Charlie Chaplin filmography

A smiling man with a small moustache wearing a bowler hat and a tight-fitting necktie and coat
Charlie Chaplin in his "Tramp" persona

Charlie Chaplin (1889–1977) was an English actor, comedian, and filmmaker whose work in motion pictures spanned from 1914 until 1967. During his early years in film he became established as a worldwide cinematic idol renowned for his tramp persona. In the 1910s and 1920s he was considered the most famous person on the planet.[1]

Chaplin was born in London and began acting on stage at the age of nine.[2] In 1913, while on tour in the United States with Fred Karno's comedy group, he accepted a contract to work for Mack Sennett's Keystone film company. During his time at Keystone he began writing and directing some of the films in which he starred. Chaplin signed with the Essanay Film Manufacturing Company in 1915 and the year after with the Mutual Film Corporation. In 1918 Chaplin began producing his own films, initially releasing them through First National and then through United Artists, a corporation he co-founded with Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, and D. W. Griffith.[3] In the late 1940s and early 1950s Chaplin was accused of being a Communist sympathiser, which he denied.[4] He remained a British subject and, while travelling to England in 1952 to attend the premiere of his film, Limelight, his American re-entry permit was rescinded.[5] Chaplin eventually settled in Switzerland, where he remained for the rest of his life. He made his last two films in England.

During his lifetime Chaplin received three awards from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. At the first Academy Awards ceremony, held on 16 May 1929, he was originally nominated for Best Actor and Best Director for The Circus (1928). The Academy dropped his two nominations and he won an honorary award for writing, directing, producing, and acting.[6][7] In 1972 he returned to the United States after nearly two decades to receive another honorary award, this time for his overall achievements in cinema. The following year Chaplin's score for Limelight received the Academy Award for Best Music. Although 20 years old by this time, Limelight had not been released in the Los Angeles area until 1972, and had not been eligible for Academy Award consideration before then.[7] Chaplin also received Academy Award nominations in 1940 for Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay for The Great Dictator. In 1942, Chaplin released a new version of The Gold Rush, taking the original silent 1925 film and composing and recording a musical score which was not released in 1925. The Gold Rush was nominated for Best Music(Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture). His last nomination was in 1947 for his screenplay of Monsieur Verdoux.[7]

As of 2011, six of the films Chaplin starred in have been added to the American National Film Registry: The Immigrant (1917), The Kid (1921), The Gold Rush (1925), City Lights (1931), Modern Times (1936), and The Great Dictator (1940). Also selected was Show People (1928), which features Chaplin in an unbilled cameo appearance.[8] For his work in motion pictures, Chaplin has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[9]

Official films

In 1964, Chaplin established his official filmography with the publication of his book, My Autobiography. The filmography consisted of 80 motion pictures released since 1914. Further detail was added to it in David Robinson's 1985 biography, Chaplin: His Life and Art, which included Chaplin's last film, A Countess from Hong Kong (1967), as the 81st entry. In 2010, an 82nd film was added with the discovery of A Thief Catcher, an early Keystone film hitherto thought lost.[10]

All of Chaplin's films up to and including The Circus (1928) were silent, although many were re-issued with soundtracks. City Lights (1931) and Modern Times (1936) were essentially silent films, although they were made with soundtracks consisting of music and sound effects, with talking sequences in the latter film. Chaplin's last five films were all talking pictures. Aside from A Countess From Hong Kong, all of Chaplin's films were photographed in 35mm black and white.

Except where otherwise referenced, the release dates, character names, and annotations presented here are derived from Chaplin's autobiography, Robinson's book, and The Films of Charlie Chaplin (1965) by Gerald D. McDonald, Michael Conway, and Mark Ricci.

Keystone

Chaplin appeared in 36 films for Keystone Studios, all produced by Mack Sennett. Except where noted all films were one reel in length.

