While I don't necessarily agree with other posters calling each other names, I do have to agree that the original poster's thoughts are perhaps questionable too. With regards to the letter writing... yes, Chaplin may indeed have been a great writer, but like all writers, I'm sure a lot of his screenplays went through several drafts before he settled on a difinitive script and therefore it is quite likely that he would have had to write several versions of the same love letter before being satisfied. Similarly, while he was a master at slapstick, the chair-pulling incident in this film would not necessarily have lead to Chaplin going into one of his routines. Yes it was "his job", but he is not at work on the boat trip and like a lot of modern day comedians, I'm sure being entertaining and funny in ones private life is not something you particularly aspire to when you do it every day of your working life. Indeed, Chaplin seems to have several other things on his mind during the course of this film and being a clown isn't one of them. Let's not forget too that this is merely a suggestion of events that may or may not have actually taken place, since no-one involved in the incident ever really spoke about it, so some creative licence has been taken by the writer for the sake of the drama.
Also, I know this is really for a seperate post, but I happen to disagree with many people's opinion on Eddie Izzard's performance as Chaplin. While he doesn't achieve the same level of mimicry of, say, Robert Downey Jnr in "Chaplin" and we see little sign of the physical skill which the great man had, I think Izzard gives a wonderfully understated performance in the role.... one of his best performances to date IMHO.
reply
share
jesst70
18 years ago
I do have to disagree with this original poster as well....if he or she knew anything about Chaplin, they would know that he was a perfectionist....several books, documentaries, and biographies have cited many times that Chaplin would often shoot a scene HUNDREDS of times, just to get it right. Several actors who worked in his films have discussed the frustration of doing the same thing over and over again, because of his need to get the scene just right. Another example of this would be in his later films. Some films, such as "City Lights" and "The Great Dictator" took YEARS from fruition to their final product...I believe it was at least 2 years for "City Lights". So the scene where Charlie is rewriting his letter to Marion is quite plausible...
reply
share
Evil-Dead-Girl
18 years ago
Showing Chaplin rewriting the letter, wadding it up and tossing it into a basket with what we assume are other versions of the same letter was, to me, just a way to show a character trait... perfectionist. I think these were just subtle hints to add realism, things we already knew about him, but not make it the main focus of the film, because ultimately this was not a movie solely about Charlie Chaplin.
And I liked the scene (subtle though it was) that indicates how Marion Davies was the inspiration as to how his shoe-eating scene in "The Gold Rush" was finally decided. They show Chaplin with a shoe lace in his mouth (still attached to his shoe)and in walks Marion...
Charlie (to Marion): If you were starving and you had no food, would you eat your shoe?
Marion: What?
Charlie: Your shoe, would you eat it?
Marion: Of course I would.
Charlie: You would?
Marion: Yes. But I'd have to boil it first.
Charlie: Now THAT'S funny.
Yet another way to show that although he may have been a good storyteller, he still got stuck, whether it was working out a scene in one of his films or rewriting a letter over and over. And, afterall... are love letters really all that easy to write in the first place? Unless of course, you're positive the feelings are mutual. Even Charlie Chaplin could be insecure... bless his heart!
reply
share
zziiyy
13 years ago
Eddie Izzard deserved an academy award for this portrayal of Chaplin. He actually portrays the man ... not the cliche over-the-top spin that most put on him. He wasn't the Tramp in real life. And, the OP does seem a little dramatic.
reply
share