| Photos (See all 63 | slideshow) | Videos (see all 4) |
| Robert Downey Jr. | ... | Charles Spencer Chaplin | |
| Geraldine Chaplin | ... | Hannah Chaplin | |
| Paul Rhys | ... | Sydney Chaplin | |
| John Thaw | ... | Fred Karno | |
| Moira Kelly | ... | Hetty Kelly / Oona O'Neill Chaplin | |
| Anthony Hopkins | ... | George Hayden | |
| Dan Aykroyd | ... | Mack Sennett | |
| Marisa Tomei | ... | Mabel Normand | |
| Penelope Ann Miller | ... | Edna Purviance | |
| Kevin Kline | ... | Douglas Fairbanks | |
| Maria Pitillo | ... | Mary Pickford | |
| Milla Jovovich | ... | Mildred Harris | |
| Kevin Dunn | ... | J. Edgar Hoover | |
| Deborah Moore | ... | Lita Grey (as Deborah Maria Moore) | |
| Diane Lane | ... | Paulette Goddard | |
| Nancy Travis | ... | Joan Barry | |
| James Woods | ... | Joseph Scott | |
| Hugh Downer | ... | Charlie Age 5 | |
| Nicholas Gatt | ... | Sydney Age 9 | |
| Bill Paterson | ... | Stage Manager | |
| Anthony Bowles | ... | Conductor | |
| Bryan Coleman | ... | Drunk | |
| Howard Lew Lewis | ... | Workhouse Official (as Howard 'Lew' Lewis) | |
| P.H. Moriarty | ... | Workhouse Official | |
| Brian Lipson | ... | Warder | |
| Alan Ford | ... | Warder | |
| Thomas Bradford | ... | Charlie Age 14 (as Tom Bradford) | |
| Liz Porter | ... | Matchgirl | |
| Ultan Ely-O'Carroll | ... | Rummy Binks | |
| Marcus Eyre | ... | Policeman | |
| Anwar Adaoui | ... | Lambeth Kid | |
| Ben Bilson | ... | Lambeth Kid | |
| Matthew Cartwright | ... | Lambeth Kid | |
| Ian Covington | ... | Lambeth Kid | |
| Adam Goodwin | ... | Lambeth Kid | |
| Milly Gregory | ... | Lambeth Kid | |
| Sam Holland | ... | Lambeth Kid | |
| Josh Maguire | ... | Lambeth Kid | |
| Daniel Sherman | ... | Lambeth Kid | |
| Luke Strain | ... | Lambeth Kid | |
| Frankie Sullivan | ... | Lambeth Kid | |
| Karen Salt | ... | Little Girl | |
| Gerald Sim | ... | Doctor | |
| Una Brandon-Jones | ... | Inmate | |
| Audrey Leybourne | ... | Inmate | |
| Graham Sinclair | ... | Master of Ceremonies | |
| Karen Lewis | ... | Yankee Doodle Dancer | |
| Andrée Bernard | ... | Yankee Doodle Dancer (as Andree Bernard) | |
| Carole Jahme | ... | Yankee Doodle Dancer | |
| Jacqueline Leonard | ... | Yankee Doodle Dancer | |
| Claire Perriam | ... | Yankee Doodle Dancer | |
| Theresa Petts | ... | Yankee Doodle Dancer | |
| David Gant | ... | London Maitre d' | |
| Mary Healey | ... | Mrs. Karno | |
| Malcolm Terris | ... | Stallholder | |
| Phil Brown | ... | Projectionist | |
| Matthew Cottle | ... | Stan Laurel | |
| Ena Baga | ... | Pianist | |
| David Duchovny | ... | Rollie Totheroh | |
| Mario Govoni | ... | Swiss Butler | |
| David Mooney | ... | Wedding Photographer | |
| C.J. Golden | ... | Bride's Mother | |
| Raymond Lynch | ... | Bride's Father | |
| Peter Georges | ... | Groom | |
| Mike Randleman | ... | Groom's Mother | |
| Mike Peluso | ... | Groom's Father | |
| Caroline Cornell | ... | Wedding Guest | |
| Ann Fairlie | ... | Wedding Guest | |
| Paul Hayes | ... | Wedding Guest | |
| Dennis Vero | ... | Wedding Guest | |
| Francesca Buller | ... | Minnie Chaplin | |
| Nick Corello | ... | Masseur | |
| Richard Fast | ... | Bronco Billy Anderson | |
| Brad Blumenthal | ... | Party Photographer (as Brad Parker) | |
| Yoshio Be | ... | Chauffeur | |
| Peter Crook | ... | Frank Hooper | |
| David Totheroh | ... | Cameraman | |
| Jack Totheroh | ... | Cameraman | |
| Jack Ritschel | ... | William Randolph Hearst | |
| Heather McNair | ... | Marion Davies | |
| Laura Bastianelli | ... | Dinner Guest | |
| Joy Claussen | ... | Dinner Guest | |
| Paul Bruno Grenier | ... | Dinner Guest | |
| Marykate Harris | ... | Dinner Guest | |
| Charles Howerton | ... | Dinner Guest | |
| Jason Logan | ... | Dinner Guest | |