Release date Title Credited as Notes
Composer Producer Writer Director Role
February 2, 1914 Making a Living Slicker
February 7, 1914 Kid Auto Races at Venice Tramp Released on a split-reel (i.e. two films on one reel) with an education film, Olives and Trees
February 9, 1914 Mabel's Strange Predicament Tramp Filmed before but released after Kid Auto Races at Venice, hence it was in this film that the Tramp costume was first used.[11]
February 19, 1914 A Thief Catcher A Policeman Print discovered in 2010[10]
February 28, 1914 Between Showers Masher
March 2, 1914 A Film Johnnie The Film Johnnie
March 9, 1914 Tango Tangles Tipsy Dancer
March 16, 1914 His Favourite Pastime Drinker
March 26, 1914 Cruel, Cruel Love Lord Helpus
April 4, 1914 The Star Boarder The Star boarder
April 18, 1914 Mabel at the Wheel Villain Two reels
April 20, 1914 Twenty Minutes of Love Yes Yes Pickpocket
April 27, 1914 Caught in a Cabaret Waiter Two reels
Co-writer: Mabel Normand
May 4, 1914 Caught in the Rain Yes Yes Tipsy Hotel Guest
May 7, 1914 A Busy Day Yes Yes Wife Released on a split-reel with an educational short, The Morning Papers
June 1, 1914 The Fatal Mallet Suitor
June 4, 1914 Her Friend the Bandit Yes Yes Bandit A lost film.[12] The only known Chaplin lost film.
Co-director: Mabel Normand
June 11, 1914 The Knockout Referee Two reels
June 13, 1914 Mabel's Busy Day Tipsy Nuisance
June 20, 1914 Mabel's Married Life Yes Yes Mabel's Husband Co-writer: Mabel Normand
July 9, 1914 Laughing Gas Yes Yes Dentist's Assistant
August 1, 1914 The Property Man Yes Yes The Property Man Two reels
August 10, 1914 The Face on the Bar Room Floor Yes Yes Artist Based on the poem by Hugh Antoine d'Arcy
August 13, 1914 Recreation Yes Yes Tramp Released as a split-reel with a travel short, The Yosemite
August 27, 1914 The Masquerader Yes Yes Film Actor
August 31, 1914 His New Profession Yes Yes Charlie
September 7, 1914 The Rounders Yes Yes Reveller
September 14, 1914 The New Janitor Yes Yes Janitor
October 10, 1914 Those Love Pangs Yes Yes Masher
October 26, 1914 Dough and Dynamite Yes Yes Waiter Two reels
Co-writer: Mack Sennett
October 29, 1914 Gentlemen of Nerve Yes Yes Impecunious Track Enthusiast
November 7, 1914 His Musical Career Yes Yes Piano Mover
November 9, 1914 His Trysting Place Yes Yes Husband Two reels
November 14, 1914 Tillie's Punctured Romance Charlie, a City Slicker Six reels
From the play, Tillie's Nightmare, by A. Baldwin Sloane and Edgar Smith
December 5, 1914 Getting Acquainted Yes Yes Spouse
December 7, 1914 His Prehistoric Past Yes Yes Weakchin Two reels

Essanay

Chaplin wrote, directed, and starred in 15 films for the Essanay Film Manufacturing Company, all produced by Jesse T. Robbins. Except where noted all films are two-reelers.

Release date Title Credited as Notes
Composer Producer Writer Director Role
February 1, 1915 His New Job YesYes Film Extra
February 15, 1915 A Night Out YesYes Reveller debut of Edna Purviance
March 11, 1915 The Champion YesYes Aspiring Pugilist
March 18, 1915 In the Park YesYes Charlie One reel
April 1, 1915 A Jitney Elopement YesYes Suitor, the Fake Count
April 11, 1915 The Tramp YesYes The Tramp
April 29, 1915 By the Sea YesYes Stroller One reel
June 21, 1915 Work YesYes Decorator's Apprentice
July 12, 1915 A Woman YesYes Charlie / "The Woman"
August 9, 1915 The Bank YesYes Janitor
October 4, 1915 Shanghaied YesYes Charlie
November 20, 1915 A Night in the Show YesYes Mr. Pest and Mr. Rowdy
December 18, 1915 Burlesque on 'Carmen' YesYes Darn Hosiery Re-issued on 22 April 1916, as an unauthorised four-reeler with new footage shot and assembled by Leo White
May 27, 1916 Police YesYes Ex-Convict
August 11, 1918 Triple Trouble YesYes Janitor Compilation assembled by Leo White with scenes from Police and an unfinished short, Life, along with new material shot by White. Chaplin includes this production in the filmography of his autobiography.

