The same year, a study by the Boston Society for Psychical Research concluded that Chaplin was " an American obsession.

The film featured an all-star cast that included Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, Geraldine Chaplin, Tony Curtis, and Kim Novak.

Sir Charles Spencer " Charlie " Chaplin, KBE ( 16 April 188925 December 1977 ) was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era.

He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I. Chaplin used mime, slapstick and other visual comedy routines, and continued well into the era of the talkies, though his films decreased in frequency from the end of the 1920s.

With an insurance of $ 1, 500 promised in case of failure, Sennett also allowed Chaplin to direct his own film.

Chaplin proceeded to direct every short film in which he appeared for Keystone, approximately one per week, which he remembered as the most exciting time of his career.

In November 1914, Chaplin appeared in the first feature length comedy film, Tillie's Punctured Romance, directed by Sennett.

Chaplin and Edna Purviance, his frequent leading lady, in Work ( 1915 film ) | Work ( 1915 )

Chaplin was unimpressed with the conditions there, and after making one film ( His New Job, released 1 February 1915 ), moved to the company's small studio in Niles, California.

Chaplin asserted a high level of control over his pictures, and started to put more time and care into each film.

The Mutual contract stipulated that Chaplin release a two-reel film every four weeks, which he had managed to meet.

Chaplin felt that marriage stunted his creativity, and he struggled over the production of his next film, Sunnyside.

Chaplin became fearful that Harris would claim The Kid as part of the divorce proceedings, so packed the 400, 000 feet negative into crates and travelled to Salt Lake City to cut the film in a hotel room.

Chaplin spent five months on his next film, the two-reeler The Idle Class.

The public, however, seemed to have little interest in a Chaplin film without Chaplin, and it was a box-office disappointment.

During production of the film Chaplin had been involved with the actress Pola Negri, a romantic pairing that received vast media interest.

For his next film Chaplin returned to comedy.

At a cost of almost $ 1, 000, 000, Chaplin felt it was the best film he had made to that point.

David Robinson notes that the film provided " a welcome distraction " from the " wretchedness " of his home life ; Grey was pregnant for a second time, frustrating Chaplin and exacerbating difficulties between the pair.

Unwilling to allow his film to be drawn into the divorce proceedings, Chaplin announced that production on The Circus had been temporarily suspended.

One advantage Chaplin found in sound technology was the ability to record a musical score for the film ; he also took the opportunity to mock the talkies, opening City Lights with a squeaky, unintelligible speech that " burlesqued the metallic tones of early talky voices ".

It was these concerns that stimulated Chaplin to develop his new film.

The film received considerable press coverage for this reason, although Chaplin tried to downplay the issue.

`` Behind that Charlie Chaplin moustache and that truant lock of hair that always covered his forehead, behind the tirades and the sulky silences, the passionate orations and the occasional dull evasive stare, behind the prejudices, the cynicism, the total amorality of behavior, behind even the tendency to great strategic mistakes, there lay a statesman of no mean qualities: Shrewd, calculating, in many ways realistic, endowed -- like Stalin -- with considerable powers of dissimulation, capable of playing his cards very close to his chest when he so desired, yet bold and resolute in his decisions, and possessing one gift Stalin did not possess: The ability to rouse men to fever pitch of personal devotion and enthusiasm by the power of the spoken word ''.

Chaplin was identified with left-wing politics during the McCarthy era and he was ultimately forced to resettle in Europe from 1952.

" His early years were spent with his mother and brother in the London district of Kennington ; Hannah had no means of income, other than occasional nursing and dressmaking, and Chaplin Sr. provided no support for his sons.

" For the two months she was there, Chaplin and his brother were sent to live with their father, whom the young boy scarcely knew.

Charles Chaplin Sr. was by then a severe alcoholic, and life with the man was bad enough to provoke a visit from the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

Chaplin worked hard and the act was popular with audiences, but dancing did not satisfy the child and he dreamt of forming a comedy act.

From October 1903 to June 1904, Chaplin toured with Saintsbury in Charles Frohman's production of Sherlock Holmes.

Chaplin quickly began work in another role, touring with his brother — who was also pursuing an acting career — in a comedy sketch called Repairs.

It was popular with audiences and Chaplin became the star of the show.

Several months of unemployment followed, however, and Chaplin lived a solitary existence while lodging with a family in Kennington.

After some adjustments, Chaplin signed with Keystone on 25 September.

" For his second appearance in front of cameras, Chaplin selected the costume with which he became identified.

In June, Keystone issued adverts in Britain with the words: " Are you prepared for the Chaplin boom?

The Essanay Film Manufacturing Company sent Chaplin an offer of $ 1, 250 a week with a signing bonus of $ 10, 000.

She went on to appear in 35 films with Chaplin over eight years.

The use of pathos was developed further with The Bank, released four films and four months later, as Chaplin chose to have a sad ending.

Shops were stocked with Chaplin merchandise, he was featured in cartoons and comic strips, and several songs were written about the star.

A contract was negotiated with Mutual that amounted to $ 670, 000 a year, making Chaplin — at 26 years old — one of the highest paid people in the world.

For The Pawnshop he recruited the actor Henry Bergman, who was to work with Chaplin for 30 years.

Despite this campaign Chaplin was a favourite with the troops, and his popularity continued to grow worldwide.

Frustrated with their lack of concern for quality, Chaplin joined forces with Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, and D. W. Griffith to form a new distribution company — United Artists, established in January 1919.

Chaplin was eager to start with the new company, and offered to buy out his contract with First National.