Comedians have been around since the medieval times, although they were referred to as royal jokers. Charlie Chaplin is considered one of the greatest comedians in his time and his numerous performances prove this. He started out small and has impacted the world of Hollywood forever. His methods and ways of making people laugh will never be forgotten. Chaplin said, “A day without laughter is a day wasted.” (brainyquote.com) Charles Chaplin was born on April 16th, 1889 in London, England. (biography.com) His mother, Hannah Chaplin, was a singer and her stage name was Lily Harley. Charles Chaplin Senior, his father, was unfortunately a drunk and abandoned him and his family at a very young age. They had total of two kids together Charlie Jr. …show more content…
One of his greatest assets is his deep understanding of human nature. (archive.org) Chaplin did not serve the press or critics. He served the people. Winston Churchill said that the silent films were "everybody's language." (archive.org) Chaplin was unique in the way that he not only financed and produced all his films but also was the author, actor, and soundtrack composer of them as well. (charliechaplin.com) For Chaplin, the best way to locate the humor or sadness of a situation was to create an environment and walk around it until something natural happened. (pbs.org) He also knew that a successful scene was not simply about the star, but everyone on the screen. He made his entire cast work together in every performance. (pbs.org) His constant attention to detail often ran many features over time and over budget. As his popularity increased he took more liberties with filming. (pbs.org) Chaplin usually improvised his story in front of the camera with only a basic framework of a script. (pbs.org) He would shoot and print hundreds of takes when making a movie. It was very expensive but it provided lovely and spontaneous footage. (pbs.org) Sometimes, half-way through a film he would decide an actor wasn't working to his standard and he would start over with a new one. (pbs.org) In 1964, he released his first autobiography called "My Autobiography" which was followed by "My Life in Pictures" in 1974. (history.co.uk) Chaplin wrote a total of four books. Those include, "My Trip Abroad" and "My Life in Pictures." (charliechaplin.com) He was also a composer. Some famous songs are, "Sing a Song”; "With You Dear in Bombay”; "There's Always One You Can't Forget”; "Smile" and many
...ed against the moon, his films have sketched images in our minds we are unable to forget. His influence upon mainstream Hollywood directing is more than evident. Whether it be making us reflect on past tragedies or teaching us that differences should be celebrated aside from being just recognized, his methods of storytelling have established him as more than just a wonderful film director, but as a great humanitarian.
Before Citizen Kane, filmmaking was easily predictable and virtually all the movies used the same stagnant camera angles, same lighting, and similar sets. Citizen Kane broke all the settled rules and introduced exceptional storytelling and Cinematography methods to the Hollywood.
	Orson Welles is often referred to as a "Renaissance man", an individual who’s ambitious and concerned with revolutionizing multiple aspects of life. He was a prolific writer and talented actor who often appeared in his own productions. A gifted artist, Welles, coupled his abundant energy with an enthusiasm for life. He tried everything and was not afraid to take risks and to suffer the consequences of failures as well as the acclaims of success.
Another major contender in the comedy genre was Harold Lloyd. He had an unpredictable style of comedy at first. For a long time he wanted to model himself after Charlie Chaplin until he came into his own unique style. Chaplin’s clothes were too big for him, so Lloyd wore clothes that were too small for him. However, it was not as simple as reversing Chaplin’s style. One day someone put him in oval wire glasses and it somehow became part of his persona. Lloyd eventually evolved on his own and claimed his own unique style. “At times he would seem meek but then would explode suddenly with force and anger” (Cousins, p. 73). He became most famous for his incredible stamina and ability to perform outrageous stunts, known as his “human fly” act. In Safety Last he is seen climbing the side of a building, along the way running into many obstacles that would threaten to push him off. He was unparalleled in the way he performed such dangerous stunts all for the sake of comedy.
When talking about Billy Wilder as a director a popular, controversial topic is whether or not he is considered an auteur. There have been many critics who have attempted to prove that Wilder is not an auteur but many have fallen short on providing a strong and convincing argument. Billy Wilder is an auteur for many reasons; the most obvious reason though is by comparing his four most famous movies. Wilder was very involved in the process of making the film and was often the writer, producer and director of the film. By being so involved he was able to make scenes his own, especially since Wilder wanted every detail of the scene written out in the script. He also has similar themes of cynicism towards different elements of human nature but would lighten the mood of the film by adding a comedic element to the scene. Wilder also enjoyed pushing the boundaries of screenwriting and to be able to get an approval from the Production Code Administration, he had to add comedy to the script. Another reason that proves Wilder as an auteur is through his work with famous actors and actress. Wilder had a knack for dealing with difficult actors and was often able to make them who he wanted. Finally Billy Wilder stuck to very traditional uses of camera angles and movements that set him aside from other directors. Billy Wilder was not only an influential director but also an auteur through his involvement in writing, directing, and producing the film, the cynicism mixed with comedy shown through the characters, and his traditional use of camera movement and angles compared to other directors during the 1950’s.
