Charlie Chaplin's techniques for the creation of comic effect in his films

Essay from the year 1999 in the subject Film Science, grade: 1 (A), University of Portsmouth (School of Language and Area Studies), course: American Cinema Studies (Level 2/3), language: English, abstract: Even more than a half century after his last appearance in the film Limelight (1952) and decades after his death in 1977, Charles Spencer Chaplin is one of the most famous characters and well-known actors of all times and is regarded as the greatest creative figure in the movies. Chaplin¿s capacity for comic invention and his high quality of film output are outstanding among the film producers of his time. His comedies and satires, most of them directed by Chaplin himself, used to amuse people all around the world and still make us laugh today.

Apart from acting, directing and composing the music for his own films by himself, Chaplin developed his own techniques for the creation of comic effects, which can always be identified as his own style and is distinguished from those of other comedians of the twenties, for example Lloyd, Keaton or Langdon.

This essay will focus on these techniques and their development during the career of Charlie Chaplin.