Top 10 Movies of Charlie Chaplin
A comprehensive guide to top 10 movies of one of the greatest movie-makers of the silent era, Charlie Chaplin. A tribute to the magician, the maestro, the man with the golden heart.
Top 10 Charlie Chaplin Movies
1] The Kid (1921)
Everybody still remembers the cute little Kid and The Tramp from this 1920s classic. The Kid was the first full-length Charlie Chaplin movie. True to its tag line 'A picture with a smile - and perhaps a tear', The Kid is a movie that everyone can relate to. There is not one person I have met who has seen The Kid and NOT cried. A movie that tugs at your heart strings, I personally rank it as Chaplin's best movie ever!
2] The Pilgrim (1923)
The Pilgrim questions every person's sense of right and wrong. An escaped convict ends up becoming a parson at a local church, but even after being identified as nothing more than a criminal, the convict is ultimately set free. The film builds the faith that whatever good we do in life, does not go unnoticed, and sometimes even convicts deserve salvation. The Pilgrim was the last movie in which Edna Purviance starred opposite Charlie Chaplin.
3] A Woman of Paris (1923)
A classic tale of love and loss, A Woman of Paris was appreciated by the critics, but failed to gain popularity among the audiences. The audience went to the movie, expecting to see their beloved Tramp. However, Chaplin had only but a cameo in the film. The other stark difference in this and other Chaplin films was the conspicuous lack of slapstick humor. A Woman of Paris was a serious drama. A film much different from what you would expect off a Charlie Chaplin film, it is yet an exceptional film and worth appreciation.
4] The Gold Rush (1925)
The Gold Rush was one of Charlie Chaplin's first movies to have been re-released with 'sound' - Chaplin composed and recorded a music score for the film and re-released it in 1942 with two major changes in the plot as well. The film won many critical accolades and was chosen for preservation by the National Film Registry, United States as being a "culturally, historically and aesthetically significant" movie and also featured at #25 on AFI's 100 Years... 100 Laughs (2000).
5] The Circus (1928)
Charlie Chaplin received Special Award (now known as Academy Honorary Award) for writing, producing, directing and acting in this hit comedy. The movie chronicles the serendipitous entry of a pick-pocket into a circus, that instantly makes him a favorite among the audience, and his journey thereon. As with quite a few of his other movies, Chaplin played a character that had a golden heart, and who sacrifices his love, and has everybody leave him behind and move on in the end. But as always, he isn't complaining. He is happy his love is with the right man for her.
6] City Lights (1931)
It is another movie that was released in the era of 'talkies', but was enjoyed and appreciated by audiences all over the nation. Regarded as one of his biggest financial and critical success, the film is held to be one of his most balanced films with a beautiful blend of humor and emotions. Chaplin's role in City Lights is by far his best depiction of a perfect tramp - shabby, clumsy, ill-dressed and starkly contrasting to the millionaire who befriends and abandons him couple of times in the film.
7] Modern Times (1936)
Another 'all-Chaplin' movie, Modern Times depicted the woes of a factory man who had lost his job. One sure does find love in the most unexpected places and faces in life sometimes, and Chaplin finds it here in the face of the beautiful gamine. This time around though, he manages to keep his love, and the movie ends with the two walking hand in hand towards the horizon. This is a personal favorite for the irony (depicted rather brilliantly) of how Chaplin's character lands into trouble when being sincere and fails to be arrested for attempted crimes!
8] The Great Dictator (1940)
The Great Dictator is probably the most humorous and yet satirical account of Nazism and of Adolf Hitler. The movie caused quite a stir among the American audiences. However Charles Chaplin, Jr. - son of Charlie Chaplin - once recollected that his father was haunted by the marked similarities between himself and Hitler! It would be difficult for us to imagine, but Chaplin believed that though Hitler was "the madman" and he himself "the comic", "it could have been the other way around"!
9] Monsieur Verdoux (1947)
Monsieur Verdoux broke away from Chaplin's image of The Tramp. The film turned out to be a dark comedy, a cult film, but was poorly received by the American audiences. However, the film broke all records when it was screened as a part of Charlie Chaplin film festival at New York Plaza in 1964.
