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Charlie Chaplin

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Charlie Chaplin was born in London in 1889 and became world-famous in Hollywood with his tramp, the Little Tramp. When sound film arrived he went on making silent films, but he used sound to put his own music on them. City Lights (1931) has no audible dialogue, but does have a continuous orchestral score with sound effects. Chaplin did not write out his music himself: he hummed the melodies, and arrangers such as Arthur Johnston, Alfred Newman and David Raksin worked them out for orchestra. In Modern Times (1936) his voice is heard for the first time, in a song in gibberish. The love theme from that film became, with lyrics added in 1954, the song Smile. For Limelight (1952) he finally received an Oscar in 1973.

Listening

Listening tip. Notice how the music takes the place of the voice: simple, singing melodies carry the tender scenes, and short pieces with a character of their own follow the mood of the Tramp.

Discography

Studio albums

Other work

In School of Rock

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See also

Categories: ArtistsEarly sound film (talkies)Symphonic silent film scores (Hollywood and Weimar)