Charlie Chaplin & Robert Downey Jr.

Charlie Chaplin

Today, I watched  a Video of Charlie Chaplin performing as the Tramp. I Picked this video specifically because the literature I have read praises Charlie for being a master of empathy toward the character The Tramp. In all honesty I struggled to watch the  29mins and 43 seconds of the video. The main thing I have been trying to establish is why am I not engaging in the performance. The one thing I can say I can appreciate is how well the movements and posing indicates what is happening. However,  my personal preference continues to set off alarms to what I dislike. As I am not a fan of silent film this is one of the issues which stop me from engaging in the story. I find I'm not particularly interested in the character and as this is the first video I have watch of the Tramp I'm also struggling to see who The character is. If I had to give a reason to why I did not enjoy, engage or care for the character based on this video. It would be because it continuously broke my suspension of disbelief. The character was performed in a way which for me is unbelievable but I will link to the actions that are present in classic forms Slapstick.

41 The Tramp- Charlie Chaplin (1915)

 

I then took another stab toward watching a second  Movie featuring The Tramp. This time it wasn't much effort. I was in engaged for the film but I would conclude it towards having Empathy for the Child in the movie. I enjoyed watching the gestures which were helping toward telling the story acting as the voice of the character. There was parts of in which I was wondering if the movement was naturally timed or had been sped up.  After watching this video I am able to concur that The Tramp is a character I personally do not care for. I am able to engage in the style Chaplin performs  under a slightly more serious and controlled context.  I did notice that I was paying more attention to how they actors used their body over focusing on getting message and emotion from their faces.

The Kid [HD]

 

As a conclusion to this, I feel  I would not be using Chaplin's performances as a reference for my own work. This is because though he was skilled toward giving a clear message with his body language. His style of movement while performing as The Tramp breaks my own sense of movement with purpose. If I Had to elaborate on this during his performance he would take actions which in my own point of view lacked reason to be there. I would say it was a roundabout way of getting an action done. Though the best conclusion to those actions I can think of would probably be toward his own characterization of The Tramp. The walk for example has a bounce and flick to the legs that sets the character apart from the others.  While performing an action he would add many in-between actions (One of the reason I wasn't fond of the performance) but this may be part of The Tramps personality.

A Little More

I attempted to go A little further with this look into Chaplin by watching the movie "Chaplin" (1992) starring Robert Downey Jr. As I had struggled to connect to the tramp Character when Chaplin performed him, I decided to watch this movie expecting to see the Tramp character being interpreted by an actor I already admired for comedy In the films "Ironman", "Sherlock Homes" and "Due Date". Though, The outcome was closer to what I had feared in which I wouldn't really get to see the Tramp being Interpreted as often as I would have liked. 

"Chaplin" (1992) [How about Dinner Tonight Chili con carne]

 That being said I did get to see a moment when Chaplin(Robert & The Original Chaplin) got the inspiration toward how the Tramp walks.... A Small Trip realizing the walk.... turning out the feet..... Continue walking.... Kick out the feet and Knees a little more...... Add somewhat of a wobble.... and Spin that Cane. As I have not read the books  that this movie is based upon information and accuracy may be off as well. I find one of my more enjoyable parts of the movie is the interpretation of Chaplin's personality. Roberts performance the first character the drunk old man was not as controlled in the movement of limbs and body as the performances iv seen by Chaplin however I must include that  I have not seen Chaplin's version of the drunk old man along with the character is supposed to be drunk. 

"Chaplin" (1992) [The Drunk Old Man]

The part that I would say I enjoyed the most and examined was around 1:03:06 into the movie. The looks in the guests faces give a sign of discomfort of the situation while Chaplin(Robert) has a more dissatisfied sense on the topic being discussed and quickly seeks out other sources of interest. This is quickly escalated by the actions he takes when playing with the bread it shows his lack of interest a sense of his humorous personality along with easing the tension  with the other guest at the table, Who are struggling to keep to the serious mood while attempting not to laugh. 

 

 I myself was laughing due to the context which this scene greater and I am sure I would have went hysterical if  J. Edgar Hoover (Kevin Dunn) began to break into a smile and unable to keep his serious tone while speaking. As the scene continued I had began to settle down until Chaplin (Robert) made his point about kicking the immigration officer in one of his films while emphasizing the word Kick with a fork stabbed into a piece of bread in order to make it look like a foot.

  

"Chaplin" (1992) [Kick]