| Renata Scott | ... | Dinner Guest | |
| Michael Villani | ... | Dinner Guest (as Mike Villani) | |
| Jerry Jensen | ... | Hotel Porter (as Jerry Jenson) | |
| Larry Randolph | ... | Waiter | |
| Alan Charof | ... | Federal Marshal (as Alan Charoff) | |
| Dana Craig | ... | Federal Marshal | |
| Kennedy Grant | ... | Federal Marshal | |
| Ken Magee | ... | Federal Marshal | |
| Benjamin Whitrow | ... | Station Master (as Ben Whitrow) | |
| Edward Crangle | ... | Young Autograph Hunter | |
| Stuart Richman | ... | Barman | |
| Mark Vegh | ... | Barman | |
| Caroline Guthrie | ... | Courting Couple | |
| Lawrence Lambert | ... | Courting Couple | |
| Robert Stephens | ... | Ted the Drunk | |
| Tim Chaplin | ... | Working Man | |
| Nick Edmett | ... | Working Man | |
| David Finch | ... | Working Man | |
| Mark Long | ... | Working Man | |
| Tommy Wright | ... | Working Man | |
| Leonard Kirby | ... | Young Fan | |
| Sean O'Bryan | ... | Lewis Seeley | |
| Donald Elson | ... | Prop Man | |
| Donnie Kehr | ... | Sound Engineer | |
| Sky Rumph | ... | Charles Chaplin jr. Age 7 | |
| Bradley Pierce | ... | Sydney Chaplin jr. Age 8 | |
| Richard James | ... | Pianist | |
| William Dennis Hunt | ... | US Maitre D' | |
| Michael Blevins | ... | David Raksin | |
| Norbert Weisser | ... | German Diplomat | |
| Vicki Frederick | ... | Party Guest | |
| Gene Wolande | ... | Party Guest | |
| Michael Adler | ... | Party Guest | |
| Iris Bath | ... | Party Guest | |
| Thomas K. Belgrey | ... | Party Guest | |
| Tom Preston | ... | Party Guest | |
| Mary Stark | ... | Party Guest | |
| Annie Waterman | ... | Party Guest | |
| Noah Lee Margetts | ... | Clapper Boy (as Noah Margetts) | |
| Rhett Smith | ... | Tennis Party Guest | |
| John Standing | ... | Butler | |
| Michael A. Goorjian | ... | Charles Chaplin Jr (as Michael Goorjian) | |
| Michael Cade | ... | Sydney Chaplin Jr | |
| Todd Mason Covert | ... | Reporter | |
| Phil Forman | ... | Reporter | |
| Charley J. Garrett | ... | Reporter | |
| Jerry Giles | ... | Reporter | |
| Howard Hughes | ... | Reporter | |
| Jayson Kane | ... | Reporter | |
| Michael Miller | ... | Reporter | |
| John Otrin | ... | Reporter | |
| J. Michael Patterson | ... | Reporter | |
| Paul Sinclair | ... | Reporter | |
| Terrence Stone | ... | Reporter | |
| Ralph Votrian | ... | Reporter | |
| Emma Lewis | ... | Production Assistant | |
| rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Sacha Bennett | ... | Unidentified Role (uncredited) | |
| Charles Chaplin | ... | The Little Tramp / Adenoid Hynkel / A Jewish Barber (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Virginia Cherrill | ... | A Blind Girl (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Jackie Coogan | ... | The Kid (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Ken Gehrig | ... | Chauffeur (uncredited) | |
| Paulette Goddard | ... | A Gamine (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| John Glenn Harding | ... | Movie Patron (uncredited) | |
| Adolf Hitler | ... | Himself (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Kirk Jordan | ... | Tennis Pro (uncredited) | |
| Vivien Latham | ... | Silent Movie Actress (uncredited) | |
| John Howard Lawson | ... | Himself - Testifies Before HUAC (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Jack Lemmon | ... | Himself - Oscar Sequence (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Walter Matthau | ... | Himself - Oscar Sequence (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Joseph McCarthy | ... | Himself - Baits Reds (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| David Lee McLain | ... | Keystone Fireman (uncredited) | |
| Charles D. Miller | ... | Party Guest at Douglas Fairbanks' Mansion (uncredited) | |
