Charlie Chaplin Shorts
70 minutes
Film connoisseur extraordinaire Serge Bromberg (France), whose company Lobster Films is responsible for historically important restorations, is working on an ambitious project restoring Chaplin’s films. He made a documentary about Chaplin and compiled a programme of animation films that he inspired.
February 7, 1914: The first film with Chaplin in his tramp suit hits the screen: The Kid - Auto Races at Venice. One hundred years later, the tramp has become the iconic figure of cinema, and has never really disappeared from cinematic imagery.
The little tramp was among the first characters to be licensed as a brand and a product by its production company (1915, Essanay). Because of its continuous success, it became one of the most valuable sources for making toys, posters, cartoons and, of course, animated films, from as early as 1916.
To celebrate the centennial, here is a short selection of appearances by the tramp character in animated films. They have been scarce in the past because of legal issues and the fact that Chaplin in his lifetime never really agreed to be turned into an animated character. The 21st century is the occasion to rediscover some of them, and show some contemporary attempts to revive the tramp in new animation films: for the better, and sometimes the worse.
This program screened as part of HAFF 2014
Showing in this program
Chaplin and Co: Farces et Attrapes
Chaplin and Co: Mind the Back
Charlie in Turkey
6-3-2014 16:50; programme assistant; An animated film about the wandering figure of Charlie (known from the Chaplin films). After visiting a second-hand bookshop, Charlie dreams that he has kidnapped the Queen of Sheba. Yet there is no beautiful woman behind the veil of this Turkish lady.
Charlie On the Windmill
Charlie’s White Elephant
Felix the Cat: In Hollywood
Pas a Deux
The 1989 Golden Bear-winner by Monique Renault and Gerrit van Dijk, in which the appearance of two dance partners changes constantly. Countless historical figures and icons twirl by. Tarzan dances with Snow White, the Pope dances with Joan of Arc etc.. Van Dijk drew the female figures, Renault the male ones.
Princess and the Cougar
Sjamayee!
