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IMDbPro

Chaplin

  • 19921992
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 2h 23m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
58K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,258
447
Robert Downey Jr. in Chaplin (1992)
Home Video Trailer from Columbia Tristar
Play trailer2:04
2 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Biography
  • Comedy
  • Drama
An elderly Charlie Chaplin discusses his autobiography with his editor, recounting his amazing journey from his poverty-stricken childhood to world-wide success after the ingenious invention... Read allAn elderly Charlie Chaplin discusses his autobiography with his editor, recounting his amazing journey from his poverty-stricken childhood to world-wide success after the ingenious invention of the Little Tramp.An elderly Charlie Chaplin discusses his autobiography with his editor, recounting his amazing journey from his poverty-stricken childhood to world-wide success after the ingenious invention of the Little Tramp.
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
58K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,258
447
  • Director
    • Richard Attenborough
  • Writers
    • David Robinson(book "Chaplin His Life and Art")
    • Charles Chaplin(book "My Autobiography")
    • Diana Hawkins(story)
  • Stars
    • Robert Downey Jr.
    • Geraldine Chaplin
    • Paul Rhys
Top credits
  • Director
    • Richard Attenborough
  • Writers
    • David Robinson(book "Chaplin His Life and Art")
    • Charles Chaplin(book "My Autobiography")
    • Diana Hawkins(story)
  • Stars
    • Robert Downey Jr.
    • Geraldine Chaplin
    • Paul Rhys
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 192User reviews
    • 62Critic reviews
    • 47Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 3 Oscars
      • 3 wins & 19 nominations total

    Videos2

    Chaplin
    Trailer 2:04
    Chaplin
    Chaplin
    Trailer 1:58
    Chaplin

    Photos133

    Dan Aykroyd and David Duchovny in Chaplin (1992)
    Robert Downey Jr. in Chaplin (1992)
    Robert Downey Jr. and Penelope Ann Miller in Chaplin (1992)
    Robert Downey Jr. in Chaplin (1992)
    Robert Downey Jr. in Chaplin (1992)
    Robert Downey Jr. and Maria Pitillo in Chaplin (1992)
    David Duchovny, Robert Downey Jr., Francesca Buller, and Paul Rhys in Chaplin (1992)
    Robert Downey Jr. in Chaplin (1992)
    Robert Downey Jr. in Chaplin (1992)
    Robert Downey Jr. in Chaplin (1992)
    Robert Downey Jr. in Chaplin (1992)
    Robert Downey Jr. in Chaplin (1992)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Robert Downey Jr.
    Robert Downey Jr.
    • Charles Spencer Chaplin
    Geraldine Chaplin
    Geraldine Chaplin
    • Hannah Chaplin
    Paul Rhys
    Paul Rhys
    • Sydney Chaplin
    John Thaw
    John Thaw
    • Fred Karno
    Moira Kelly
    Moira Kelly
    • Hetty Kelly…
    Anthony Hopkins
    Anthony Hopkins
    • George Hayden
    Dan Aykroyd
    Dan Aykroyd
    • Mack Sennett
    Marisa Tomei
    Marisa Tomei
    • Mabel Normand
    Penelope Ann Miller
    Penelope Ann Miller
    • Edna Purviance
    Kevin Kline
    Kevin Kline
    • Douglas Fairbanks
    Maria Pitillo
    Maria Pitillo
    • Mary Pickford
    Milla Jovovich
    Milla Jovovich
    • Mildred Harris
    Kevin Dunn
    Kevin Dunn
    • J. Edgar Hoover
    Deborah Moore
    Deborah Moore
    • Lita Grey
    • (as Deborah Maria Moore)
    Diane Lane
    Diane Lane
    • Paulette Goddard
    Nancy Travis
    Nancy Travis
    • Joan Barry
    James Woods
    James Woods
    • Joseph Scott
    Hugh Downer
    • Charlie Age 5
    • Director
      • Richard Attenborough
    • Writers
      • David Robinson(book "Chaplin His Life and Art")
      • Charles Chaplin(book "My Autobiography")
      • Diana Hawkins(story)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Robert Downey Jr. Through the Years