Through these extensive genres, Welles made a brand of himself. He was known for playing in theaters, receiving the American Film Institute’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the D.W. Griffiths Award, and was named number sixteen on the Fifty Greatest Screen Legends List of the American Film Institute. In Welles films, famous actors like Everett Sloane and Joseph Cotton made constant appearances. His filmin...
...ox office. The public wasn’t ready for such an experimental approach to film form. But time has shown that Welles did something more important than just pleasing an audience. He changed the face of filmmaking in Hollywood by pushing the techniques in new directions and challenging the rule of “invisibility.” “What is remarkable when considering the cinematography of Kane, is that instead of it being a result of years of practice and study, it feels so fresh because Welles had no previous experience and was forced to invent his technique on the set” (http://steadicam.lunarfilm.co.uk/Mike%20Marriage%20-%20Camera%20Movement.html). Maybe it took someone from outside of the studio system to discover its true potential. Later filmmakers, like Film Noir directors, now had new tools in their boxes to tell stories and move audiences.
George Carlin is one of the most influential comedians of all time. He was the best to ever perform onstage with a microphone, his wit and intelligence, with the sole purpose to make everyone in the audience and viewers at home laugh. What made Carlin a great? Carlin was a game changer in comedy for the better part of five decades. George Carlin was much more than a comedian, he was one of the most influential comedians of all time. Carlin's influence was felt through his thought provoking view on taboo subjects including religion, government, military, and drugs. Carlin blazed a path through uncharted territory, in doing so he gave license to other comedians to do the same.
Charlie Chaplin is an American modern and contemporary history’s symbolic person. He is an actor and a director who was severely criticized about the society in those days through his films. One of his most famous works is the Modern Times. Modern Times is an immortal work, because many people still love the film. There is a person who says, “History is repeating, so we should learn from it.”
Many people believe Marlon Brando was the greatest actor of the 20th century. His life was filled with wonderful, interesting, but also encountered troubling times. Marlon Brando was a rebellious boy who later grew up to be known as the “world’s greatest actor.”
Sight gags are an essential part of comedy, especially the silent comedies of Charlie Chaplin's time. A sight gag is a visual form of comedy. In this form of comedy, the actors rely on the way the audience perceives the actions on screen for humor. This could include a misunderstanding by characters or a misrepresentation of an everyday object. In order to make the gag work, the actor must use smooth, visible actions to convey his or her point. Noel Carroll outlines six different types of sight gags in the book, Comedy/Cinema/Theory. In this paper, I will talk about each gag and give examples from the three Charlie Chaplin films that we have watched.
Through materialism, Kane became a self-invested individual. The highly acclaimed Citizen Kane creates drama and suspense for the viewer. Orson Welles designed this film to enhance the viewer’s opinion about light and darkness, staging, proxemics, personal theme development, and materialism. Creating one of the most astounding films in the cinematography world, Welles conveys many stylistic features as well as fundamentals of cinematography. It is an amazing film and will have an everlasting impact on the world of film.
When a critic examines the silent films of Charles Chaplin a question that arises is whether the comedy he portrayed is a mockery of political and current issues, or a means to bring laughter to viewers. Silent films generated different emotions and thoughts since a spectator was simply watching actions rather than hearing an explanation through words. Information was cleverly construed this way and however the critic analyzed the information presented was an individual responsibility. In fact, Charles Chaplin once said, "..it is not the reality that matters in a film but what the imagination can make of if," to a young critic.[1]
(YO REMEMBER TO PUT IN A HEADER THING)Films are the most widely enjoyed artform in the modern era; they give beautiful scenery, gripping stories, enthralling characters and, above all, they teach to feeling. Though mMuch of what is felt may not be around were it not for a specific pioneer in this artistic industry. His name was Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin, but his more recognizable stage name was Charlie Chaplin. At a glance he may seem to be just a funny performer, but his material would change the world forever. Charlie chaplin is the most significant filmmaker in history. (Add why by stating what you talk about in your body paragraphs)
Humor has been the source of entertainment throughout history. Today humor is practiced in movies, plays, songs, television shows and radio. Humor has brought fame and fortune to those who have mastered its power.