Charles ChaplinApril 16, 1889 - December 25, 1977
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Today is the anniversary of the birth of one of the most influential and famous figures in motion pictures. A man who was without a doubt a genius in his field. The mere silhouette of his tramp character is recognized the world over ... in every country and every language. The perfection of his comic antics and pathos provided so much entertainment to so many. I believe that his fame, which still exists to this day, surpassing any other star of film, was enhanced and gained its perpetual power due to the silence of his craft and its presentation. No words were needed, whether the viewer in the darkened theater spoke English, French, Italian or Swahili ... the picture, the moving picture spoke the language that all could understand. Below, is one of my favorite moments in all of Chaplin's works. City Lights, Modern Times and his many short films are magical, but this sequence from The Circus is my favorite of all ... it is pure comic genius ... the comedy stemming from false confidence, the realization that it is false and the added danger of monkeys crawling on you when you are on the brink of death. Comedy stems from woe and frustration and our ability to laugh as a catharsis. Many times my very day feels like this ... a tightrope act of swaying to and fro, fearing to look down and thinking that it can't possibly get worse ... and then the monkeys arrive ...
Here we observe Charlie trying to impress his sweetheart and the circus crowd with his high aerial hi-jinx. And all the time he believes he is supported by a wire, that will enable him to perform feats of unbelievable daring-do.
THE CIRCUS (1928)
1 comment:
monkeys are wonderful actors
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