Charlie Chaplin is one of the most important people in the history of cinema. From The Kid (1921) to Modern Times (1936), his filmography features groundbreaking and critically acclaimed movies.
Aside from being a writer, director, composer and producer, Chaplin is best known as a comic performer and was the first person to popularise feature-length comedies. His slapstick vagrant character ‘the Tramp’ is one of the most iconic performances in movie history and embodies Chaplin’s compassion for the downtrodden. His films often made fun of the wealthy and powerful, likely contributing to Chaplin being blacklisted from Hollywood in 1948 for having Communist sympathies.
Though primarily known for his silent films, Chaplin transitioned smoothly to the talkies. His speech from The Great Dictator is iconic.
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Collection
In ACMI's collection
On display until
16 February 2031
ACMI: Gallery 1
Credits
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
P180328
Curatorial section
The Story of the Moving Image → Moving Pictures → MI-04. Materiality → MI-04-C01
Object Types
2D Object
Exhibition Prop
Photographic print/Pictorial
Materials
graphic