harlowkeatongirl Posted April 4, 2004 Share Posted April 4, 2004 ... over a book that was never published. In the special "Chaplin Today: Limelight" they mentioned how Limelight was originally intended by Charlie Chaplin to be a novel called Footlights. And they even zoomed in on the first page of the manuscript. I paused the tape and read what little was visible of the first paragraph and I'm already hooked. When they cut away I was like "Hey, I wanna read that!" Since Limelight didn't meet the highest expectation as a film, I think it would be huge as a novel today. Seriously, if someone from his family were to get it published as a posthumous novel by Charlie Chaplin, I think people would by it, just for that reason, before actually reading firsthand how good it is. I actually think it would've worked a lot better as a book. If the first few lines can hook me, imagine what the rest of the story must've read like on paper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littletramplover Posted April 4, 2004 Share Posted April 4, 2004 Footlights is intriguing, definitely. It gives a lot of insight into the character Calvero and Terry-- Calvero has apparently been driven to alcoholism by his marriage to a woman named Eva Morton and her infidelity. And Shyla, I love the way the novel begins just like you do: "In his youth he yearened to be a musician but could not afford any decent instrument upon which to learn; Another longing was to be a romantic actor, but he was too small and his diction too uncultured. Nevertheless, emotionally, he believed himself to be the greatest actor living. Necessity made him turn to comedy, which he loathed, because it demanded of him an intimacy with his audience which he did not feel and which never came natural to him." Calvero was not gregarious. He was shy and reserved and difficult to know. At times strange, melancholy and austere..." You can read excerpts and Chaplin's notes on the novel in His Life and Art by David Robinson. I sincerely doubt if the family will ever publish it, but it would be a huge novel: and I'm talking in a literal sense because according to the family, it's over one hundred thousand words in length! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brackenhe Posted April 4, 2004 Share Posted April 4, 2004 It really shows in just that paragraph how much this film was based on his (and his father's) experiences in the theater. I don't remember every hearing that Chaplin was an alcoholic but that might have been something I've missed along the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littletramplover Posted April 4, 2004 Share Posted April 4, 2004 Hey Bracken, I don't believe I've formally introduced myself! It's really wonderful to have you here with us, and I have been enjoying your contributions to the forum! (incidentally, you're completely right in your assesment of Footlights: it's very much based on his own experiences in the theater and also his parents-- alcoholism is what killed his father.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moviejoe79 Posted April 8, 2004 Share Posted April 8, 2004 Littletramplover - I just checked out your Chaplin website, and it's great! You did a beautiful job with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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