Theme Specific Stamps: Charlie Chaplin

Whenever comedy is talked about, Charlie Chaplin’s name is remembered in golden words. It was in the Golden Age of Comedy that actors like Charlie Chaplin made people laugh out loud even when the movies were silent.  Charles Spencer Chaplin aka Charlie Chaplin, is considered to be one of the most original, creative and imposing celebrities of the film world. It may not be wrong to say that he pioneered humour when the world was in depression and crippled by the WW-I.  

Charles Spencer Chaplin

Born in 1989, his 88 years of life was fully devoted to the entertainment of the people and the film industry. But his earlier life specially from 1914 to 1920 when he starred in the silent movies made him to be remembered for the rest of his life and even after his death in 1977. His famous films include The Tramp, City Lights and Modern Times. He also composed the music for both films with the theme song from A Countess From Hong Kong (1967), "This is My Song", reaching number one in the UK as sung by Petula Clark. 

Many famous roles of Charlie Chaplin in the Golden Age of Comedy films

In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked Chaplin the 10th greatest male screen legend of all time.In 2008, Martin Sieff, in a review of the book Chaplin: A Life, wrote: "Chaplin was not just 'big', he was gigantic.

It may sound strange to many that despite his popularity and unique acting skills, he never won an Oscar award for writing, directing or acting in his famous movies, he wasn't even nominated for most of them. He was also nominated once in 1948 for Best Writing, Original Screenplay for the movie, Monsieur Verdoux(1947), and twice in 1941 for Best Actor in a Leading Role, and Best Writing, Original Screenplay, both for the movie, The Great Dictator (1940). However he won an Honorary award in 1972, and in 1929.

It was only in 1973 that he won an Oscar for Best Music, Original Dramatic Score for Limelight. The film produced in 1952 was not released in Los Angeles until 1972. Under the Academy rules at the time being, this permitted it to be eligible despite of being 20 years old.

However, the highest honour conferred upon him came at the age of 85 when he was knighted for his outstanding performance in the art of entertainment.

Like everyone else, many countries have commended Charlie Chaplin by issuing commemorative stamps from time to time. Here are are some of these:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Besides postage stamps, here are  a few FDC (First Day Covers) of stamps issued commemorating Charlie Chaplin:

 

 

 

Reference:

Charlie Chaplin (Wikipedia)

Awards for Charlie Chaplin