Secret of Charlie Chaplie

Hokitika Guardian, 10 December 1921, Page 4

Secret of Charlie Chaplie

1 understand that Mr Chnplin does not like being called "i luir!ie” ilia', lie prefers to be known as Charles. Mr Chaplin is right; Charles is more dignified, and the position ol the greatest comedian in the world is one lull ol dignity. That be is unquestionably the greatest comedian in the world is a perfectly safe thing to say. He very definitely proves it in this wonderful new film of his, "Tlie Kid," which '-as just been released and is being shown all over the country. In “The Kid, Mr Chnplin demonstrates that lie is uot only tlie leading international provoker of lnughtcu but that genuine pathos is within bis range as well. And ibis is tile supreme test of a comedian : to Is.' properly classed as great he must have the ability to curry you to tears. Sir Harry Laudei shares the ability with Mr Chaplin. Previously Charles Chaplin Inis been very largely what actors call a "prop' comedian. That is to say, lie has got most of bis fun out of stage "properties.” He has amused with bis bat. bis absurd walking-stick, bis baggy trousers, with things that Hipped other people up. with almost anything ifinl be bothered to turn bis band to. Like the pantomime clown, lie was ol the "slap-stick” school. lie lias ripened now. His sense ol comedy bus become less broad, more wide. So far as I can remember, not mice in "The Kill" does be have to raise a laugh by falling down. And this film is the longest one he has ever played in. The secret of Mr Clmpliu is, like most of the big secrets, a very simple one. In mi judgment it consists in thinking of tin- obvious a second before ii dawns on the rest ol us.

lie comes upon a baby lying on the ground outside a house, lie looks up at the house to see who lias dropped it out ol t.ho window. Silting oil the kerbstone nursing a child with which he doesn’t know what to do. his eye lights oil a grating in the gutter. He lilts up the grating and thouglulull.v |,. .ks down into the drain. Dreaming that lie is possessed ol winds, he at once wants to put his head to one side and scratch behind an ear.

But although he is always doing the obvious thing, the thing you were just going to think of yoiirsell, lie is lar too clever to let you see it coming.

11 is jokes burst upon you with instant compulsion. They are such very human jokes, too —jokes within everyone's understanding—that they nevet

miss lire. 1 don’t know how many times Chalpin pictures have to be "slmt” before they are considered perfect for showing, bill i do know that . everything this wonderful Loiulonbo! n comedian does seems lo be spontaneous.

That Mr Chaplin should he the world’s funny man is amazing il yon stop to consider how linndh ap|)eil he is in one way. The actor’s greatest assei is .his voice, hut here is an actor who holds millions of people in the spell of his humour every day without, speaking a word. Lie lias to amuse hy means of pantomime by what he dues and the way in which he does it. ILe ■has no dialogue to help him along; his parts are action all the time, li is : wonderful achievement.