| Annie Muñoz | ... | Daughter of Movie Star (uncredited) | |
| Lance Patrick | ... | Joe (uncredited) | |
| Robert Peters | ... | Great Dictator Cinematographer (uncredited) | |
| David Robinson | ... | Douglas Fairbanks' Manservant (uncredited) | |
| Jessica Russell | ... | Shirley (uncredited) | |
| Reuven Russell | ... | Waiter (uncredited) | |
| Bob Sallese | ... | Token Male Juror (uncredited) | |
| Julius Schaub | ... | Himself - Behind Hitler (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Marc Ian Sklar | ... | Parking Attendent (uncredited) | |
| Mack Swain | ... | Big Jim McKay (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Daniel Taradash | ... | Himself - Oscar Sequence (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Philip Waley | ... | Man at Train Station (uncredited) | |
| Laurel Whitsett | ... | Script Girl (uncredited) | |
Directed by | |||
| Richard Attenborough | |||
Writing credits(WGA) | ||
| David Robinson | (book "Chaplin His Life and Art") | |
| Charles Chaplin | (book "My Autobiography") | |
| Diana Hawkins | (story) | |
| William Boyd | (screenplay) and | |
| Bryan Forbes | (screenplay) and | |
| William Goldman | (screenplay) | |
Produced by | |||
| Richard Attenborough | .... | producer | |
| Terence A. Clegg | .... | co-producer | |
| Diana Hawkins | .... | associate producer | |
| Mario Kassar | .... | producer | |
Original Music by | |||
| John Barry | |||
Cinematography by | |||
| Sven Nykvist | (director of photography) | ||
Film Editing by | |||
| Anne V. Coates | |||
Casting by | |||
| Mike Fenton | |||
| Susie Figgis | |||
| Valorie Massalas | |||
Production Design by | |||
| Stuart Craig | |||
Art Direction by | |||
| Norman Dorme | (supervising art director) | ||
Costume Design by | |||
| Ellen Mirojnick | |||
| John Mollo | |||
Makeup Department | |||
| Carole Bennett | .... | hair stylist: London | |
| Ron Berkeley | .... | makeup artist: Los Angeles | |
| John Caglione Jr. | .... | prosthetics makeup creator: Chaplin | |
| Kathy W. Estocin | .... | hair stylist: Los Angeles (as Kathy Estocin) | |
| Richard Glass | .... | standby contact lens optician | |
| Virginia G. Hadfield | .... | hair stylist: Los Angeles (as Virginia Hadfield) | |
| Pauline Heys | .... | makeup artist: London | |
| Stephanie Kaye | .... | hair styles supervisor | |
| Robert Laden | .... | prosthetic appliance: Fairbanks, Los Angeles (as Bob Laden) | |
| Beryl Lerman | .... | makeup artist: London | |
| Sue Love | .... | hair stylist: London | |
| Chris Lyons | .... | special effects teeth | |
| Jill Rockow | .... | key makeup artist | |
| Wally Schneiderman | .... | makeup supervisor | |
| Monty Westmore | .... | makeup artist: Los Angeles | |
| Audrey L. Anzures | .... | hair stylist (uncredited) | |
| Susan Boyd | .... | hair stylist (uncredited) | |
| Donna Drexler | .... | foam latex supervisor (uncredited) | |
| Sarah Love | .... | hair stylist (uncredited) | |
Production Management | |||
| Terence A. Clegg | .... | executive in charge of production (as Terence Clegg) | |
| Chris Coles | .... | unit production manager | |
| Basil Somner | .... | unit production manager: London | |
| Sandor Von Orosz | .... | unit manager: Vevey (as Sandor Van Orosz) | |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director | |||
| Lee Cleary | .... | key second assistant director | |
| Peter C. Graupner | .... | second assistant director | |
| Kate Hazell | .... | third assistant director: London | |
| Patrick Kinney | .... | second assistant director: London | |
| Michael D. Moore | .... | second unit director: Los Angeles (as Micky Moore) | |
| Patrick Regan | .... | first assistant director: Los Angeles, second unit (as Pat Regan) | |
