Limelight (1952)

Director:

Charles Chaplin

Writers:

Charles Chaplin (story)
Charles Chaplin (screenplay)

Release Date:

29 October 1952 (Argentina)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Music | Romance

Plot:

A fading comedian and a suicidally despondent ballet dancer must look to each other to find meaning and hope in their lives.

Plot Keywords:

Ballet | Ballet Dancer | Dancer | Music Hall | Hope

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 3 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Charles Chaplin	...	Calvero
Claire Bloom	...	Terry, a Dancer
Nigel Bruce	...	Postant, an Impresario
Buster Keaton	...	Calvero's Partner
Sydney Chaplin	...	Neville
Norman Lloyd	...	Bodalink
Andre Eglevsky	...	Dancer
Melissa Hayden	...	Dancer
Marjorie Bennett	...	Mrs. Alsop
Wheeler Dryden	...	Thereza's Doctor
Barry Bernard	...	John Redfern
Stapleton Kent	...	Claudius
Mollie Glessing	...	Maid
Leonard Mudie	...	Dr. Blake (as Leonard Mudi)
Loyal Underwood	...	Street Musician
'Snub' Pollard	...	Street Musician (as Snub Pollard)
Julian Ludwig	...	Street Musician
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Richard Dean	...	(scenes deleted)
Doris Lloyd	...	Terry's Mother (scenes deleted)
Trevor Ward	...	(scenes deleted)
Geraldine Chaplin	...	Little Girl in Opening Scene (uncredited)
Josephine Chaplin	...	Child in Opening Scene (uncredited)
Charles Chaplin Jr.	...	Clown (uncredited)
Michael Chaplin	...	Child in Opening Scene (uncredited)
Oona Chaplin	...	Extra (uncredited)
Harry Crocker	...	Music Hall Patron (uncredited)
Billy Curtis	...	Midget in Agent's Office (uncredited)
Jack Deery	...	Emissary--Dress Circle (uncredited)
Cyril Delevanti	...	Griffin, a Clown (uncredited)
Tim Durant	...	Music Hall Patron (uncredited)
Dorothy Ford	...	Patrician Lady in Dress Circle (uncredited)
Frank Hagney	...	Extra in Dress Circle (uncredited)
Charlie Hall	...	Newsboy (uncredited)
Sam Harris	...	Old Fogey in Dress Circle (uncredited)
Stuart Holmes	...	Dinner Guest (uncredited)
Kenner G. Kemp	...	Pub Extra (uncredited)
Colin Kenny	...	Music Hall Performer (uncredited)
Judy Landon	...	Extra in Dress Circle (uncredited)
Harold Miller	...	Dinner Guest (uncredited)
Frank Mills	...	Man in Music Hall Audience (uncredited)
Sherry Moreland	...	Extra in Dress Circle (uncredited)
Milicent Patrick	...	Extra in Dress Circle (uncredited)
Edna Purviance	...	Mrs. Parker (uncredited)
Charley Rogers	...	Man in Saloon (uncredited)
Elizabeth Root	...	Extra in Dress Circle (uncredited)
Gus Taillon	...	Derelict (uncredited)
Valerie Vernon	...	Extra in Dress Circle (uncredited)
Eric Wilson	...	Extra in Dress Circle (uncredited)
Eric Wilton	...	Major Domo at Dinner (uncredited)

Directed by
Charles Chaplin

Writing credits
Charles Chaplin		(story)
Charles Chaplin		(screenplay)

Produced by
Charles Chaplin	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Charles Chaplin

Cinematography by
Karl Struss		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Joe Inge

Art Direction by
Eugène Lourié

Makeup Department
Ted Larsen	....	makeup artist
Florence Avery	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Lonnie D'Orsa	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Robert Aldrich	....	assistant director

Art Department
Dorothea Holt	....	illustrator (uncredited)

Sound Department
Hugh McDowell Jr.	....	sound (as Hugh McDowell)
Harold E. McGhan	....	sound editor

Camera and Electrical Department
Monroe P. Askins Jr.	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Wallace Chewning	....	camera operator (uncredited)
George Hommel	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Dick Johnson	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)
W. Eugene Smith	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Frank Testera	....	gaffer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Riley Thorne	....	wardrobe designer
Elmer Ellsworth	....	wardrobe: men (uncredited)
Drew Tetrick	....	wardrobe (uncredited)
Ted Tetrick	....	tailor (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Edward Phillips	....	assistant film editor

Music Department
Charles Chaplin	....	music arranger
Ray Rasch	....	music arranger
Keith Williams	....	conductor
Larry Russell	....	music arranger (uncredited)

Other crew
Charles Chaplin	....	choreographer
Wheeler Dryden	....	assistant: Mr. Chaplin
Andre Eglevsky	....	choreographer
Jerome Epstein	....	assistant: Mr. Chaplin (as Jerome L. Epstein)
Melissa Hayden	....	choreographer
Carmelita Maracci	....	corps de ballet
Roland Totheroh	....	photographic consultant
Oona Chaplin	....	double: Claire Bloom in extreme long-shot (uncredited)
Hal Court	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Harry Crocker	....	unit publicist (uncredited)
Alfred Lewin	....	production accountant (uncredited)
Maurice Marks	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Kathleen Pryor	....	secretary (uncredited)
Lisl Valetti	....	stand-in (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Celebrated Productions

Distributors

• United Artists (1952) (USA) (theatrical)
• MK2 Diffusion (2001) (worldwide) (all media)
• Image Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Glen Glenn Sound  sound re-recording (uncredited)

Runtime:

137 min | USA:141 min (initial release) | UK:147 min (London premiere)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Spain:T | West Germany:12 | Germany:6 (re-rating) | UK:U | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:G (re-rating) | Canada:G (Quebec)

Filming Locations:

RKO-Pathé Studios - 9336 Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Celebrated Productions

Trivia:

The Academy Award that Charles Chaplin won for composing this film's score is the only competitive Oscar he ever received; his other awards were given to him for special achievement outside of the established categories.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the final comedy act, the pianist's chair changes between shots.

Quotes:

Terry: I'm sorry.
Calvero: You should be. A girl like you wanting to throw your life away. When you reach my age you want to cling onto it.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Zampo y yo (1966)

A story of a ballerina and a clown

Charles Chaplin plays Calvero, an aging clown who rescues a ballet dancer called Terry (Claire Bloom) from committing suicide.These two become friends and Calvero gets more meaning to his life.He desperately tries to make a come back to become the greatest clown again but it's hard to make people laugh anymore.Limelight from 1952 was Charles Chaplin's last American film.It was a flop but the film won an Academy Award for best score in 1972.That year the king of comedy got also a special Oscar for career achievement.This was Chaplin's most sentimental movie and it also was very touching.Chaplin is amazing as the aging clown.The man wasn't only a great comedian.He was also a terrific actor.It's hard to top his performance in this movie.Claire Bloom's performance as the ballet dancer is also brilliant.Chaplin's son Sydney plays Neville in the movie.There are also Chaplin's children Victoria, Michael, Josephine, Geraldine and Charles Chaplin Jr. in this film.This is truly a masterpiece.This proves that Chaplin didn't shine only in silent movies.He did that also in talkies.And this is one of his best talkies. The dialogue is just delicious in this comedic drama.In the end you can see another great comedian from the silent era;Buster Keaton.You can see Chaplin and Keaton clowning together in the end.And that is one great scene.A scene to remember.The message of Limelight is how wonderful life is.Enjoy it while you still can.