Quote from Mohandas K. Gandhi

Charlie Chaplin was not just a screen writer, composer, actor, comedian, his life, his laughter continue to serve even today as our guiding light to love humanity. He left a timeless legacy of bringing us smiles and a guiding light to love others. The movies, the music he gave to us and to the world is timeless. We must not get lost in the fun and frolic, we must remember especially as Americans that an important part of his life was spent in exile because he spoke openly about pre-judgments. His living contribution is his last chapter in his career - his goals for humanity for unity and non-discrimination.

In his last two movies he was openly satirical of American society and as a direct result of his opinions, in 1952 Charlie Chaplin was barred from returning to the US. Our US history must be remembered along with our present and past pre-judgments. What this entertainment genius gave to the world is also a great mirror of who we were as Americans at that time in history. We cannot grow unless we remember who we were - else we will slip back into that abyss.

Chaplin's legacy: "The airplane and the radio have brought us closer to together...cries out for universal brotherhood...love of humanity..."

Please find below is my personal thoughts along with a collage of great video and music clips. Try each one and enjoy! And of course like Chaplin I hope this brightens your day, you learn and grow and you SMILE!

Charlie Chaplin was known the world over for making people smile. His career is denoted by laughter. And as a composer, he stuck with that theme writing one of the greatest songs of all times "Smile". Smile has been recorded by every great singer from Barbara Streisand to Sammy Davis to Nat King Cole. I was told of Charlie's talent but never really understood - until now. It gives me great pleasure to share with you the works of this amazing creative genius.

After watching the film, Chaplin (1992- 5 Star movie - truly a must see!) with Robert Downey Jr. and Geraldine Chaplin (Charlie's daughter plays his mother in the film). I have a new admiration for this artist. Incidentally his daughter Geraldine portrayed his mother in the movie and if you thought Geraldine looked familiar - remember back to Doctor Zhivago where she played Tonya Doctor Zhivago (1965)- yes, she was the stunningly beautiful brunette who starred as Tonya. At the very end of this hub I have included a tribute video clip of Geraldine Chaplin.

Upon closer review, I believe Charlie Chaplin's greatest legacy was not the laughter that he left with us, not the most famous song entitled "Smile" but with his humanitarian efforts expressed so eloquently in his final films.

Charlie Chaplin always personified the change he wished to see in the world. His lasting legacy extends beyond the great comedic silent movies he created, directed, produced and acted in. His lasting legacy is even grander than his stellar career. His lasting legacy is his his humanitarian efforts towards peace.

Gandhi aptly stated "Non-cooperation with evil is a sacred duty." so too Chaplin made the effort, took on the expense to create films that at the time were not "politically correct". He spoke up in support of others. His voice was heard across the world and subsequently he was barred from re-entry to America. While born in England, he lived and worked in America from 1910 until 1952. His final years through 1977 were spent in Vevey, Switzlerland, located on the north side of Lake Geneva.

The magic of the internet and Hub Pages allows us to bring together snapshots of the impact this great man left with us. His influence upon the great singers such as Nat King Cole, Barbara Streisand, and Michael Jackson. Even in the early 1900's before the advent of the internet, Chaplin was as loved overseas as he was here was here the United States.

With the establishment of the Chaplin museum and the digitizing of the great works of Chaplin, while the comedic genius is self evident, I hope we remember the full scope of his life, his childhood povery and his exile from a country that loved him and still does very dearly.

In the film " Chaplin" with Robert Downey Jr, it was highlighted that Chaplin wisely understood the impact he had on the world and stated his silent films served the other "9/10^ths of the world" also!

This wise man not only knew comedy, he knew mankind and the global impact he would make upon history.

(A portion of the lyrics are provided below)

Smile even though it is breaking

When there are clouds in the sky, you’ll get by

If you smile through your fear and sorrow...

Smile and maybe tomorrow

You'll see the sun come shining through...

If you just light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile

If you just smile
If you smile through your fear and sorrow...

If you just smile that's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile.

"A day without a laugh is a wasted day." - Charles Chaplin

Charlie Chapllin is recognized as one of the world's greatest comedians accompanying other such greats as Meg Ryan, Will Smith, Jim Carrey, Lucile Ball, Mike Myers (Austin Powers), Adam Sandler, Shirley Temple and Jenna Elfman.

