Charlie Chaplin
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User:bkeating9 @timeAndDate(1303325913)
Whether you are a film buff or merely a humble moviegoer, the image of the little man with the toothbrush mustache, the frumpy derby hat, and the bamboo cane should conjure up some form of recognition. For those of you who are still a little mystified, we are talking about none other than cinema legend
Charlie Chaplin. Best known for his Little Tramp character, Chaplin was influential to the rise of modern cinema. His particular brand of slapstick comedy was universally adored, and he was one of the earliest worldwide movie stars. In addition to his exploits in front of the camera, Chaplin also wrote, directed, scored, and produced many of his most popular pictures. He remains beloved by audiences throughout the world, and his films continue to be discovered by new generations of cinephiles.
In Which We Introduce Our Hero
Charlie Chaplin, born and raised in London, first came to the United States in 1910 as part of the Fred Karno acting troupe. (The troupe also included
Fatty Arbuckle of the Keystone Film Company. This was the big break he had been looking for, and it was at Keystone that he began his career as a film actor.
Larger than Life
The years from 1916 to 1919 were tumultuous but successful for Chaplin; he broke with the Keystone Film Company and went through several other production companies before founding United Artists in 1919 with
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