    Robert Downey Jr. Through the Years

    Take a look back at Robert Downey Jr.'s movie career in photos.
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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Geraldine Chaplin played her real-life paternal grandmother Hannah Chaplin.
    • Goofs
      When Charlie is shown at the 1972 Oscars near the end of the movie, he is showed being brought to the podium in the wheelchair and then standing at the podium as the movie clips played. In the actual awards ceremony, Charlie walked out to the podium under his own power after the clips ended.
    • Quotes

      German Diplomat: [offering his hand] Mr. Chaplin! I am a great admirer of yours.

      Charlie Chaplin: I'm sorry, I prefer not to shake hands with Nazis.

      German Diplomat: [laughs nervously] What have you got against us, Mr. Chaplin, hm?

      Charlie Chaplin: What have you got against everybody else?

    • Crazy credits
      The opening credits have Charlie Chaplin enter a dressing room and remove his make-up, with the film changing from black-and-white to color.
    • Alternate versions
      To receive a 12 certificate the original UK cinema version was cut to remove one use of 'fucking' (during Charlie's homecoming visit to a pub). Later releases were uncut and upgraded to a 15 rating.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Hoffa/Trespass/Chaplin/Lorenzo's Oil/Peter's Friends (1992)
    • Soundtracks
      The Honeysuckle and The Bee
      Albert Fitz and William H. Penn (as William Penn)

    User reviews192

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    the triumphs and darker spots to the clown of film
    Chaplin isn't really a great bio-pic, but there are moments when Richard Attenborough's direction shines and it's consistently got an amazing Robert Downey Jr. performance as the title character. In fact, this is the kind of movie where the lead actor is so important that some of the major enjoyment and success of the film rests on him/her, oddly enough since it is a varied and superlative ensemble. There are moments when Attenborough's grandiosity gets in the way, and the moments that mark it as being somewhat conventional. What made me pleasantly surprised is what Attenborough *did* decide to show with Chaplin the private man; I thought that he would cut out much of the stuff with Chaplin's penchant for young (usually underage) girls, or some of the things regarding his mother, but most of the notorious facts are put in for good measure to counter-balance some of the pompous, though fascinating, scenes of "cinematic history."

    Now as a fan of Chaplin's films and the given acknowledgment that he's one of the most talented comic actors and filmmakers of the 20th century, I do get a little choked up seeing that final clip-show at the Oscars of great clips from his most famous movies. And it's interesting always, from just a movie-buff stand-point, to watch the history behind Chaplin's transition from vaudeville to Max Senett's film company to slowly becoming an independent and world-famous auteur/star. But for the most part the writing and the direction make it entertaining just on that conventional, rise-fall-rise-fall-struggle-success-at-end story with maybe less drugs and a bit more politics than one might usually see (save for one fantastic scene when Chaplin and his brother and friends are sneaking around the film footage of The Kid from the brass who want it for tax purposes).

    What makes it almost outstanding, however, is Downey Jr. He's funny as Chaplin when he needs to show how he was a great clown (i.e. the 'old-drunk' bit), he's melancholy when needed, he plays Chaplin as young, middle-aged, and old perfectly, and there's just the slightest details that keep you glued to the screen to see what he'll do next. It's not exactly a breakthrough role as he'd been doing some really good work intermittently in the late 80s, but this is the one that got him recognition by the likes of the Academy, and rightfully so. It's masterful work in a decent tribute to Sir Charles "Tramp" Chaplin, and should delight those looking for a good ensemble and a commanding lead performance.
    helpful•35
    4
    • Quinoa1984
    • Aug 18, 2008

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 8, 1993 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • France
      • Italy
      • Japan
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Instagram
      • Official Site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Charlie
    • Filming locations
      • Chaplin Studios - 1416 N. La Brea Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Carolco Pictures
      • Japan Satellite Broadcasting (JBS)
      • Canal+
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $31,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $9,493,259
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $84,669
      • Dec 27, 1992
    • Gross worldwide
      • $9,493,259
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 23 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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