with Charlie Chaplin. I would have to say that the "Gold Rush" is my favorite but perhaps that is only because it was my first Chaplin experience. I honestly can't say which one is my favorite as I love them all. I have always enjoyed slapstick comedy since I was a tiny tot and Charlie is the best. I can watch his movies over and over again and still laugh out loud. I am trying to get my 2 year old nephew hooked on Chaplin too. We watch his movies together whenever he comes over. I also love dressing up like the 'Little Tramp' and walking around town. It brings me joy when I see someone smiling at me or saying to their children..."Look, there's Charlie Chaplin!" As far as I can see...as long as people acknowledge him to their children...Charlie Chaplin will live on forever. And I am very proud to have a hand in doing so. I also like the Marx Brothers and Harpo being my favorite. I am currently taking harp lessons and am working on my Harpo Marx outfit and routine. I would love to get into theatre myself but haven't had the opportunity yet so...dressing up like my favorite actors will just have to do for now. My favorite music is songs by Billy Holiday and my CD of harp music by Harpo Marx. If you get a chance to hear that CD...do so because it is very beautiful. I hope to play the song "Smile" on my harp someday. I am so very happy to see that there are kids my age who enjoy and appreciate the classics as I do. None of my friends will even give the classics a chance. They are spoiled by the special effects of todays movies and can't appreciate the art form of those talented and funny men of yesteryear. They don't know what they are missing. Personally if I had the choice of watching a classic movie or 5 recently released movies...I would choose the classic movie...hands down!!! So yes...I am so very glad to see there are other young people who share my interest in those wonderful old classic movies. I don't feel so alone now.
Comments
h_essey
Also...one of my dreams is to someday get a chance to travel to Switzerland and visit the Chaplin Museum. Maybe.....someday.
andy36
Hardly any of my friends give the classics a chance either! I said to my chum Chris that he'd love a woman of paris and the great dictator, but he doesn't listen. I think because they are black and white he's afraid of them hehe, and he says that they're old and boring - but he has never watched any! And doesn't kow hoe modern a woman of paris is! =] i understand
andy36
and when my brother comes in and i'm watching a Charlie Chaplin film he almost always says - 'Nah! Put something else on! This is black and white and they don't even talk!' and it annoys me soooo much! And he even laughed his head off at one am when i showed him it. Okay hehe end of rant. And i'd love to go to the museum in switzerland! :P
meeximus
Your brother and chums don't know what they are missing. Maybe one of these days they will appreciate these films. I agree, a woman of Paris was so ahead of it's time when it was made and it is still very modern. Charlie's physical comedy in One a.m. is astounding.
meeximus
h_essey-would love to see photos of you dressed as Harpo. He was the best Marx Brother. :-D
Lavinia89
I have to say, I don't like the movie "Chaplin". You're welcome, anyway! :D
h_essey
I know exactly what you are saying Andy. My older sister does the same thing to me when I am watching a Chaplin movie. I would have to strap her to a chair to get her to watch one of his movies. My older brother is the same way. They just don't seem interested. I know they both like classic movies so I am really not sure why they don't want to give 'silent movies' a chance. But...there is still hope for my lil' nephew!! ;)
h_essey
In case you weren't already aware of this little bit of trivia...Charlie makes a very brief appearance in "A Woman of Paris". It's in the scene...near the beginning of the film at the train station. Charlie is the man carrying a trunk.
meeximus
Yeah, he's completely unrecognizable. Have you noticed when he is signing the title card for the movie that he signs with his right hand, even though he was left-handed.Was he ambidextrous?
h_essey
Yes...I have noticed that on a couple of his movies. Does anyone know for sure whether he was ambidextrous??
andy36
Yes i assume so, i'm not sure but somewhere in the great dictator he signs with his right hand on a peice of paper - possibly the declaration of war, i'm not sure
andy36
h_essey, you have created a very good discussion from you blog ;) - well done, =D
meeximus
meeximus
I also noticed him writing with his right hand in The Tramp and on footage from contract signing for United Artists. He obviously trained himself to sign with right hand. Wonder if it was because of silly superstitions of left-handed people?
h_essey
Thanks andy!
h_essey
I have a question...does anyone know where I might be able to find the movie short "His Prehistoric Past"?? I have been wanting to see it but don't know where to look for it.
meeximus
You can find it on the web on youtube or like television. Do a google search for like tv or like television and it will bring up the site. There is a menu of movies and it is listed under chaplin.
andy36
If you purchase the BFI remastered Keystone collection i believe it is in that, second set i think. I bought as big box of 50 chaplin shorts, thinking it's be the Keystone's and the Essenays (seeing as the numbers made sense, including the documentary) but it wasn't, it included mutuals aswell and it was all jumbled up. >:( hehe
meeximus
The remastered collections would be worth it because the stuff on the web is pretty worn out. Since it is in public domain, anyone can load up an old film. Same as Andy, when you buy the cheap copies, they are all pan and scans of old home movie copies and they are spliced-up, jumpy and pretty sorry quality overall. Think Image is supposed to be working on remastering the Keystones. Hope so.
andy36
yeah, the cheaper colelction i bought 'the essential chaplin collection' was on ten discs and very good quality by my eye, but i noticed a few scenes missing from certain shorts which was very annoying.
andy36
Can anybody involved in this extended discussion help me? I think that i can hear a bit of Elgar cello concerto 1st movement during some of the ghetto scenes in the great dictator but i am not sure, does anyone know if it is/isn't or if chaplin's score was influenced by it? Because i recognised brans hungarian dance is the music the barber shaves to ;).
andy36
or if you haven't spoken yet! =D
h_essey
You did a good job with your pictures meeximus! Very creative!
meeximus
Thanks, h-essey! Your pictures are good, too!
silent twenties
I am lucky to have my son, age 5, as a Chaplin fan. My husband enjoys it too, but not like we do. My son, Dax, and I watch Chaplin shorts at least once or twice a month. I am working to collect all he made (that is still in existence) and Dax and I share each new piece. YouTube is a good place to find people's tributes to Charlie as well. There are clips people have put together into mini-films, music, and all kinds of interesting impersonators. I think my son had as much fun dressing as Jackie Coogan for our photo shoot as I did dressing as Charlie. Dax still puts the hat on and walks around the house looking mischeivious. Sorry Andy, I don't know about the music. Unfortunately, I do not yet own The Great Dictator.