| David Tomblin | .... | first assistant director | |
Art Department | |||
| Alan Adams | .... | prop storeman: London | |
| Martin Asbury | .... | storyboard artist | |
| Richard Baum | .... | propman: Los Angeles | |
| Greg Benge | .... | propman: Los Angeles | |
| Larry Clark Bird | .... | property master: Los Angeles (as Larry Bird) | |
| Brian Bishop | .... | scenic artist: London | |
| Robert A. Blackburn | .... | construction foreman: Los Angeles | |
| Adam J. Braff | .... | set dresser: Los Angeles (as Adam Braff) | |
| Alan Brooks | .... | supervising carpenter: London | |
| Chris Butler | .... | set decorator: Los Angeles (as Chris A. Butler) | |
| Dennis Butterworth | .... | greensman: Los Angeles | |
| Ray Campbell | .... | stand-by painter: London | |
| Frank Capello | .... | construction foreman: Los Angeles (as Frank A. Capello) | |
| Frank Carter | .... | construction foreman: Los Angeles | |
| George Chambers | .... | stand-by stagehand: London | |
| Jeff Clark | .... | signwriter: Los Angeles | |
| Don Clayson | .... | supervising plasterer: London | |
| Michael A. Contreraz | .... | labor foreman | |
| George Coussins | .... | chargehand carpenter: London | |
| Laura Craig | .... | art department assistant: London | |
| Peter Dorme | .... | junior draughtsman: London | |
| Stephen Eels | .... | stand-by carpenter: London | |
| Chuck Eskridge | .... | stand-by painter: Los Angeles | |
| Jody Gaber | .... | assistant to production designer: Los Angeles (as Jody Levine) | |
| Sara Gardner-Gail | .... | set dresser: Los Angeles (as Sara Gardner) | |
| Bobby Joe Garren | .... | stand-by greensman: Los Angeles (as Robert J. Garren) | |
| Gavin Gordon | .... | carpenter | |
| Kavin Hall | .... | supervising painter: London | |
| Peter Hancock | .... | property master: London | |
| Robert Harper | .... | chargehand painter: London | |
| Michael Hayward | .... | chargehand carpenter: London | |
| Robert Hill | .... | chargehand stand-by prop: London | |
| Geoff Hubbard | .... | assistant art director: Los Angeles | |
| John King | .... | art director: London | |
| Jonas Kirk | .... | construction foreman: Los Angeles (as C. Jonas Kirk) | |
| Denise Light | .... | assistant to set decorator: Los Angeles | |
| Robert B. Lindsay | .... | construction foreman: Los Angeles | |
| Steve Macdonald | .... | stand-by props: London (as Steve McDonald) | |
| Guy A. MacLaury | .... | construction foreman: Los Angeles (as Guy Al MacLaury) | |
| Mark W. Mansbridge | .... | art director: Los Angeles (as Mark Mansbridge) | |
| Stephenie McMillan | .... | set decorator: London | |
| Dave Midson | .... | chargehand dressing prop: London | |
| Jim Morahan | .... | draughtsman: London | |
| Alf Newvell | .... | chargehand rigger: London | |
| Adam O'Neill | .... | art department assistant: London | |
| Jeff Passanante | .... | construction foreman: Los Angeles | |
| Ken Pattenden | .... | chargehand carpenter: London | |
| Alan Porter | .... | drapery man: Los Angeles | |
| Brian Read | .... | production buyer: London | |
| Michael Redding | .... | construction coordinator: London | |
| Ian Rolfe | .... | stand-by rigger: London (as Ian Rolf) | |
| Michael Schmidt | .... | lead man: Los Angeles (as Mike Schmidt) | |
| Mike Seefus | .... | construction foreman: Los Angeles (as Michael Seefus) | |
| Stan Tropp | .... | set designer: Los Angeles | |
| Douglas M. Vaughn | .... | set dresser: Los Angeles | |
| Bob Walker | .... | lettering artist: London (as Robert Walker) | |
| Peter Wallace | .... | supervising rigger: London | |
| Butch West | .... | construction coordinator: Los Angeles | |
| Brian Western | .... | chargehand painter: London | |
| John Willis | .... | stand-by plasterer: London | |
