While I don't think this show about Chaplin is among the very best on the man (I'd probably say "Unknown Chaplin" might just be that), it is very good and a nice discussion of the early stage and film career of Charlie Chaplin. It focuses quite a bit on his early poverty and tough childhood as well as his career in short films. It stops with his years with Mutual Studio--ending around the time of the First World War.
I think the biggest reason I only scored the show a 7 was because it was just too short. At 52 minutes, it's only a glimpse into Chaplin and leaves a lot unsaid. A decent biography and examination of his career and filmmaking could be a mini-series all by itself! So, for the advanced Chaplin fan, it's just not enough but for the casual viewer it's well worth seeing. As for me, I liked it because they often showed Kevin Brownlow and got his impressions of Chaplin. Brownlow is a genius when it comes to the lives of many of the silent film stars and has made the best documentaries on these folks-- including Chaplin.
I think the biggest reason I only scored the show a 7 was because it was just too short. At 52 minutes, it's only a glimpse into Chaplin and leaves a lot unsaid. A decent biography and examination of his career and filmmaking could be a mini-series all by itself! So, for the advanced Chaplin fan, it's just not enough but for the casual viewer it's well worth seeing. As for me, I liked it because they often showed Kevin Brownlow and got his impressions of Chaplin. Brownlow is a genius when it comes to the lives of many of the silent film stars and has made the best documentaries on these folks-- including Chaplin.