Mutual

Chaplin wrote, produced, directed, and starred in 12 films for the Mutual Film Corporation, which formed "Lone Star Studios" solely for Chaplin's films. All of the Mutual releases are two reels in length. In 1932, Amadee J. Van Beuren of Van Beuren Studios purchased Chaplin's Mutual comedies for $10,000 each, added music by Gene Rodemich and Winston Sharples and sound effects, and re-released them through RKO Radio Pictures.[13]

Release date Title Credited as Notes
Composer Producer Writer Director Role
May 15, 1916 The Floorwalker YesYesYes Impecunious Customer Co-writer: Vincent Bryan
June 12, 1916 The Fireman YesYesYes Fireman Co-writer: Vincent Bryan
July 10, 1916 The Vagabond YesYesYes Street Musician Co-writer: Vincent Bryan
August 7, 1916 One A.M. YesYesYes Drunk
September 4, 1916 The Count YesYesYes Tailor's Apprentice
October 2, 1916 The Pawnshop YesYesYes Pawnbroker's Assistant
November 13, 1916 Behind the Screen YesYesYes Property Man's Assistant
December 4, 1916 The Rink YesYesYes Waiter and Skating Enthusiast
January 22, 1917 Easy Street YesYesYes Vagabond recruited to Police Force
April 16, 1917 The Cure YesYesYes Alcoholic Gentleman at Spa
June 17, 1917 The Immigrant YesYesYes Immigrant Added to the National Film Registry in 1998[14]
October 22, 1917 The Adventurer YesYesYes Escaped Convict

First National

Chaplin wrote, produced, directed, and starred in nine films for his own production company between 1918 and 1923. These films were distributed by First National.

Release date Title Credited as Notes
Composer Producer Writer Director Role
April 14, 1918 A Dog's Life YesYesYesYes Tramp Three reels
Score composed for compilation, The Chaplin Revue
September 29, 1918 The Bond YesYesYes Tramp Half-reel. Co stars brother Sydney Chaplin
October 20, 1918 Shoulder Arms YesYesYesYes Recruit Three reels
Score composed for compilation, The Chaplin Revue
May 15, 1919 Sunnyside YesYesYes Farm Handyman Three reels
December 15, 1919 A Day's Pleasure YesYesYes Father Two reels. First film with Jackie Coogan, future star of "The Kid"
February 6, 1921 The Kid YesYesYesYes Tramp Six reels
Added to the National Film Registry in 2011.[15]
September 25, 1921 The Idle Class YesYesYes Tramp / Husband Two reels
April 2, 1922 Pay Day YesYesYes Laborer Two reels
February 26, 1923 The Pilgrim YesYesYesYes Escaped Convict Four reels
Score composed for compilation, The Chaplin Revue

United Artists

Chaplin began releasing his films through United Artists in 1923. From this point on all of his films were of feature length. He produced, directed, and wrote these eight films and starred in all but the first. Beginning with City Lights Chaplin wrote the musical scores for his films as well.