| Ken Wilson | .... | chargehand stagehand: London | |
| Donald B. Woodruff | .... | set designer: Los Angeles (as Don Woodruff) | |
| Ken Zimmerman | .... | propman: Los Angeles | |
| Charles William Breen | .... | assistant art director (uncredited) | |
| Christopher Carlson | .... | set dresser (uncredited) | |
| Renee Faia | .... | art coordinator (uncredited) | |
| Amanda J. Flick | .... | scenic artist (uncredited) | |
| Frank Howe | .... | drapesman (uncredited) | |
| Lee J. Jashinsky | .... | painter (uncredited) | |
| Keith A. Kropf | .... | painter (uncredited) | |
| Jeffrey Kushon | .... | leadman (uncredited) | |
| Richard Lyon | .... | construction storeman (uncredited) | |
Sound Department | |||
| John Bateman | .... | adr re-recording mixer | |
| Jonathan Bates | .... | sound editor | |
| Michael Crouch | .... | dialogue editor (as Mike Crouch) | |
| Anna R. Delanzo | .... | cable person: Los Angeles (as Anna Delanza) | |
| Richard Finney | .... | sound maintenance: London (as Richie Finney) | |
| Ian Fuller | .... | adr editor | |
| Peter Holt | .... | footsteps editor | |
| Dean Humphreys | .... | sound re-recording mixer | |
| Gerry Humphreys | .... | sound re-recording mixer | |
| Brian Mann | .... | assistant sound editor | |
| Kenneth C. Mantlo | .... | boom operator: Los Angeles (as Ken Mantlo) | |
| Edward Tise | .... | production sound mixer | |
| Len Tremble | .... | assistant dialogue editor | |
| David Trent | .... | assistant adr editor | |
| Martin Trevis | .... | boom operator: London | |
| John Wolstenholme | .... | sound re-recording mixer | |
| Lionel Strutt | .... | adr mixer (uncredited) | |
Special Effects by | |||
| Chris Corbould | .... | special effects technician: London | |
| Steve Hamilton | .... | special effects technician: London (as Stephen Hamilton) | |
| David Harris | .... | special effects supervisor: London | |
| Alan E. Lorimer | .... | special effects coordinator: Los Angeles | |
| James Lorimer | .... | special effects: Los Angeles | |
| Paul Obest | .... | special effects: Los Angeles | |
| Paul Stewart | .... | special effects: Los Angeles | |
Visual Effects by | |||
| Dave Docwra | .... | optical printing | |
| Syd Dutton | .... | special visual effects | |
| Bill Taylor | .... | special visual effects | |
| Albert Whitlock | .... | visual consultant | |
| Zoe Cain | .... | optical effects technician (uncredited) | |
| Andy Stevens | .... | visual effects camera assistant: Magic Camera Co (uncredited) | |
Stunts | |||
| Daniel W. Barringer | .... | stunts (as Dan Darringer) | |
| Peter Brace | .... | stunt coordinator: UK | |
| Andy Bradford | .... | stunt advisor: UK | |
| Keith Campbell | .... | stunts | |
| Joe Dunne | .... | stunt coordinator: USA | |
| Marguerite Happy | .... | stunts | |
| Dan McCaan | .... | stunts | |
| John Moio | .... | stunts (as John Mojo) | |
| Philip Riniono | .... | stunts | |
| George Marshall Ruge | .... | stunts | |
| Neil Summers | .... | stunts | |
| Jim Wilkey | .... | stunts | |
| Brian J. Williams | .... | stunts (as Brian Williams) | |
| Lee Sheward | .... | stunts (uncredited) | |
Casting Department | |||
| Amy Allen-Clegg | .... | casting coordinator | |
| Charlie Messenger | .... | extras casting | |
| Abi Cohen | .... | casting assistant (uncredited) | |
Costume and Wardrobe Department | |||
| Cheryl Beasley Blackwell | .... | costumer: Los Angeles | |
| Ken Crouch | .... | wardrobe master: London (as Kenny Crouch) | |
| James P. Cullen | .... | costumer: Los Angeles | |
| Michael Dennison | .... | key costume supervisor: Los Angeles | |
| Cynthia L. Hamilton | .... | assistant costume designer: Los Angeles (as Cynthia Hamilton) | |
| James Michael Hargate | .... | costume department coordinator: Los Angeles | |
