CHARLIE CHAPLIN

YourCardinThisPocketKeep Books will be issued on ofonly presentation proper library cards. Unless labeled books be retainedotherwise/ may ,fc>r two weeks. Borrowers booksfinding marked, de faced or "mutilated are toexpected same atreport otherwise the lastlibrary desk; borrower will be held * "for all discovered.responsible imperfections The card holder is for all booksresponsible drawn on this card. A\ ; ,%0 forPenalty over-due books 2c *a cost ofday plus notices. Lost cards and of mustchange residence be re ported promptly. Public Library Kansas Mo.City, ! YourCard inThisPocketKeep BERKOWITZ ENVELOPE K. MO.CO., O.,DATE DOE:TO A FEW FRIENDS AND TO MY MOTHER IN GRATITUDEAND WITH DEEP AFFECTION I DEDICATE THIS BOOK .Foreword CHAELES SPENCER film comedian exCHAPLIN, and the most known intraordinary widely figure the of motion holds the distinchistory pictures, tion of for as the outenduring twenty-five years if somewhat ofstanding, enigmatic, personality the screen. To retain such universal popularity, in its in an butdeeper sense, industry gradually its as an of thesurely taking place integral part an all toowhich often raises itsarts, industry favorite to stardom to hurl himovernight only back into oblivion with this achieveequal celerity, ment of Charlie s becomes ofChaplin worthy serious consideration. What manner of man is this who sits securely his throne millions into hisofupon golden poured ofcoffers a world-wide audience? What sortby man can to the universaldefy any challenge ap of a who can resistpeal single characterization, for ten the more modern medium for exyears of silent films intothe transition talkingpression, pictures? this sustained hold the taste,Surely upon public8 FOREWORD a certainthe affection, artistrypublic implies there are few toif will. And denygenius, you into bold reliefthat Charlie has broughtChaplin ofancient art of as athe portrayalpantomime life.humanmodern, the of morehas been writingChaplin subject than most of hisand fewer accurate delineations the He has encontemporaries throughout years. the man evthe status of beingjoyed paradoxical Protected aknows knows.yet nobody byerybody isolation in his he hasself-imposed private life, certain dramatic in hishad, nevertheless, phases and their dissolutwolife, marriages subsequent the front of Americanemblazoned ontions, pages Andfor weeks and months at a time.newspapers when we reflect the adverse toupon publicity which he was at these some of itsubjected times, careless of the it is small wonder thattruth, Charles is of himself toChaplin wary revealing or that he bends over backthe serious biographer in himselfward aboutexpurgating any story Awhich is submitted to him for his approval. true of him of be anbiography must, necessity, unauthorized one to survive with value as anany accurate chronicle. Because of this consistent todiscouragement few stories of or what isbiographers, any length, more have been uncovered inimportant, strength, this writer s search for material to thispertinent book. a mild little book written W.One, by Dodg-FOREWORD 9 inson Bowman makes no effort to trace the1931, of the man behind the artist and succeedspattern in not it. It can be assumed that themanutracing of this book was either censored its subscript by theor with wish in theject prepared uppermost mind of the writer not to offend. itConsequently, has scant value in the vitalliving, Chapdepicting lin. The most colorful and the most redramatic, and not in thevealing always creditable, episodes life of the of are veiledKing Comedy by meager or with anparagraphs ignored airy sycophancy which the value of the book as a truedestroys biography. ^^ a serial written in a state ofAnother, magazine Carl Robinson after his dismissalpique by by Charlie in in can be consideredAlgiers 1931, only as a on the wrist. That Robinson received aslap sum in advance for all" couldgoodly "telling (he not tell is not for revelational acit) surprising, counts of Charlie are as rare as blue-and-Chaplin white-checked nightingales laying polka-dot eggs. And Carl never in the intimate confiRobinson, dence of his himknew as well asemployer, only the could.average acquaintance of s <j* Throughout eighteen years Chaplin twenty- * five on the there has been one emyears screen, one who theknowsployee, person actually Chaplin, man. That this has littleemployee understanding the of anof nature takescomplex artist, nothing from the facts. That is as he isemployee "Kono,"10 FOREWORD known in in New overHollywood, York, Europe, all who know Charlie Chaplin.by s has seensecretary,Kono, Chaplin Japanese thethrough years, promises broken, obligations a ruthlessness toward a cowardiceevaded, women, of the mechanics of life all hisbeyondpractical This sees a man anunderstanding. biographer artist with the whole of awho, courage sorely tried heart and has andunquenchable ideals, again mastered a bitter fate and theagain recaptured essence of his life. combatto the forces ofHelpless simple practical, Charlieeveryday living, Chaplin has, nonetheless, demonstrated a tostupendous ability growupward to down internal tostormily, put revolt, produce the form of his art controlled to aliving precise measure and to an removed from allausterity uncertainty. Moore has "For the true ofGeorge said, picture a me the Thisman, give disrespectful biography." unauthorized of Charles is intendedstory Chaplin to be in so far as is"disrespectful" only necessary to the truth. It is far from the author sdepict intention to the rather is it herdisparage subject; desire to the character of theguard scrupulously artist from of baseness. And it is%any implication because the man not to the hour but tobelongs that the writer maintains theposterity right to the hitherto unknown facts of Charlieembody s life within the covers of a book.Chaplin