Release date Title Credited as Notes
Composer Producer Writer Director Role
September 26, 1923 A Woman of Paris YesYesYes Porter Chaplin has a small cameo role
June 26, 1925 The Gold Rush YesYesYesYes Lone Prospector Score composed for 1942 re-issue
Added to the National Film Registry in 1992[16]
January 6, 1928 The Circus YesYesYesYes Tramp Score composed for 1970 re-issue
January 30, 1931 City Lights YesYesYesYes Tramp Added to the National Film Registry in 1991[17]
February 5, 1936 Modern Times YesYesYesYes The Tramp Added to the National Film Registry in 1989[18]
October 15, 1940 The Great Dictator YesYesYesYes Adenoid Hynkel / The Barber Added to the National Film Registry in 1997[19]
Nominated – Academy Award for Best Actor[7]
Nominated – Academy Award for Best Writing.[7]
April 11, 1947 Monsieur Verdoux YesYesYesYes Monsieur Henri Verdoux Based on an idea by Orson Welles[20]
Nominated – Academy Award for Best Writing (Original Screenplay)[7]
October 16, 1952 Limelight YesYesYesYes Calvero Pulled from American screens shortly after its release when Chaplin became a political exile from the United States[21]
Academy Award for Best Music (Scoring) (Awarded in 1973 when the film became first eligible for Academy Award consideration via Los Angeles screenings.)[7]

British productions

In 1952, while travelling to England to attend the première of his film, Limelight, Chaplin learned that his American re-entry permit was rescinded. As a result his last two films were made in England.

Release date Title Credited as Notes
Composer Producer Writer Director Role
September 12, 1957 A King in New York YesYesYesYes King Shahdov Last starring role. An Attica-Archway production
Not released in the United States until 1967
January 5, 1967 A Countess from Hong Kong Yes YesYes An Old Steward A Universal Production in Panavision and Technicolor
Produced by Jerome Epstein
Chaplin has a small cameo role

Other film appearances

In addition to his official 82 films, Chaplin has several unfinished productions in his body of work. He made several cameo appearances as himself and was featured in several compilation films.

Uncompleted and unreleased films

No. Year(s) Title Credited as Notes
Composer Producer Writer Director Role
1 1915–1916 Life YesYesYes Uncompleted, although parts were used in The Essanay-Chaplin Revue (see below)
2 1918 How to Make Movies YesYesYes Himself Never assembled, although parts were used in The Chaplin Revue (see below)
Reconstructed in 1981 by Kevin Brownlow and David Gill[22]
3 (untitled film) YesYesYes Himself A charity film co-starring Harry Lauder
4 1919 The Professor YesYesYes Professor Bosco Slated as a two-reeler, but never issued
5 c.1922 Nice and Friendly YesYesYes Tramp Improvised sketch
6 1926 A Woman of the Sea Yes Completed but never released
Chaplin had the negative burned on 24 June 1933
7 1933 All at Sea Himself An 11-minute home film shot by Alistair Cooke onboard Chaplin's boat, Panacea, and featuring Cooke with Chaplin and Paulette Goddard[23]
8 1966–1975 The Freak Yes A production planned for Chaplin's daughter, Victoria

Compilations

Essanay produced three compilations without Chaplin's authority (to which he took legal action). Chaplin produced his own compilation in 1959 and was involved in the making of another in 1975.

No. Release date Title Credited as Notes
Composer Producer Writer Director Role
1 31 March 1915 Introducing Charlie Chaplin Promo film intended for exhibitors to show as a prologue to Chaplin films
2 23 September 1916 The Essanay-Chaplin Revue YesYes Ex-convict Compiled by Leo White from portions of Police and Life with new material directed by White
Unauthorized by Chaplin.
3 1916 Zepped A propaganda piece of which a seven-minute reel was discovered in 2009.[24] Put up for sale on eBay in 2011, but failed to reach auction expectations.[25]
4 May 1918 Chase Me Charlie YesYes A seven-reel montage of Essanay films, edited by Langford Reed. Released in England. Unauthorized by Chaplin
5 1938 The Charlie Chaplin Carnival Yes Yes YesYes Property Man's Assistant / Tailor's Apprentice / Fireman / Street Musician Compiled from Behind the Screen, The Count, The Fireman, and The Vagabond, with additional music and added sound effects
6 1938 The Charlie Chaplin Calvacade Yes Yes YesYes Drunk / Waiter and Skating Enthusiast / Pawnbroker's Assistant / Impecunious Customer Compiled from One A.M., The Rink, The Pawnshop, and The Floorwalker, with additional music and added sound effects
7 1938 The Charlie Chaplin Festival Yes Yes YesYes Immigrant / The Derelict / The Inebriate / The Convict Compiled from The Adventurer, The Cure, Easy Street and The Immigrant, with additional music and added sound effects
8 25 September 1959 The Chaplin Revue YesYesYesYes Tramp / Recruit / Escaped Convict / Himself Compiled from A Dog's Life, Shoulder Arms, The Pilgrim, and How to Make Movies
9 1975 The Gentleman Tramp A compilation documentary featuring new scenes of Chaplin at his home in Switzerland

