Charlie Chaplin: The Forgotten Years (2003) [N/A]
Featuring:
Charles Chaplin, Eugene Chaplin, Geraldine Chaplin
Written by:
Beat Hirt
Felice Zenoni
Directed by:
Beat Hirt, Felice Zenoni
Release Date:
May 18, 2003
Original Title:
Charlie Chaplin: The Forgotten Years
Genres:
Documentary
Production Companies:
SRG SSR
Production Countries:
Switzerland
Ratings / Certifications:
CH: 6
Runtime: 55
While silent-film star Charlie Chaplin may have charmed American audiences with the onscreen antics of his lovable "Tramp" character, the actor's private life was marred by a series of public scandals that eventually pushed him into exile. In addition to his penchant for much younger women, Chaplin was unjustly hounded by Senator Joe McCarthy's notorious anti-Communist witch hunts, for which the U.S. revoked his visa in 1952. A bitter and disenchanted Chaplin responded by moving his family to Switzerland, where he remained until his death in 1977. This documentary chronicles Chaplin's life and career during those so-called "forgotten years" (during which he became a prolific and highly respected film-score composer) through previously unreleased archival footage and intimate interviews with his friends and family, including his children Geraldine, Michael, and Eugene.
This documentary about Charlie Chaplin focuses on his late years when he lived with his family in a village on Lake Geneva in Switzerland. His personal life and his love for the circus are depicted as well as the late works of his professional career, including his extensive work as a composer. In addition, the film reveals the Swiss intelligence agency's file on Chaplin. Features numerous archive clips and new interviews with family members and various entertainment stars, including Petula Clark, who sings her Chaplin-written hit "This Is My Song" in his villa.
