Chaplin began his movie career in the United States, where he created the character of the Tramp which brought him instant success. Newspapers called the widespread obsession with Charlie Chaplin "Chaplinitis". In his films, Charlie was often paired with Edna Purviance or Mabel Normand. While still successful, some in the white middle class disapproved of Chaplin's on-screen antics.

1. The Charm of Chaplin

2. The Charm of Chaplin
1) True/False. When initially contacted to begin his movie career, Chaplin
mistakenly assumed the telegram was concerning his inheritance of a large
sum of money.
2) True/False. Once Chaplin created the character of the tramp, he found
instant success.
3) What did the newspapers call the sensational nationwide obsession with
Charlie Chaplin?
4) In his films, Charlie was frequently paired with one of two women, name
one.
5) While still very successful, what was one of the chief complaints white
middle class had about Chaplin?.

4. One does not really
become a star until the
publicists and
journalists focus on, and
the audience gets
interested in, the
personality of the actor
behind the mask.
Charles Maland,
“A Star is Born”

7. “Comedy is based
on conflict and
pain, and is
therefore a
transformation
of pain into
pleasure.”

9. “When I was eleven years old, homeless
and starving in London, I had big
dreams. I was a precocious youngster
full of imagination and fancies and
pride. My dream was to become a great
musician or an actor.”
Chaplin wrote in Charlie Chaplin’s
Own Story.

10. “The eternal loser, struggling to
keep up appearances and
preserve a modicum of human
dignity. The Tramp’s silhouette-
the baggy trousers set and
pinched shoulders-made him
instantly recognizable, even
from the rear, and lent him a
childlike appeal.”
Charlie Chaplin’s Own Story

11. The Kid

13. What themes are in City Lights?
What images underscore these
themes?
How are the wealthy or the
elite portrayed?
How is the alien portrayed?
How many times is a 1st
impression wrong?
Why is it named City Lights?

14. The Charm of Chaplin
1) Where did Chaplin begin his movie career?
2) True/False. When initially contacted to begin his movie career, Chaplin
mistakenly assumed the telegram was concerning his inheritance of a large
sum of money.
3) True/False. Once Chaplin created the character of the tramp, he found
instant success.
4) What did the newspapers call the sensational nationwide obsession with
Charlie Chaplin?
5) In his films, Charlie was frequently paired with one of two women, name
one.
6) Name one example (other than the success of his films) as evidence of
Chaplin’s star image.
7) While still very successful, what was one of the chief complaints white
middle class had about Chaplin?
8) Name two things that Chaplin did to change this.
9) What was the name of the studio where Chaplin achieved celebrity status.
10)In 1919, Chaplin built his own studio with three other prominent celebrities