| Deborah Hopper | .... | costume supervisor: women, Los Angeles | |
| Lisa Johnson | .... | wardrobe mistress: London | |
| Anthony J. Scarano | .... | costume supervisor: men, Los Angeles (as Anthony Scarano) | |
| Cheryl Scarano | .... | costumer | |
| Tess Inman | .... | costumer (uncredited) | |
Editorial Department | |||
| Noori Dehnahi | .... | post-production coordinator | |
| James Garrett | .... | second assistant editor: Los Angeles (as Jim Garrett) | |
| Jeff Jones | .... | first assistant editor: Los Angeles | |
| Christopher Lloyd | .... | first assistant editor | |
| Charles Pattenson | .... | apprentice editor: Los Angeles | |
| Adrian Trent | .... | second assistant editor | |
Music Department | |||
| John Barry | .... | conductor | |
| Jonathan Enraght-Moony | .... | assistant music editor | |
| Andrew Glen | .... | music editor | |
| Robin Glenn | .... | music supervisor | |
| Shawn Murphy | .... | music editor | |
| Nic Raine | .... | orchestrator | |
| Simon Rhodes | .... | additional music engineer and mixer | |
| James Thatcher | .... | musician: French horn | |
| Paul Mottram | .... | orchestrator (uncredited) | |
Transportation Department | |||
| Pat Carman | .... | transportation coordinator: Los Angeles | |
| Vic Floyd | .... | unit driver: London | |
| John King | .... | unit driver: London | |
| Jan Ostermann | .... | transportation: Richard Attenborough, Los Angeles | |
| Dave Robling | .... | transportation captain: Los Angeles | |
Thanks | |||
| Beebe Bourne | .... | thanks: for Charlie Chaplin's original compositions | |
| Oona Chaplin | .... | very special gratitude | |
| Nancy de Antonio | .... | thanks: for archive material (as Nancy De Antonio) | |
| Jack Lemmon | .... | thanks | |
| Walter Matthau | .... | thanks | |
| Pamela Paumier | .... | very special gratitude | |
| Daniel Taradash | .... | thanks | |
|
|
|
|
|
| Man of a Thousand Faces | The Comic | Ed Wood | Sunset Blvd. | Good Night, and Good Luck. |
|
IMDb User Rating: |
IMDb User Rating: |
IMDb User Rating: |
IMDb User Rating: |
IMDb User Rating: |
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Biography section | IMDb USA section |
An attempt to make a film that is both honest and at the same time shamelessly self-serving about its (auto)biographical subject -- the legendary comedian/director Chaplin -- is pulled off with style. It's fun to see some modern talents inhabit the roles of screen's bygone icons (though in some cases a little less charicature would have been appreciated, especially in the case of Mabel Normand). Kline, surprisingly enough, makes a convincing Fairbanks. The rest of the cast is also well-picked -- X-Files fans should watch closely to catch quite a few glimpses of lower-billed David Duchovny as Chaplin's personal editor.
The direction is very good; I particularly liked how some of the straight scenes were filmed in a comic, surrealist style (Chaplin's escape from the police w/ his cans of "the Kid" reels is staged like a Keystone Komedy), while some of what might have been more comic elements are played straight (Chaplin's attempt to convince his brother that "The Tramp" cannot talk in a movie is both funny and serious, for example). Some of the (perhaps true to life) melodramatic elements are a bit overplayed (the bit with his mom was handled too heavily for my tastes, especially her shouting his name as she's dragged away by the asylum guards), but generally the film avoids genre cliches and "easy" scenes.
Great photography.
Downey Jr. fits the roll well, even rising to many of the physical challenges of the Chaplin mystique.
A superior film of its type, laced with self-conscious humor and self-reflection on the artistic temperament.