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Limelight

  • 19521952
  • GG
  • 2h 17m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
20K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Charles Chaplin in Limelight (1952)
Watch {VideoTitle}
Play trailer1:38
1 Video
74 Photos
  • Drama
  • Music
  • Romance
A fading comedian and a suicidally despondent ballet dancer must look to each other to find purpose and hope in their lives.A fading comedian and a suicidally despondent ballet dancer must look to each other to find purpose and hope in their lives.A fading comedian and a suicidally despondent ballet dancer must look to each other to find purpose and hope in their lives.
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
20K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Charles Chaplin
  • Writer
    • Charles Chaplin(original story)
  • Stars
    • Charles Chaplin
    • Claire Bloom
    • Nigel Bruce
Top credits
  • Director
    • Charles Chaplin
  • Writer
    • Charles Chaplin(original story)
  • Stars
    • Charles Chaplin
    • Claire Bloom
    • Nigel Bruce
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 124User reviews
    • 59Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 7 wins & 4 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:38
    Official Trailer

    Photos74

    Charles Chaplin and Claire Bloom in Limelight (1952)
    Charles Chaplin and Marjorie Bennett in Limelight (1952)
    Charles Chaplin in Limelight (1952)
    Buster Keaton and Charles Chaplin in Limelight (1952)
    Charles Chaplin and Claire Bloom in Limelight (1952)
    Charles Chaplin and Claire Bloom in Limelight (1952)
    Buster Keaton and Charles Chaplin in Limelight (1952)
    Charles Chaplin and Claire Bloom in Limelight (1952)
    Charles Chaplin and Claire Bloom in Limelight (1952)
    Limelight (1952)
    Limelight (1952)
    Limelight (1952)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Charles Chaplin
    Charles Chaplin
    • Calveroas Calvero
    Claire Bloom
    Claire Bloom
    • Thereza 'Terry' Ambroseas Thereza 'Terry' Ambrose
    Nigel Bruce
    Nigel Bruce
    • Postantas Postant
    Buster Keaton
    Buster Keaton
    • Calvero's Partneras Calvero's Partner
    Sydney Chaplin
    Sydney Chaplin
    • Nevilleas Neville
    Norman Lloyd
    Norman Lloyd
    • Bodalinkas Bodalink
    Andre Eglevsky
    Andre Eglevsky
    • Dancer - Harlequinas Dancer - Harlequin
    Melissa Hayden
    • Dancer - Columbineas Dancer - Columbine
    Marjorie Bennett
    Marjorie Bennett
    • Mrs. Sybil Alsopas Mrs. Sybil Alsop
    Wheeler Dryden
    Wheeler Dryden
    • Thereza's Doctoras Thereza's Doctor
    Barry Bernard
    • John Redfern - Calvero's Agentas John Redfern - Calvero's Agent
    Stapleton Kent
    Stapleton Kent
    • Claudiusas Claudius
    Molly Glessing
    • Maidas Maid
    • (as Mollie Glessing)
    Leonard Mudie
    Leonard Mudie
    • Dr. Blake - Calvero's Doctoras Dr. Blake - Calvero's Doctor
    • (as Leonard Mudi)
    Loyal Underwood
    Loyal Underwood
    • Street Musicianas Street Musician
    'Snub' Pollard
    'Snub' Pollard
    • Street Musicianas Street Musician
    • (as Snub Pollard)
    Julian Ludwig
    • Street Musicianas Street Musician
    Billy Lee Aimone
    • Little Boyas Little Boy
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Charles Chaplin
    • Writer
      • Charles Chaplin(original story) (screenplay by)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The Academy Award that Sir Charles Chaplin won for composing this film's score is the only competitive Oscar he ever received; his other awards were given to him for special achievement outside of the established categories.
    • Goofs
      In discussing the ballet with the cast, the dance director Bodalink casts a giant shadow in front of the auditorium seats (revealing it to be nothing more than a backdrop).
    • Quotes

      Terry: If all else fails, there's always that little home in the country.

      Calvero: This is my home, here.

      Terry: I thought you hated the theater.

      Calvero: I do. I also hate the sight of blood, but it's in my veins.

    • Crazy credits
      "The glamour of limelight, from which age must pass as youth enters."
    • Alternate versions
      The version of the film that premiered in London in 1952 ran 141 minutes. It had been in distribution for several months, when Charles Chaplin recalled film prints and deleted a scene in which Calvero leaves the sleeping Thereza, and goes to a bar, where he meets his old friend Claudius, the arm-less violin player, who gives Calvero money. The film ran 137 minutes after this scene was edited out for worldwide distribution. In the ending credits, there is still a billing for Stapleton Kent as Claudius, even though he is no longer seen in the film. The DVD includes the deleted scene as an extra feature.
    • Connections
      Edited into Histoire(s) du cinéma: Une histoire seule (1989)
    • Soundtracks
      Eternally (Terry's Theme)
      (1952) (uncredited)

      Music by Charles Chaplin

    User reviews124

    Review
    Top review
    A fantastic movie about an old and washed-up clown who meets a young and troubled ballerina.
    This was the first and only Chaplin film I have ever seen -- and it wasn't at all what I was expecting.

    I was completely surprised that such a simple film could have so many layers of depth. In fact it kept me thinking days afterwards!

    At it's core, I would say this movie is about the love of one's art, and the love that a couple share.

    The Ballerina loves to perform but is impeded by a psychosis that makes her legs inoperable. I interpret success to be the root of the psychosis.

    The Clown loves to perform but is impeded by his fear of becoming a B or C-list star. He is a legendary comedian and now that he's no longer in demand, he's convinced himself that he has to drink to be funny.

    There you have it; a clown afraid of failure and a ballerina afraid of success. Together they help each other love their art more by removing those things that impede them.

    The best thing about the film is that the obviousness of the plot is completely lost in the depth of the film. Chaplin uses such simple and common devices to draw the audience into his world. I know it's hard to belive, but this is a "must-see" movie!
    helpful•45
    11
    • benbenben1
    • Jan 14, 1999

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 31, 1952 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Instagram
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Светлости позорнице
    • Filming locations
      • RKO-Pathé Studios - 9336 Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Charles Chaplin Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross worldwide
      • $8,447
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 17 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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