We need to fully recognize our history. We need to know, understand the ills of the past in order to create a future that is worthy of these great heros that continue to touch us even today.

I pray the words of these two great men are remembered for the sake of our own humanity. We have advanced beyond the technology of the silent movies to "talkies" to cell phones and to the internet. Hopefully, we as mankind, have advanced in our understanding and kindness to one another also.

While Charlie made his fortune with laughter from a character derived of an English tramp or drunkard, in real life, he dressed impeccably constantly shown elegantly dressed in suits complete with pocket silk and sometimes even a formal top hat. The beauty of Charlie was beyond his debuneer looks, it was in the smiles we placed upon our faces.

Chaplin was born on April 16, 1889 in England, traversed to the US and debued on screen in 1914. He was best known for his silent movies and his creation of a "Tramp", often described as one of the best drunks ever acted, A comedian loved by audiences worldwide and admired and mimics by others. One of his great songs "Smile" has been song by no less than a dozen great American artists. Later in life, he was accused of being a socialist and not allowed to return the United States. He lived the remainder of his life in Switzerland, overlooking the Alps and Lake Geneva. He died at his manor home in Vevey Switzerland on December 25, 1977. In 1952 he was not allowed re-entry to the United States. Reportedly, his wife Ooma renounced her US citzenship.

This video showcases the merging of two great artists. The influence Chaplin had on Michael Jackson is very apparent.

This video gave me a much greater appreciation for both Michael Jackson and Charlie Chaplin.

Simply amazing! And fun to watch too! I promise you will enjoy and of course SMILE!

High energy rock music set to dozens of great Chaplin movie clips.

Very entertaining!

The best of the best! SMILE!

History is important to learn because it teaches us without cuts and bruises. The denial of this American icon as an American citizen, the denial of citzenship in a "neutral" country for over 25 years, speaks volumes about our human evolution.

As Mohandas K. Gandhi stated "It is good to see ourselves as others see us. Try as we may, we are never able to know ourselves fully as we are, especially the evil side of us. This we can do only if we are not angry with our critics but will take in good heart whatever they might have to say."

Charlie Chaplin's movies with political satire are an important reflection of historical America. While these movies have been deemed "significant" to be preserved. The real preservation is in the American citizens remembering what we once were, to keep our standards high and remember keenly his words, his life and his actions.

1925 The Gold Rush - Silent Film Chaplin is most famous for are his silent comedies, especially The Gold Rush, City Lights, and Modern Times. Gold Rush was one of the first. In 1942 Gold Rush was re-released with sound. One of the many famous scenes in Gold Rush was a house teetering on the edge of a cliff, before its occupants, Chaplin and the prospector, manage to scramble out.

1931 City Lights - Silent Film The character that Chaplin created, The Little Tramp is broke and homeless and runs into a drunken millionaire. The millionaire is best friend with the Tramp only when he is under the influence. The millionaire does lend the Tramp his Rolls Royce. The Tramp of course meets a girl but it is a poor blind girl who is selling flowers on the street. The Tramp falls in love with the flower girl and when the girl mistakes him for a millionaire he attempts to keeps up the charade.

1936 Modern Times - Silent Film with Political Statement In this film, Charlie makes a political statement about the hardship of economic poverty during the time of the industrial revolution. The Little Tramp is an assembly line worker who suffers a mental breakdown from the hardships of both mental and physical toil and trauma. Once unemployed, he suffers even more traumas including jail. In 198, the Library of Congress deemed this movie culturally significant and was selected for preservation.

1931 & 1936 Sticking with Silent Movies

Technology for "talkies" arrived around 1925 yet actor and director Charlie Chaplin continued with silent film. He went on to direct and act in two great films City Lights (1931) and Modern Times (1936) - both silent movies even in the era of talkies!. Some critics contend these two movies are two of the very vest films ever made in the history cinema.

The Jazz Singer (1927) was the first feature film to use recorded sound and dialogue. And yet, Chaplin continued with silent film.

1941 The Silent Star Finally Speak Up in "The Dictator" His message in the movie "The Dictator" was one of his first speaking roles. Unfortunately, his message of peace was misinterpreted by the witch hunt of the McCarthy era in the United States. This misinterpretation of his plea for peace and unity resulted in Charlie Chaplin not being allowed to return to home in 1952. Imagine having lived in the United States since 1910, over 42 years and not being able to return to the "land of freedom".

