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Rating: 
Summary: Invaluable small book on Chaplin
Review: David Robinson is an historian and film critic who produced a massive definitive biographical study on Chaplin. A short time afterward Robinson did this small volume for the Abrams Discoveries series, a line known for its smooth paper, compactness, and illustrations.The book is as excellent an overview of Chaplin's career as anything published. While only 143 pages, it is packed with information. Robinson was given access to the Chaplin archives by Charlie's family for the production of his earlier study, and his wealth of knowledge is on full display here. The book follows Charlie from his very rough childhood and early success in vaudeville through to his rise as a star in the Karno and Keystone comedy groups. Robinson details Chaplin's ethic of hard work and inventiveness, which lead him to eventually take full control of his projects and propel his fame to an international level. The story of the comic genius' life is never far away, and we are given facts about Chaplin's first love, his marriages, the creation of his famous "Little Tramp" character, and his friendships with other actors and directors. Robinson successfully communicates to the reader Chaplin's inestimable influence on the motion picture. Chaplin is shown to be a perfectionist and artist at a time when films were not considered for anything other than pure entertainment value. Chaplin's unique sensibilities, his creativity, and the combination of comedy and pathos deepened the overall lure and texture of early 20th Century cinema. Along the way we also learn about behind-the-scenes toils undergone by Chaplin during shoots, his participation in forming United Artists, even his pursuit by the F.B.I. and eventual self-exile from the United States. The information here is communicated in a lively, lucid style, and there are included throughout significant quotations from Chaplin's autobiography as well as some of his other writings to emphasize important points. There is a documents section which adds perspectives on Chaplin and his work by some of his contemporaries and followers, as well as an indispensable filmography, listing Chaplin's work from his first picture, 1914's _Making a Living_, to his final, 1967's _A Countess from Hong Kong._ Despite all these useful features, the book's greatest asset are the illustrations. From full color to black and white, there is a photograph, drawing, or film still on almost every page, bringing to life Chaplin and his era beautifully and respectfully. I recommend this book highly to Chaplin aficionados new and old, as well as to someone who is curious what the fuss is all about. For those who would like to see the major events of Chaplin's life portrayed onscreen, I recommend the 1990's biopic _Chaplin_ starring Robert Downey Jr.
Rating:
Summary: COOL BOOK
Review: I really love Charlie Chaplin, he is a great actor. I got this book because it was small and I wanted to see more pictures of Chaplin and this book has just that. If your a big Chaplin fan like I am get this book.
Rating:
Summary: COOL BOOK
Review: I really love Charlie Chaplin, he is a great actor. I got this book because it was small and I wanted to see more pictures of Chaplin and this book has just that. If your a big Chaplin fan like I am get this book.
Rating:
Summary: Compact, but a pleasure to own; nicely presented
Review: Often books written about popular film celebrities are thinly
disguised means of making a buck by publishers
who contract people to write a story about a
subject they so obviously care little about.
But this title is a wonderful appreciation of Chaplin by someone
who appears to at least be a fan. The small but attractive book is packed with b/w
photos and anecdotes that span Chaplin's entire
career; printed on thick glossy paper and beautifully
designed, it is not the usual slapdash mass market
pulp cheapo that will crumble to dust
in six months. This is a permanent little gem
that will sit very well on the shelf next to a more
text-heavy volume such as Chaplin's autobiography.
There is enough story here though to give anyone
with an interest a basic outline of Charlie's whole life.
Highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: To short for its own good
Review: The Book suffers lack of detail on Charlie Chaplin's movies. The book does not really have that much text to read.The only thing there is is pictures
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