This paper will be concerned with the artistry of Charlie Chaplin. Specifically, it will analyze Chaplin's contribution to the art of film as seen in his treatment of the roles of actor, artist and director. Charlie Chaplin was born on April 16, 1889 in London. He became involved in theatrical acting at an early age, and in this capacity he came to the United States when he was only twenty-one. However, once he arrived in America his interests soon changed from the theater to the new film industry which was being established at the time. Chaplin's first work in film was as an actor under the comedy director Mack Sennett. Sennett was known for his slapstick comedies which featured the Keystone Kops and various other characters. After familiarizing himself with the art of comic film acting in a series of Sennett shorts, Chaplin moved on to work for a variety of other directors. His special talent as a comedic actor soon gained Chaplin a reputation as one of the greatest film artists of his time. In fact, by 1915, he was already beginning to be hailed as a genius in his craft.
This fact can be seen, for example, in a review of Chaplin's work which appeared in a 1915 edition of Bioscope. This review praised Chaplin not only for his rising popularity as a film comedian, but also for his uncanny artistry in that field. It was noted that he had what appeared to be an innate sense of humor, and that he also had the ability to apply that sense of humor in a way which was original while at the same time being versatile. In the words of the Bioscope article: "Just why he is so funny, it is impossible to say, and very probably he could not tell you himself. He possesses a naturally comic personality and his humour is accentuated by the originality of the innumerable bits of 'business' with which his work is so profoundly interspersed" (Shipman 53-54).
Another early review which recognized Chaplin's growing contribution to the...