Chaplin

Everyone has a wild side. Even a legend.

CHAPLIN (12)

D: Richard Attenborough

Carolco/Canal Plus/RCS/Lambeth (Richard Attenborough & Mario Kassar)

USA/UK 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 1992

144 mins

Biopic

W: William Boyd, Bryan Forbes & William Goldman [based on the book 'Chaplin: His Life & Art' by David Robinson & 'My Autobiography' by Charles Chaplin]

DP: Sven Nykvist

Ed: Anne V. Coates

Mus: John Barry

PD: Stuart Craig

Cos: John Mollo & Ellen Mirojnick

Robert Downey, Jr. (Charlie Chaplin), Geraldine Chaplin (Hannah Chaplin), Paul Rhys (Sydney Chaplin), John Thaw (Fred Karno), Moira Kelly (Hetty Kelly/Oona O'Neill), Anthony Hopkins (George Hayden), Dan Aykroyd (Mack Sennett), Marisa Tomei (Mabel Normand), Penelope Ann Miller (Edna Purviance), Kevin Kline (Douglas Fairbanks)

Romanticised biopic of the comedy legend with a brilliant performance by Robert Downey, Jr. as the title character.

The film opens with an elderly Charles Chaplin narrating his life to (fictional) biography George Hayden, with the rise to stardom and fame taking place via flashback.

Chaplin was clearly a celebrity whom director/producer Richard Attenborough was incredibly fond of. The film portrays him as a rags-to-riches comedy genius (which cannot really be disputed), but only glances over the periphery of the more scandalous moments of his career.

Worth a watch for Robert Downey, Jr.'s portrayal, but it won't tell you much more than you may already know about the Hollywood great.

7/10