Charlie Chaplin’s family have collaborated on official documentary Spirit of the Tramp, and here’s the trailer for the film.
Charlie Chaplin is one of those film stars who are so iconic, he is almost a genre unto himself. With his hat and toothbrush moustache, Chaplin’s mastery of physical clowning mixed with his pioneering directorial skills means that his films are still delighting audiences a hundred years on. From his feature debut The Kid to The Great Dictator and sharing the screen with fellow silent comedy icon Buster Keaton in Limelight.
Many of Chaplin’s descendants have also found their way into the film and television industry. Daughter Geraldine Chaplin played her grandmother Hannah Chaplin. His granddaughter Oona Chaplin is also an actor: Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton cast her in their silent Inside No 9 episode A Quiet Night In as an in joke.
Chaplin’s life has been the subject many films and documentaries before, perhaps most notably Richard Attenborough’s 1992 biopic Chaplin, in which Robert Downey Jr. took on the role.
Spirit Of The Tramp marks the first time Chaplin’s family have collaborated so extensively an official documentary though.
Granddaughter Carmen Chaplin directs, while Geraldine Chaplin, Victoria Chaplin, Jane Chaplin and Christopher Chaplin have been interviewed for the film, with narration by Michael J. Chaplin. Famous faces appearing in the documentary include Johnny Depp, Emir Kusturica, Tony Gatlif, Stochelo Rosenberg, Lita Cabellut, and Farruquito.
The film “tells the story of Chaplin’s family as they embark on a journey into the Gypsy heritage that helped inspire his infamous and beloved character, The Tramp”.
Writers on the film include Carmen Chaplin, Ashim Bhalla, Isaki Lacuesta, and Amaya Remírez García, with editing by Julia Juaniz.
Spirit Of The Tramp does not have a UK release date, we’ll keep you updated as we hear more.
Watch the trailer below:
