2003 - CHARLIE: THE LIFE AND ART OF CHARLES CHAPLIN probably could have been titled "To many young girls."

Film critic Richard Schickel's documentary is about the very messy life of one of the most important filmmakers in the history of cinema. The film runs over 2 hours and attempts an overview of Chaplin's life and films.

 

Spending to little time on his actual films and concentrating mostly on his private life, Schickel appears to be attempting to link his work with his personal life. The documentary should probably have been titled "Portrait of an Artist as a Dirty Old Man." Schickel tries to be somewhat discreet about his relationships with women, but it still comes off as kind of lurid. Chaplin had a thing for young girls and not young as in their 20's. Woody Allen is a person who knows a thing or two about getting involved with young girls is in the film but he doesn't have anything to say about that part of Chaplin's life during his interview.

Chaplin also had major involvements with the Communist party and was an acknowledged leftist. In the film this is barely touched on. It might have been interesting to look at this aspect of Chaplin's personality, the rich and famous film star flirting with Communism.

When Schickel does spend time on Chaplin's films, it's mostly the ones he made after sound came in. But compared to The Gold Rush and The Kid, does anyone really think that The Great Dictator, Limelight, Modern Times and even City Lights are as good as his silent films? 

 

Schickel doesn't even get into Chaplin's working methods for creating his films which would seem to be the whole reason for a documentary. How did Chaplin evolve as an artist how did he learn his craft? None of these questions are really answered. Overall a disappointment. 

If you are interested in a good documentary on Charles Chaplin I would recommend Kevin Brownlow's Unseen Chaplin which actually manages to capture some of the importance and greatness of Chaplin.

Running time 132 minutes.