1. SCENE ANALYSIS OF CHARLIE
CHAPLIN THE IMMIGRANT
BY: Grace Ehibhatiomhan
2. THE CAST
Charles Chaplin - Immigrant
Edna Purviance - Immigrant
Eric Campbell - The head waiter
Albert Austin - A diner
Henry Bergman - The artist
Kitty Bradbury - The Mother
Frank J. Coleman - Ship's Officer / Restaurant Owner
Tom Harrington - Marriage Registrar
James T. Kelly - Shabby Man in Restaurant
John Rand - Tipsy Diner Who Cannot Pay
3. What is the Intent of the scene? (what
is the scene used for dramatically)
Chaplin used his film to show the harsh rule of Adolf Hitler and aimed to serve as a wake
up call for many Americans who cared little about Hitler’s persecution of Jews. Ross
emphasizes the grave risks Chaplin faced in producing this film and how controversial it
was since the United States was trying to remain neutral during the beginning stages of
World War Two.
Frank Schneider's and Holman Mehran’s, Chaplin: The Dictator & the Tramp, examines
how innovative The Great Dictator was for its time. Schneider and Mehran discussed how
Chaplin made his picture to expose what Hitler was really doing overseas. However, it was
clear that when Chaplin was first writing the screenplay, he had no idea of the true horrors
people faced in the concentration camps. However, in an unrealistic illustration of a camp,
people were given adequate food sources, beds, blankets, and pillows, when in reality, that
was not the case. Although The Great Dictator made the general public come to terms with
what was happening abroad, America did not go to war until the bombing at Pearl Harbor
in 1941.
Charlie Chaplin’s scene is intentially used to dramatically emphasize the WW1 that
happened to give his audience the feeling and experience of the times that people went
through back in the days. Adding drama in his scenes, gives his audience more of the
feeling not to be scared of scenes that may have been touching, but rather emphasizes
funny moments and serious moments for the audience to smile.
4. What are the PLOT POINTS? (points
that move the story forward)
The film begins aboard a steamer crossing the Atlantic Ocean, and initially
showcases the misadventures of an unnamed immigrant, the Tramp (Chaplin) who
finds himself in assorted mischief while, among other things, playing cards, eating in
a mess hall, and avoiding seasick passengers.
Along the way, he befriends another unnamed immigrant (Purviance) who is traveling
to America with her ailing mother. The two are robbed by a pickpocket who is losing
in gambling. The Tramp, feeling sorry for the two penniless women, attempts to
secretly place his winnings from his card game in the woman's pocket, but ends up
being mistakenly accused of being a pickpocket. The woman manages to clear the
Tramp's name. Upon arrival in America, the Tramp and the woman part company.
He then doesn't realize that there is a hole in his pocket and the coin has fallen
straight through and is back on the ground. He enters the restaurant, where he
orders a plate of beans. There, he is reunited with the woman and discovers her
mother is dead. The Tramp orders a meal for her.
Just then, a visiting artist spots the Tramp and the woman and offers them a job to
pose for a painting. The two agree. The artist offers to pay for the Tramp and the
woman's meal, but the Tramp declines the offer several times for reasons of
etiquette, intending to eventually accept the artist's offer.
Afterwards, outside a marriage license office in the rain, the Tramp proposes
marriage to the woman, who is coy and reluctant until the Tramp physically carries
the laughing girl into the office.
5. Codes & Conventions
Code
Farce in film includes the works of Charlie Chaplin, Keystone Cops and the Marx
Brothers. On television, the best examples of farce surround British actor John Cleese.
Ridiculous situations abound in the 1970’s television series Monty Python’s Flying
Circus and later in the wonderful, but short-lived series Faulty Towers. There are also
several Monty Python films that are excellent examples of farce. Few actors possess
the ability to create pure farce better than Cleese.
It is important to note that farce is both a verbal and physical humor, using deliberate
character exaggeration by the actor.
Convention
o They use silence in their film to portray the comedy by acting out the scene to
make it lively for the audience. This had an effect because the blackness and
white effects gave the audience the feeling that its important to listen to the
story. The story Is also told by gestures and movements so the audience Can
see what is actually going on. For exmaple when Charlie is trying to speak to
his friend he moves his hand to explain what hes saying.
6. Cinematic Technique
MIS-EN-SCENE
This is a cinematic technique used in Charlie Chaplin really well and
clearly. For example the colors used in his scene were just all black and
white showing the effect and mood that the centaury it was taken place
was a really long time ago. I believe that the colors were all black and
white because due to the time it was filmed, they didn't’t have the exact
correct cameras to use, therefore it came out all black instead of colored,
which gives me the feeling and mood that it’s boring to watch for a longer
time.
On the other hand however, the clothing of all the characters were really
smart and clean like they all looked like people you should respect if you
met them face to face. On the other hand however some people didn’t
look like they were smartly dressed for example those who were families
and had children who were around the time of war. However, I believe
Charlie’s intentions of this was to make sure that all his audience get to
know that
