Charlie Chaplin: The Beauty of Silence (Impact Biographies) [Paperback]

Alan Schroeder (Author)

Book Description

Series: Impact Biographies

Charlie Chaplin's silent films, and even his later "talkies, " have become motion picture classics that remain popular decades after they were made. This absorbing biography examines Chaplin's stormy personal life and the public controversies that surrounded him, providing a genuine portrait of a complex and compelling personality.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up. A straightforward and readable biography of the man called "the greatest comedian in the history of the motion picture." Schroeder traces Chaplin's Dickensian childhood in turn-of-the-century London, his brilliant career as actor/writer/director, and his banishment during the McCarthy era. Chaplin's sex scandals and controversial political views receive nonjudgmental airings. While the author reveals little of his subject's inner life, it is obvious that the heartbreak and poverty of the Little Tramp's youth had a profound effect on both his personality and his artistic expression. The portrait's main strength lies in its depiction of Chaplin at work producing such silent-screen classics as The Gold Rush and City Lights; readers come away with a real sense of the artist's cinematic genius. Black-and-white photographs and motion-picture stills are scattered throughout. Although Arthur Diamond's Charlie Chaplin (Lucent, 1995) offers more illustrations, its text is shorter and less detailed.?Pat Katka, formerly at San Diego Public Library
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 7-12. Schroeder sets his entertaining biography of the great silent film comedian against the movie history of the time. Chaplin's life gets some attention (including his unhappy childhood, his various stormy marriages, and his exile during the McCarthy period), but the focus is on his art and technique. From the early development of the Little Tramp character to the triumph of such critically acclaimed films as The Gold Rush and City Lights, Schroeder re-creates the classic scenes with loving detail. He shows how, for Chaplin, tragedy and humor were closely allied. There are quotes from Chaplin's autobiography ("Ridicule, I suppose, is an act of defiance"), lots of black-and-white photos from the various movies, and full chapter source notes. Teens into acting, comedy, mime, and movie history will enjoy this. Hazel Rochman --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Franklin Watts (September 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0531158640
• ISBN-13: 978-0531158647
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,043,911 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Charlie Chaplin: The Beauty Of Silence, May 15, 2005

By 

Whatsisname - See all my reviews

This review is from: Charlie Chaplin (Impact Biographies) (Library Binding)

I think the book "Charlie Chaplin: The Beauty Of Silence," by Alan Schroeder, is a good book all around. It features his childhood, his begining in theater, and his overall success in the silent movie buisness. It gives and details some of Charlie's greatest films, such as "Gold Rush," "The Kid," "City Lights" and "Modern Times." It also records Charlie's downfall during the begining of the sound movies or "talkies."
The only unfortunate thing about the book is its generality. The book talks only about the most general things that happened during his life. The inner details of his life are left out. But, it is still a quality read if all you need are the bare facts.