Who would have guessed that the best movie of one of the greatest silent comedian would be a talkie? 'Limelight' is regarded as Charles Chaplin's most personal film. By the time of the release of 'Limelight' Chaplin's star had become started to fade in the US and his last movie 'Monsieur Verdoux' was a flop. Chaplin drew many details from his own and his family's personal life and modeled the characters after the people from his past. This movie also pays the last honors of by then the fading arts of pantomime and vaudeville which where Chaplin (and Buster Keaton also) got his start.
Charles Chaplin stars as Calvero, a comedian whose prime has passed and is quietly falling into the clutches of alcoholism. One day arriving home drunk, he saves the dancer Thereza, or Terry as she liked to be called, from suicide. While his own career is fading, the aging comedian tries to nurture the young Terry who has lost all her passion towards arts and life in general.
'Limelight' is by no means a comedy, although it offers us delightful moments where we can easily laugh. Some feel that the story seems forced and unrealistic - I disagree with those people wholeheartedly. Unrealistic, sure, it is a nostalgia-driven homage to ages long gone. It is a fairytale. But forced or sappy - NO. The story perfectly reflects the life - old ones fade out while the young ones start to bloom. There is a nice balance between melodrama, sweet melancholy, and bits of lighthearted humor. Chaplin makes good use of his best performing tricks - physical comedy. And not only in the scenes where Calvero performs on the stage as 'Tramp Comedian' but even when Calvero was 'himself'. All those small gestures helped to elevate the character even more. Not that without his pantomime skills, Chaplin's performance would have had a lesser impact. He really shined with his dramatic chops. I even think that the criticism towards Claire Bloom's overacting is a little bit unjustified - have you ever met a hysteric person? They tend to over (re)act in real life too.
My biggest problem with the film - Buster Keaton's brief screen time. Although I was immersed in the movie and Chaplin's performance, I still waited when Buster Keaton will show up. When he first appeared on the screen, I was all like - hey, that's Buster Keaton, finally. There are rumors, that Chaplin cut their scene together because Keaton outshined him - that might be true or not, I don't care (and I don't blame Chaplin, because it was his film after all). But, even with that little time, at least for me, Keaton was the star of that scene. I guess that's the personal preference because I've always been a little bit bigger fan of Keaton than Chaplin. That said - 'Limelight' is a wonderful movie. The most poignant and meaningful work Charles Chaplin has ever put on the screen. And let's not forget that wonderful score which Chaplin also composed (together with Ray Rasch and Larry Russell).
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