Philosophy
Born from humble beginnings rooted in deplorable poverty and a broken home, Charles Spencer Chaplin would one day rise to worldwide prominence through the artistry of his comedic genius and the newly invented ability to disseminate information, art and entertainment through film.
Originally born in London, Chaplin emigrated to America when in his twenties, and soon became an icon of silent films, which proved particularly popular because they could be understood not only by American citizens but by waves of immigrants and international audiences. In a world torn by World War I, the Great Depression and Hitler's rise to power, Charlie Chaplin brought relief and laughter to millions when they needed it most.
Many of his films, though comedic and intended for popular audiences, drew their inspiration from his liberal philosophy, from his own experience with poverty, and from his sympathy for what he considered the oppressed working class. His leftist leanings, as well as his association with socialist and communist figures, caused the ire of zealous paranoid conservatives who could not stand the ambiguity of his humor. During the McCarthy era, director of the FBI J. Edgar Hoover eventually managed to have Chaplin exiled from America.
This film, starring Robert Downey Jr. and a great cast, tells Chaplin's story.
Kind of ironic that such a professional perfectionist would totally suck in his personal life...
.
- Feast Of Saint Marcel
Friends, This week saw the 86th anniversary of the birth of Marcel Marceau. His real name was Mangel and he came from a Jewish family. He fell in love with Charlie Chaplin's work and would perform his versions of Chaplin's clowning acts for neighborhood...
- The Matrix As A Silent Film
When they directed The Matrix and its sequels, the Wachowski brothers were confronted with a dilemma: their fantastic sci-fi story required visual and special effects that simply did not exist at the time. What to do? Hey, the fact that there was no calculus...
- Chaplin Film Bought For £3.20 Fails At Auction
"Rare Charlie Chaplin film fails to sell" June 30th, 2011 BBC NEWS A rare Charlie Chaplin film bought for £3.20 on eBay has failed to sell at auction despite being expected to fetch "a significant six-figure sum". Charlie Chaplin in Zepped, thought...
- $4,600.00...for A Dress?
If you have it, spend it. "Marilyn Monroe's Seven Year Itch dress sells for $4.6m" June 19th, 2011 BBC NEWS The white dress worn by Marilyn Monroe in the 1955 film The Seven Year Itch has sold for $4.6m (£2.8m) at an auction in Los Angeles. The...
- Deceased--miriam Hansen
Miriam Hansen April 28th, 1949 to February 5th, 2011 "Miriam Hansen, a Scholar of Cinema, Dies at 61" by Margalit Fox February 12th, 2011 The New York Times Miriam Hansen, a scholar of cinema who studied not only film itself but also the early 20th-century...
Philosophy
Chaplin
Born from humble beginnings rooted in deplorable poverty and a broken home, Charles Spencer Chaplin would one day rise to worldwide prominence through the artistry of his comedic genius and the newly invented ability to disseminate information, art and entertainment through film.Originally born in London, Chaplin emigrated to America when in his twenties, and soon became an icon of silent films, which proved particularly popular because they could be understood not only by American citizens but by waves of immigrants and international audiences. In a world torn by World War I, the Great Depression and Hitler's rise to power, Charlie Chaplin brought relief and laughter to millions when they needed it most.
Many of his films, though comedic and intended for popular audiences, drew their inspiration from his liberal philosophy, from his own experience with poverty, and from his sympathy for what he considered the oppressed working class. His leftist leanings, as well as his association with socialist and communist figures, caused the ire of zealous paranoid conservatives who could not stand the ambiguity of his humor. During the McCarthy era, director of the FBI J. Edgar Hoover eventually managed to have Chaplin exiled from America.This film, starring Robert Downey Jr. and a great cast, tells Chaplin's story.
If you're not in the US, here is a workaround to view the film.
Kind of ironic that such a professional perfectionist would totally suck in his personal life...
.
- Feast Of Saint Marcel
Friends, This week saw the 86th anniversary of the birth of Marcel Marceau. His real name was Mangel and he came from a Jewish family. He fell in love with Charlie Chaplin's work and would perform his versions of Chaplin's clowning acts for neighborhood...
- The Matrix As A Silent Film
When they directed The Matrix and its sequels, the Wachowski brothers were confronted with a dilemma: their fantastic sci-fi story required visual and special effects that simply did not exist at the time. What to do? Hey, the fact that there was no calculus...
- Chaplin Film Bought For £3.20 Fails At Auction
"Rare Charlie Chaplin film fails to sell" June 30th, 2011 BBC NEWS A rare Charlie Chaplin film bought for £3.20 on eBay has failed to sell at auction despite being expected to fetch "a significant six-figure sum". Charlie Chaplin in Zepped, thought...
- $4,600.00...for A Dress?
If you have it, spend it. "Marilyn Monroe's Seven Year Itch dress sells for $4.6m" June 19th, 2011 BBC NEWS The white dress worn by Marilyn Monroe in the 1955 film The Seven Year Itch has sold for $4.6m (£2.8m) at an auction in Los Angeles. The...
- Deceased--miriam Hansen
Miriam Hansen April 28th, 1949 to February 5th, 2011 "Miriam Hansen, a Scholar of Cinema, Dies at 61" by Margalit Fox February 12th, 2011 The New York Times Miriam Hansen, a scholar of cinema who studied not only film itself but also the early 20th-century...