Cameos

In addition to his own productions of A Woman of Paris (1923) and A Countess from Hong Kong (1967), Chaplin made cameo appearances as himself in the following films:

No. Year Title Notes
1 1915 His Regeneration Charles Chaplin – Customer (uncredited)
2 1921 The Nut Chaplin's footage does not appear in surviving prints, although one sequence that does survive features an unknown actor in Chaplin's tramp persona[26]
3 1923 Souls for Sale Shown on the set of A Woman of Paris
4 Hollywood Lost film[27]
5 1928 Show People Added to the National Film Registry in 2003[28]

References

Footnotes

  1. ↑ McDonald, Conway & Ricci 1965/1974, p. 12.
  2. ↑ Robinson 1985, p. 647.
  3. ↑ Robinson 1985, p. 267.
  4. ↑ Robinson 1985, pp. 544–549.
  5. ↑ Robinson 1985, p. 572.
  6. ↑ "History of the Academy Awards.". The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 2009. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 "The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences". The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 2009. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
  8. ↑ "Films Selected to The National Film Registry, Library of Congress 1989–2008". Library of Congress. Retrieved 30 September 2009.
  9. ↑ "The Hollywood Walk of Fame". Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, Inc. 2009. Retrieved 18 October 2010. Note: Type in "Charlie Chaplin"
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Brunsting, Joshua (8 June 2010). "Charlie Chaplin Film Found at an Antique Sale, Once Thought Lost". The Criterion Cast. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  11. ↑ Robinson, p. 113
  12. ↑ Robinson 1985, p. 122.
  13. ↑ SilentComedians entry
  14. ↑ "Hooray for Hollywood – Librarian Names 25 More Films to National Registry" (Press release). Library of Congress. 16 November 1998. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
  15. ↑ "'Forrest Gump,' 'Bambi' join US film registry – Classic movies among 25 chosen for preservation by Library of Congress". MSN Today Movies. msnbc.com. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  16. ↑ "25 American films are added to the National Film Registry". The Courier. Associated Press. 7 December 1992. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
  17. ↑ Andrews, Roberts M. (11 October 1991). "25 Films Designated For Preservation" (FEE REQUIRED). St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
  18. ↑ "Films Selected to The National Film Registry, Library of Congress 1989–2009". Library of Congress. Library of Congress. 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
  19. ↑ "Librarian of Congress Names 25 New Films to National Film Registry" (Press release). Library of Congress. 18 November 1997. Retrieved 30 September 2009.
  20. ↑ Robinson 1985, pp. 519–520.
  21. ↑ Robinson 1985, p. 579.
  22. ↑ "How to Make Movies". Charlie Chaplin Encyclopedia. 3 April 2010. Archived from the original on 19 September 2010.
  23. ↑ Curran, John (2010). "Shot by young Alistair Cooke, home movie of Chaplin emerges after discovery". The Canadian Press. Archived from the original on 15 April 2010. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
  24. ↑ Charlotte Higgins (5 November 2009). "Collector finds unseen Charlie Chaplin film in tin sold for £3.20 on eBay". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
  25. ↑ "Rare Charlie Chaplin film fails to sell". BBC News. 30 June 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2011.
  26. ↑ Vance, Maietta, Cushman, p. 91.
  27. ↑ "Progressive Silent Film List: Hollywood". Silent Era. Retrieved 23 January 2010.
  28. ↑ "25 Films Added to National Film Registry" (Press release). Library of Congress. 16 December 2003. Retrieved 30 September 2009.

Bibliography

External links