A King in New York (1957)

A recently-deposed European monarch seeks shelter in New York City, where he becomes an accidental television celebrity and is later wrongly accused of being a Communist.

Director:

Charles Chaplin

Writer:

Charles Chaplin

Stars:

Charles Chaplin, Maxine Audley, Jerry Desmonde

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Charles Chaplin	...	King Shahdov
Maxine Audley	...	Queen Irene
Jerry Desmonde	...	Prime Minister Voudel
Oliver Johnston	...	Ambassador Jaume
Dawn Addams	...	Ann Kay - TV Specialist
Sid James	...	Johnson - TV Advertiser (as Sidney James)
Joan Ingram	...	Mona Cromwell - Hostess
Michael Chaplin	...	Rupert Macabee
John McLaren	...	Macabee Senior
Phil Brown	...	Headmaster
Harry Green	...	Lawyer
Robert Arden	...	Liftboy
Alan Gifford	...	School Superintendent
Robert Cawdron	...	U.S. Marshal
George Woodbridge	...	Member of Atomic Commission

Storyline

Due to a revolution in his country, King Shahdov comes to New York - almost broke. To get some money he goes to TV, making commercials and meets the child from communist parents. Due to this he is suddenly a suspected as a communist himself and has to face one of McCarthy's hearings.

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Plot Keywords:

communist | television | new york city | revolution | king | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 September 1957 (UK)

Also Known As:

En konge i New York

Filming Locations:

Leicester Square, Soho, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Attica Film Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Shot for only 12 weeks, the shortest of all Chaplin films.

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Goofs

While the movie is supposed to take place in New York City, while hailing a taxi the London car dealership of Jack Barclay is visible in the background.

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Quotes

[Rupert is haranguing the King]
Rupert Macabee: Monopoly is the menace of free enterprise. As I look back, sixty years ago...
King Shahdov: Where were you sixty years ago?
another schoolboy: He was a glint in his great-grandfather's eye!

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Connections

Referenced in The Truman Show (1998)

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Soundtracks

"Weeping Willow"
(1957)
Written by Charles Chaplin
Played in the score

User Reviews

Vastly undervalued Chaplin masterpiece

It's not only one of Chaplin's best films, but one of the most important films about America ever made. Thrown out of the US for his liberal views, Chaplin became very irate at America. This is his response, a bare-knuckle boxing match with Uncle Sam - and this tramp doesn't pull punches. He doesn't leave a stone unturned, movies, music, high culture, television, education, fame, and especially the communist witch hunts. Best of all, he still exhibits his comic brilliance, and almost all the jokes land. Chaplin's son Michael is very good as a young boy who espouses communist ideals without the slightest provocation. The film ends without resolution, as this dark period of American history was still going strong. Only the hope that it is only a phase is expressed, but otherwise, the darkness is left to brood. People have accused the film of not being subtle, but it is far more so than the infinitely more popular The Great Dictator, and also more so than his other two talkies, Monsieur Verdoux and Limelight. All of those films are great, but they all end up with Chaplin telling us directly what he wants us to walk away with. A King of New York is, even if it has its clunky moments, an exceptional achievement. It's about time that it was rediscovered. 10/10.