10] Limelight (1952)
Limelight is all about rediscovering yourself. In helping a suicidal dancer find her talent again, Chaplin's character regains his lost confidence and attempts and fails at a comeback as a clown. Though years later dancer and clown reunite and succeed in another comeback attempt, the movie ends on an ironic note as the clown suffers a heart attack and dies in the wing of the stage, while the dancer goes on the perform, unaware of the tragedy. Having refused American citizenship, Charlie Chaplin was exiled from the United States. Limelight suffered the repercussions of the incidence, and it was not until 1972 that the film was released in America and seen and appreciated. Chaplin was awarded with an Oscar for the best original score of the movie in the same year.
Honorable Mentions
- The Adventurer
- Easy Street
- A Day's Pleasure
- Shoulder Arms
- A King In New York
- A Dog's Life
- One AM
Top 10 Comedians 2011
Top 10 Best Comedians of 2011
The top 10 comedians 2011 mentioned in this article started their career doing stand up comedy and then made their move into TV shows and movies. Here are those talented names...
Jeff Dunham
Probably one of the best comedians alive on TV and on stage, Jeff Dunham is one of the busiest and richest comedians in the US today. Though he had a not so successful series on Comedy Central, the man's talents are incomparable and he always leaves the audiences wanting for more. His puppets, DVD's of various acts have become a must have item for his millions of followers. His talents are not only seen in stage but have also appeared in movies (Dinner for Schmucks), where he's showcasing his amazing talents with the likes of Steve Carell and Paul Rudd.
John Mulaney
With his signature voice, John had only two career options in mind; radio announcer or stand up comedian. He choose the latter and his fans still thank him for that. He has been the creator for some of the most hilarious stage shows and is a regular on the VH1's Best Week Ever. John is also a writer on Saturday Night Live and holds the honor of performing twice on the Late Night with Conan O'Brien.
Dane Cook
He is one of the few talented comics with a pretty face and a well built physique. People fill up seats just to see and hear his jokes. Over the years this talented comic actor has proved his acting abilities with films like, 'Good Luck Chuck' and 'My Best Friend's Girl'. The actor continues to perform on his road tour 'Isolated Incident' which has received great reviews.
Russell Peters
No top 10 comedians 2011 list can be completed without Russell Peters. Known all over the world as the 'Canadian Joker', Peters usually has racism all over his act. An Anglo-Indian by birth, almost half the west swears by his humor and he usually makes fun of his own ethnicity. He has performed in more than 50 countries and every show that he has done has been a full house.
Chelsea Handler
She is beautiful, she is outspoken and she is a funny lady. Chelsea Handler is known all around the world to speak her mind which makes her a much loved and hated personality. She is the host of Chelsea Lately, a late night talk show on E! and she took her comic timing out on the road to promote her third book which is doing great business. She also hosted the MTV Video Music Awards and entertained audiences worldwide with her charming personality and intelligent wit.
Rob Schneider
People probably recognize Rob Schneider from various Adam Sandler movies. He always plays a small role, and why not, Adam and Rob have been close friends for many years. This talented artist started out as a stand up comedian and slowly climbed the ladder of success by working as a writer for Saturday Night Live and then acting in the same. After Leaving Saturday Night Live, he got small roles in Hollywood and got his first break in the 1994 hit, Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo.
Ellen DeGeneres
She makes the whole of America dance to her tune every day. Ellen DeGeneres makes the day bright with more sunshine and her ever glowing smile. Like every other talented artist, she also started out as a stand up and later became a respected name in Hollywood. Currently she provides her voice for various animated characters and she is also the host of her successful talk show; The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
Billy Crystal
A successful writer, actor and comedian, Billy Crystal was actually going to be a baseball player but somehow that plan didn't work out. He started studying theater and got his first recognition as an actor in the sitcom called Soap where he played a gay character. His comic timing is so good that he has been invited to host the Oscars for a record number of 8 times.
George Lopez
Currently the star of the Lopez Tonight, George Lopez is another famous name in the world of talented comedians. He has performed various stand up acts and also performed in several movies including The Spy Next Door, Valentine's Day and Marmaduke. His latest show has made him a household name with fellow Americans and he uses this platform to showcase most of his stand up comedy.
Howie Mandel
Most people know Howie Mandel as the host of a successful game show, 'Deal or No Deal'. This multi-talented actor started his career as a comic artist and you can see some of his comic talent when he judged the highly successful America's Got Talent. He is also a brand ambassador for online retailer company and also takes his comic act sometimes on the road.
So these were the top 10 comedians of 2011. People say that making someone laugh is the hardest thing to do in this entire world, but when I see these talented people addressing the crowd and making them laugh, I really begin to wonder whether people have met these geniuses.
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