Charlie Chaplin Trivia Quiz

Answer: English music halls

Chaplin was born in London; both of his parents were music hall singers. Chaplin often watched offstage while they, particularly his mother, performed. Watching other performers gave him ideas of what he might want to do. He started with a clog-dancing group but decided comedy might be a better fit for him. It proved to be a good move and he was soon in demand as a comic actor.

Answer: The Tramp

Chaplin performed in English music halls until he was noticed by entertainment producer Fred Karno, who worked internationally. At age 19 he signed with Karno's company which took him to the United States. Chaplin began using the Tramp character (also known as the Little Tramp) in his second film, "Mabel's Strange Predicament" in 1914. Within a couple of years the character had become a worldwide phenomenon, which allowed for merchandising and - - professional imitators!

Answer: United Artists

In the early days of motion pictures the producers and distributors employed the actors, paid them a salary and sometimes a share of the profits. Chaplin, along with actors Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks and director D.W. Griffith founded United Artists to have more control of their movies. By doing so they took the financial risks, but received a much larger share of the profits from the movies.

Answer: 4

Chaplin was married to Mildred Harris, Lita Grey, Paulette Goddard and Oona O'Neil, all actresses. The first three marriages were short-lived, but his marriage to O'Neil in 1943 lasted until his death in 1977. Chaplin fathered eleven children, including eight with O'Neil.

Answer: He was Chaplin's boss.

Chaplin signed with Mack Sennett's Keystone Studios in 1914 for a salary of $150 (U.S.) per week (about $4, 215. now). The early motion picture companies often turned out one film per week. Sennett was nicknamed "the King of Comedy" at that point, and his studio filmed the "Keystone Cops" pictures, much of which was slapstick comedy and sight gags. Chaplin disliked that type of humor; his Tramp character evolved from his distancing himself from it.

Answer: She was mentally ill.

Hannah Chaplin (known professionally as Lily Harley) began performing in English music halls at age 16. Mental problems, which started in the mid-1880s (and now believed to be caused by syphilis) eventually caused her to be institutionalized off-and-on for several years.

After Charlie became financially successful he brought her to America in 1921, bought her a house in California and provided round-the-clock care for her until her death in 1928.

Answer: The Life of a Tramp

"The Life of a Tramp" is a made-up title. Of the three real Chaplin films, "A Woman of Paris" was an unusual film for him. He did not appear in it (except in a quick uncredited cameo), and it was a serious drama rather than a romantic comedy.

Answer: to say he was anti-Communist

Following World War II there was an obsession with Communism in the United States. There were Congressional hearings, bannings, and blacklisting of people who were thought to be subversive. During the 1940s Chaplin had espoused socialist ideas and was involved in a paternity suit; the public had turned against him and U.S. government agencies were suspicious of him.

In September, 1952, Chaplin and his family sailed to London for the opening of his film "Limelight". While gone, the U.S. attorney general revoked his re-entry permit (Chaplin had never become a U.S. citizen) saying it was because of Chaplin's political and moral behavior.

He settled in Europe and although the charges against him were proven to be bogus he would not return to the United States for 20 years.

Answer: Adolf Hitler

Chaplin had been a holdout of changing from silent to sound films; this was his first "talkie". As had become his wont, Chaplin wrote, produced, directed, scored and starred in the 1940 film. Chaplin appeared as dictator Adenoid Hynkel and as a persecuted Jewish barber who resembled Hynkel. Sensing what was coming in Germany, Chaplin had begun working on the idea for the film in the mid-1930s; filming started in September 1939.

It became Chaplin's most popular film to date.

Answer: Switzerland

After being refused re-entry to the United States after a trip to London Chaplin and his family decided to settle in Switzerland. He sent his wife back to America to settle his affairs. He started a film production company in Europe but his film making was constrained by not owning the studios and having to hire unfamiliar people.

His last financial contact with America was in 1955 when he sold the remainder of his stock in the United Artists production company.