Infinite Statue have unveiled their new limited edition statue commemorating one of Chaplin’s most important films, The Kid.
Many of Chaplin’s admirers regard The Kid as Chaplin’s most perfect and most personal film: “A picture with a smile… and perhaps, a tear.” This new statue aims to capture all the beauty and emotions that the film has given to many generations of viewers.
Bradley Lowery has touched a lot of people with his brave battle against cancer. The terminally ill six-year-old from Blackhall has inspired two Hartlepool sisters, Liv’n’G, to record Smile For Bradley, a cover of Charlie Chaplin’s Smile, in Bradley’s honour to raise awareness of Neuroblastoma, as well as to funds for the Bradley Lowery Foundation.
The track has already entered the official top 40 at number 4, which is unbelievable for a small charity single.
You can download the track here (proceeds go to the Bradley Lowery Foundation which aims to support other youngsters fighting cancer):
As reported in The Guardian, at a ceremony on 14 June 2017, English Heritage unveiled a blue plaque to Charlie Chaplin at Glenshaw Mansions on Brixton Road in London, where he lived with his brother Sydney between 1908 and 1910. Today, the front door stands between a newsagent and a dry cleaners, but the building itself survives much as Chaplin must have known it, despite the bomb that fell just behind it during the Second World War.
English comedian, Paul Merton unveiled the plaque, saying, “I’m proud to be associated with the foremost comic artist of the first half of the 20th century. This unveiling will remind us of the humble origins from which he sprung.”
At the ceremony, English Heritage blue plaque panel member, Greg Dyke (pictured above) addressed the audience of Chaplin fans that gathered together for the unveiling, saying, “We are delighted to honour one of cinema’s greatest stars and the modest building he once called home.”
Charlie Chaplin’s granddaughter Kathleen Chaplin was amongst the attendees. She is pictured below with her son Jaydn, French rap artist OGB (left), and Kate Guyonvarch, managing director of the Chaplin office (right)
The unveiling of the blue plaque was followed by a special screening of three of his shorts at the Ritzy Cinema on Brixton Road.
For a bit of further reading, English Heritage has published some insights on how Chaplin, Dickens and other blue plaque recipients responded to London poverty in their work in a newly published article, Chaplin, Dickens and London Poverty.
English Heritage will unveil a blue plaque to Charlie Chaplin at Glenshaw Mansions on Brixton Road, where he once lived with his brother Sydney, on June 14th at 2 pm. The unveiling will be followed by a special screening of three short films. Comedian Paul Merton will introduce Kid Auto Races at Venice (1914), The Pawnshop (1916) and A Dog’s Life (1918) at the Ritzy Cinema. The first two films will feature live accompaniment.
All are welcome at the unveiling and are encouraged to dress up as Chaplin’s iconic Tramp character. Tickets to the screening can be purchased on the Ritzy Cinema’s website.
The Limelight theme, titled “Terry’s Theme”, was to remain one of Chaplin’s best-loved compositions, and became a popular song known as “Eternally” with lyrics by Geoffrey Parsons. In 1973, over 20 years after the film’s first release, Chaplin and his musical collaborators Ray Rasch and Larry Russell were awarded a belated Oscar for “Best Original Dramatic Score”, although it was later established that Russell Garcia and not Larry Russell had worked with Ray Rasch on the music arrangements.
In the coming days, we’ll publish a new track from the original soundtrack once a day on Youtube so you can listen from anywhere! Subscribe to our Youtube channel to keep up with our daily posts.