The biography of Charlie Chaplin, filmmaker extraordinaire. From his formitive years in England to his highest successes in America, Charlie's life, work, and loves are followed. While his screen characters were extremely hilarious, the man behind "The Little Tramp" was constantly haunted by a sense of loss.

Geraldine Chaplin plays her own real life grandmother.

[Chaplin tells Sennett he intends to leave Sennett's employ and open his own studio]


Mack Sennett:
Charlie, I've been so rotten to you. I don't know if you can forgive me. I forced you to leave Butte, Montana. I made you accept a hundred and fifty per. You mentioned directing and I stuffed that down your throat too. Now tell me how else Uncle Mack can make it up to you!


Charlie Chaplin:
I want to run my own show, Mack.


Mack Sennett:
Don't kid yourself, Chaplin. You're not that big.

[spits on the floor, missing the spitoon]


Charlie Chaplin:
That's the first time I've ever seen you miss, Mack.

Anachronisms: During Chaplin's 1921 trip to Great Britain, he rides a Southern Railway train, which pulls into St. Pancras Station. Southern Railway didn't exist until 1923. St. Pancras Station was owned by the Midland Railway, which became the London, Midland and Scottish Railway in 1923.

Albert Fitz and William Penn