Dare to Dream: The Legend of Charles Chaplin

 

Every one of us has a dream or dreams that we are hoping to turn into reality. What does it take to make a dream come true?

Here, I pay tribute to none other than the legend Charlie Chaplin, who never let go of his dream even in the most punishing of circumstances.

Charles Spencer Chaplin was born on April 16^th, 1889, in London. His parents, Hannah Chaplin and Charles Chaplin Senior, were performers in the world of music and theater.

However, his alcoholic father abandoned the family when Charlie was still a very young boy. His mother was left to raise Charlie and his half-brother, Sydney, alone. The family lived in abject poverty as Charlie's mother continued to perform, struggling to feed her boys with the little money that she earned. Charlie sat in the audience, mesmerized by his mother’s performances, dreaming of the day when he would stand and perform before an audience.

Then one day, while performing, Hannah suddenly lost her voice—she could not sing. The audience jeered and booed her. Then something magical happened. Five-year-old Charlie stepped onto the stage, sang, and danced. The crowd loved it. Charlie was happy. He now knew that this was what he was born to do.

Life had other plans for Charlie. His mother grew mentally ill and was taken to a mental hospital. Charlie and his brother were left to fend for themselves. They were reduced to street urchins, fighting for survival. In spite of the odds, Charlie kept going. He never gave up on his dream.

Charlie’s life was now wretched. He and his brother were forced to find work in workhouses. The workhouses were cruel and cold places. Charlie was separated from his brother Sydney. His mother’s condition was worsening. Charlie watched helplessly.

His dream was still alive. He knew he had to fight for his dream. He began looking for jobs and delivered newspapers, washed dishes, and even made toys. All through he held on to his dream.

One day, Charlie saw a group of street performers doing their act. Charlie joined them, but nobody noticed him or paid any attention to him. Charlie did not give up. He continued to work on his act, watching other comedians and learning from them, and slowly he began to get noticed. He knew he had the power to make people happy.

At the age of 14, he was hired by a theater group called the Lancashire Lads. Though the part was small, Charlie worked hard, and soon a theatre director noticed his talent and gave him opportunities to shine. At 16, Charlie landed his first major acting role in a play called Sherlock Holmes.

Charlie was no longer a street performer. He was acting in real theaters before larger audiences. Directors noticed that there was something extraordinary about Charlie. He could evoke emotions in people without speaking a single word.

The best thing to happen to Charlie was when Hollywood came calling in 1910. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Charlie. America was the place where dreams came true. He was invited by a famous comedy troupe called Fred Karno’s Company, which performed in America. He boarded the ship to his future.

Charlie knew for sure that in America, he could realize his dream of becoming a star. In 1913, a small company called Keystone Studios gave Charlie a small role in a silent movie. Even though it did not amount to much, Charlie grabbed the role. He wanted to create a character for his audience, something they wouldn’t forget, and so he created a character—a small man in a funny hat, wearing oversized clothes, a tight coat, a mustache, and a walk unique to him.

At first, people did not understand, but slowly Charlie’s character grew on them. Charlie made them laugh without speaking a single word. His movies were hits, and he began earning huge sums of money. The poor boy from London was now the most famous star in the world. By 1917, Charlie Chaplin was not just famous; he was a phenomenon. Charlie remained unfazed by the glitz, glamour, and fame. He was still the boy from London who had cried for his mother and lived through merciless times, but never gave up his dream. He was now the most famous movie star in the world.

C now wanted to be his own boss, creating and directing films, but Hollywood did not take kindly to that idea. Then in 1918, he did something unthinkable for those times. He built his studio called Chaplin Studios and in 1921 released a movie, The Kid. It was Charlie’s story of pain, struggle, and hunger. It was funny and emotional. Charlie realized the tremendous impact that movies had on people. He continued making movies, and in 1931, when talking movies began to be made in Hollywood, Charlie continued with silent films. He released City Lights in 1931, which took the world by storm.

Towards the end of the 1930s, Hitler was making his presence felt, spreading hate and fear. Charlie realized that Hitler and he had the same kind of mustache, and people were beginning to notice. He decided to fight the horror that was Hitler with comedy.  Charlie Chaplin made a movie called The Great Dictator. In the final scene, Charlie gives a speech where he says, “We think too much and feel too little; more than machinery, we need humanity. Let us fight for a world of reason! Let us fight for freedom.” This was his first talking movie. The speech proved that Charlie was not just a comedian; he was a fighter. Some people did not like his political messages and began spreading lies about him. Then, in 1952, he was forced to leave America. He stopped making movies and moved to Switzerland, where he lived a quiet life with his family.

Then, in 1972, after 20 years, Hollywood realized its mistake. They invited him back. At the Oscars, they gave him a standing ovation- minutes of applause.

Charlie’s life teaches us never to give up, whatever the obstacles. Charlie held on to his dream and grew to become a legend.

The world’s greatest comedian passed away at the age of 88 on December 25^th, 1977.

 

 

“I feel I am privileged to express a hope. The hope is this: that we shall have peace throughout the world, that we shall abolish wars and settle all international differences at the conference table, and that we shall abolish all atom and hydrogen bombs before they abolish us. The future of the modern world demands modern thinking. Therefore, let us use the full force of our intelligence instead of obsolete homicidal methods in settling our international differences.”

(Charlie Chaplin on his 70^th birthday)

 

“All I need to make a comedy is a park, a policeman, and a pretty girl.”

(From his autobiography)

 

“Life can be wonderful if you're not afraid of it. All it needs is courage, imagination, and a little dough.”

Charlie Chaplin

 

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