New archive material sheds light on the extraordinary life of Charlie Chaplin, who rose from poverty and the workhouse to become a global icon. The documentary 'The Real Charlie Chaplin', directed by Peter Middleton and James Spinney, uses verbatim cinema techniques to explore the elusive personality behind the little tramp character.
Chaplin's unparalleled fame and wealth in his heyday created a residue of wariness among America's governing classes, which erupted into red-scare rage when he spoke about communism. His globally adored little tramp became mass-produced, akin to the Ford Model T, but his success also led to resentment and eventual exile.
The film moves away from a singular heroic biography to focus on Chaplin's multifaceted personae, giving more presence to his wives. It examines how the coming of talkies took him to new heights before bringing him down, and argues that his famous speech in 'The Great Dictator' pleading for democracy planted the seed of his downfall.
Chaplin's story, which would have electrified Charles Dickens, is retold through new archive material of press conferences and interviews. The documentary asks piercing questions about Chaplin's elusive reality, sparing the macabre story of his body after burial in Switzerland.