On March 7, 1941, the movie "The Great Dictator", a satirical rending of Nazi Germany, a movie in which Charlie wrote, directed, and acted and even spoke with a satirical rending of Nazi Germany. His famous speak and plea for peace is provided in a video clip below.

Charlie lived his final years in Switzerland because both his homeland England and his place of decades of stardom, the United States rejected him. Ironically, Switzerland also would not accept him as a citizen. In the final years of his career, he made movies "The Dictator" and the "King of New York" as political statements for peace and unity. The silent star spoke up in "The Dictator" and exclaimed his desire for universal brotherhood.

1957 The King in New York - A Political Statement  Always the innovator, always speaking up honestly, always a defender of the little guy, in this film The King in New York, Chaplin remained true to his fashion, Chaplin's film was the first to expose through satire the paranoia and political intolerance that was denoted throughout the 1940's and 1050's.

Perhaps this film was a too bitter of a pill for the US to swallow, too many wounds and hitting too close to home. This film has been hailed both as a masterpiece and as a throw-a-way. Hard for me to lend an opinion, it is difficult to find here in the US. Would love to hear what others think who have seen this film. Knowing Chaplin's standard of excellence, I must admit I would be disappointed the film were deemed too cynical for the category of masterpiece.

I hope the Chaplin Project and Netflix together are able to offer this film to the US marketplace.

On March 4, 1975 Charlie Chaplin was knighted by Queen Elizabeth and became Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin, KBE (Knight Commander of the order of British Empire). According to Wikipedia, only the two highest awards bestow the title and privilege of "Sir".

Other notables distinguished by knighthood include John Lennon who was knighted a MBE - Member of the Order of the British Empire, and Bill Gates and film director Steven Spielberg.

Brad Paisley and Dolly Parton - what a great duo and this song "When I Get Where I'm Going" is a beautiful tribute to those loved ones we have lost. I completely loose my composure on the words in the song where he details his poignant memories of "Grand Daddy".

Charlie Chaplin's gentleness and love for mankind is so reminiscent of my own Grandfather. While my Grandmother was always "politically correct" in both action and spirit, Grandfather's spirit was more broad minded.  He would have broadly smiled albeit silently loving America's freedoms and would have privately commended Chaplin for speaking up.

What a resounding career Chaplin gave us to echo throughout the decades of American history. What a tribute to the freedom that our forefather's fought so gallantly for us and our own grandchildren.  When we as a human race get to where we are going - we too will be able to speak up honestly.

When I Get Where I'm Going

On the far side of the sky

Yeah, when I get where I’m going

There will be only happy tears

I will shed the 
  sins and struggles 
  that I have carried 
  all these years

And I will leave my 
  heart wide open

I will love and have no fear

Yeah, when I get where I’m going

Don’t cry for me down here

I am gonna 
  walk with my Grand Daddy

And he will match me 
  step for step

And I will tell him 
  how I missed him 
  every minute since he left

Then I'll hug his neck

Yeah, When I get where I'm going

There will only be happy tears

I will shed the sins and struggles that I have carried all these years
I love and have no fear

When I get where I'm going
Don't cry for me down here

So much pain and so much darkness This world we stumble through

All these question I cannot answer  So much work to do

But when I get where I'm going

And I see my maker’s face

I'll stand forever in the light of his amazing grace

Yeah, when I get where I'm going

There will only be happy tears

I love and have no fear

Here is a great video clip about the role that Geraldine Chaplin (Charlie Chaplin's daughter) played in the great movie Doctor Zhivago. Below are the words of the person who brought this video clip to YouTube:
"marxfan8
April 05, 2008
I'm about to admit a very unpopular opinion: I've never cared for "Doctor Zhivago", mainly because I feel too sorry for Yuri (Omar Sharif)'s wife Tonya (the lovely Geraldine Chaplin) to care about ... I'm about to admit a very unpopular opinion: I've never cared for "Doctor Zhivago", mainly because I feel too sorry for Yuri (Omar Sharif)'s wife Tonya (the lovely Geraldine Chaplin) to care about his affair with Lara (Julie Christie). Call me unromantic, call me priggish, but that's just how I feel (plus, I find the movie as a whole boring).

Still, I wanted to make a video dedicated to "Doctor Zhivago"'s most underrated and, in my opinion, sympathetic character.

The song is "Missing" by Evanescence"