CHARLIE CHAPLIN

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 83, 9 April 1931, Page 13

CHARLIE CHAPLIN

LION OF LONDON

A WONDER WELCOME

ALL CLASSES PRESENT

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, 6th Marcli. Charlie Chaplin is the lion of London —of all classes of the community. He has been visiting, in all simplicity, his old suburb of Keniiington. He has been rubbing shoulders with the leaders in the land, at the Dominion Theatre, and they have supped sumptuously with him afterwards in response to his invitation. His guests included politicians, dramatists, peers, peeresses, theatrical stars, and friends of former days. Together, they had a marvellous time and a well-arranged cabaret-buffet feast. Outside the theatre for the premiere of Charlie Chaplin's groat new film, "City Lights" —perhaps the greatest of all his work—there were remarkable scenes, despite a wfit night, for the j crowds congregated hours before, making it exceedingly difficult for the scatholders to get through. But Mr. Chaplin was already inside, so the crowd did not see him arrive; ho slipped in unaeon and changed into immaculate evening dress behind the sheltering doors. A hoax was perpetrated on the .waiting crowd. While notable people were arriving a taxi-cab drew up at tho theatre, and a little man in baggy trousers, tight jacket, arid bowler hat, carrying a cane, and wearing a perfect 'Chaplin moustache, jumped out. A commissionaire held an umbrella over him. "Charlie!" roared the crowd, and "Charlie" raised his hat politely and walked towards the doors. .The police cordons wore strained almost to breaking point as the crowd in a frenzy of exeiteinent cheered and wavccl. Photographers' flashlights flashed, and an official in evening dress advanced with outstretched hands to greet the film star. •. But then something went wrong. A small boy in front was heard to shout above the din, "That's not Charlie," and for a moment the officials looked dumbfounded, while "Charlie" began to retreat, whereupon a police inspector escorted the hoaxer firmly to the road. It may have been "Charlie," but Ms name 'was not Chaplin; so the searchlights faded away. OBVIOUSLY DELIGHTED.. Fifteen minutes later, however, the searchlights were again brilliant, illuminating a balcony window, and showing Mr. Chaplin standing there in immaculate evening dress.- Ho threw kisses to tho crowd, and clasped his hands to indicate that ho shook lands with all his admirers. He was obviously delighted, and so wore they. It is' recorded by one who had tho good fortune to be present that when Mr. Chaplin and his guests camo into the dress circle people in the stalls moved towards the front, so' that' they could gaze up into the circle. As Charlie came down the middle gangway; Mr. Bernard Shaw rose and they shook hands. Lord L'urgan, his ruddy face all smiles, was in the front row of the dress circle; Lord Ebbisham, the former Lord Mayor of London, was only able to obtain a seat towards the back of the stalls. Sir Philip Sassoon, who came on from the Speaker's reception, got a seat iv the dress circle -because Mr. K. H. Gillospio gave him his. Mr. Fred Karno (Mr. Chaplin's early employer) and Stove Donoghuo, the jockey (who mot Mr. Chaplin on tho voyage across the Atlantic) were his honoured guests. Miss Evelyn Laye looked refreshingly beautiful and was cheered. Lord Wimbourne 's Inverness cape brought a reminder of the more stately and elegant -early Edwardian times. Lady Astor was there, and so was Lady Oxford and Asquith. 'At the end of the film-showing the applause lasted aMong time, and then Mr. Chaplin appeared on the stage. "I feel," he said, "like the young chap making his maiden speech, who said, 'Ladies and .gentlemen, I should like to express my heartmost felt.' (Laughter.)' I must confess that tonight is a great triumph for me. To come into my own, home and receive the love and affection that has been accorded to me is more than an ample return for all.that I have done. It would be silly to try and tell you what I am feeling. One day, when I 'geY, a little grey-haired, I may sot it down in a "book." DELICIOUS HUMOUR. "City Lights" is a masterpiece, and its popularity should, be lasting, not because it is said to have cost £350,----000 in production,, but because it is Charlie Chaplin, at his zenith. The story opens with, a very comic episode, and it ends on a point that brings moisture to many -eyes. Throughout its progress humour predominates, and though the film is not a "talkie" there are a few distinct sounds; in addition to soft music. Notably, when, at a carousal, Charlie swallows a. whistle, and the whistle whistles so persistently (to the discomfort of the swallower and to the amusement of the house) that its constant reiteration prevents a great "star" from singing, brings a taxi-cab from a rank with much celerity, and causes the arival of favourite dogs, who are all over him in a moment, because of the summons' they heard. There is a side-splitting supper scono where Charlie's spaghetti gets entangled with yards of v streamer, and he goes on swallowing the paper till it is necessary for him to stand up to keep it in his reach, and then some kind soul releases him by breaking it off. Henceforth ho carefully notes the length of each piece of the food before starting on it. There is a prize-fight, which alone- is worth going to see, and there is the poor man's effort to earn money by becoming a road scavenger with" tho subtle humour that is here implied. The scenes with an eccentric millionaire (Harry Myers) are capital. When the latter is drunk ho is very friendly with the Tramp (Charlie), but when ho is sober he does not seem to recognise his little friend and- rescuer from a watery grave. As the blind flower girl, Mjss Virginia Chcrrill is very pathetic and beautiful; with her sight ultimately recovered she is still more beautiful— but here is the poignant end: Released from prison, the Tramp is a ragged figure of utter dejection, and is torinonted as he walks the streets. Fate brings him face to face with the beautiful flower girl. But now she is prosperous, for in place of the humble flower, stand, she is surrounded by an elaborate floral establishment. She watches tho pathetic figure of the little tramp in amazement, and does not understand why he fixes a steady gaze on her. She is plainly embarrassed, but jovially offers the man a flower and a. coin. Still fixing his stare on her e-yes, he accepts tho flower, and as she grips his liand to place the coin therein, there gradually comes a realisation that this is the man who was her benefactor. For tho music that pleasantly accompanies the- film Charlie Chaplin also is responsible. "VERY MUCH ONE OF US." Mr. AVinston Churchill, proposing the health of Mr. Chaplin at the Cabaret, said: "Mr. Chaplin is very much one of us. He was born less than a. mile from where we arc standing now. He has done a great thing in spreading all.

round the .world comedy and good humour which have broken down all the barriers of nations and brought happiness to people of all classes." "I do not find it easy to tafk on my feet, "said Mr. Chaplin, in reply. "I am not a Chancellor of the Exchequer, but merely a child and a youth. I havo never enjoyed myself so much before." Mr. Charles Graves ("Daily Express"), who was at the cabaret, states that Mr. Chaplin "went all Spanish." The first seven tunes were all tangoes. The cabaret, 'which contained eight items, was seven-eighths Spanish in character also. *' I "Mr. Chaplin," his secretary said, "has a tremendous urge towards Spain. The Spanish people are panto-1 mimic in character, every action they make has a meaning. So have those of Mr. Chaplin. Ho is crazy to see a bull light in Toledo. You may not know it, but his father's family were gipsies for two centuries, and came . from Spain. This is the first time that he has given way in public to his Spanish complex."