Recording 38, page 64
THE KING OF COMEDY: Sir CHARLIE CHAPLIN
Exercise 2 Listen and read Charlie Chaplin's biography.

Charlie Chaplin was born in London on 16 April, 1889.

His parents worked in the theatre. His father was a comedian and his mother was a singer.

They were very poor because it wasn’t easy to get work.

Charlie’s father died when Charlie was still a child. His mother was often ill.

Charlie and his brother Sydney often wandered about the city streets and tried to find enough to eat.

Life was very difficult. Charlie lived in a children’s home.

He was often cold, hungry and miserable there. He hated it.

Although his childhood was very hard, he wanted to make people laugh.

He first appeared on stage when he was five. At the age of 17 he joined the Karno Troupe.

In 1910 he and his brother travelled to America in a small company of actors.

In 1913 he accepted an offer from a film company and moved to Hollywood, where the film industry was just beginning.

In 1914 he acted in his first film, Making a Living.

In the same year (1914) he introduced his famous tramp character and his tramp costume.

He played this role in more than seventy films.

In 1914 he appeared in thirty-five films, and in 1915 he acted in fourteen more.

He earned a lot of money. He formed his own film-making company, and he started to produce and direct his own films.

In 1921 he directed his first film, The Kid.

His most famous pictures date from the 1920s and the 1930s, the time of the silent films.

In 1921 he visited Europe and was very popular there.

Everyone wanted to meet him. In 1940 he acted in The Great Dictator, a satire on Hitler, which was Chaplin’s first sound film.

In 1943 he married Oona O'Neill, daughter of the American writer Eugene O'Neill.

They had three sons and five daughters. He lived in America from 1913 to 1952.

In 1952 he moved with his wife and their large family to Switzerland because he didn't like America any more.

He published his memoirs in 1964. In 1972 he returned to the USA to receive his honorary Oscar.

In 1975 Elizabeth II, Queen of England, knighted him.

He died in his sleep, from old age, on Christmas Day, 1977 at Corsier-sur-Vevey in Switzerland.

Even people who do not understand English can enjoy Chaplin’s films because they are mostly silent.

His style of acting was based on amazing movement, gesture and facial expression.

Once he said: “You have to believe in yourself. That’s the secret. Even when I was in the children’s home, when I was cold and hungry, even then I believed in myself.”

Answer the following questions.

1.	When was Charlie Chaplin born? Charlie Chaplin was born on 16th April, 1889.
2.	Where was he born? Charlie Chaplin was born in London.
3.	What was his childhood like? Charlie's childhood was very hard. His family was very poor, his mother was often ill, his father died when Charlie was still a child, Charlie lived in a children's home, he was often hungry, cold and miserable.
4.	When did he first appear on stage? He first appeared on stage when he was five.
5.	When did he first travel to the USA? He first travelled to the USA in 1910.
6.	When did he first appear on screen? He first appeared on screen in 1914.
7.	When did he first introduce his famous tramp character? He first introduced his famous tramp character in 1914.
8.	Which was Chaplin’s first sound film? The Great Dictator was Chaplin's first sound film.
9.	When did he marry Oona O’Neill? He married Oona O'Neill in 1943.
10.	How many children did they have? They had eight children (three sons and five daughters).
11.	Why did they move to Switzerland? They moved to Switzerland because they didn't like America any more.
12.	How long did Charlie Chaplin live in the States? He lived in the States for almost forty years (from 1913 to 1952).
13.	Did he ever return to the USA? Yes, he did. He returned to the States to receive his honorary Oscar in 1972.
14.	Where did he die? He died in Switzerland (at Corsier-sur-Vevey).

Answer the following questions.

Informacije