Charlie Chaplin (1889–1977) was an English actor, filmmaker and composer. Though Chaplin rose to fame in the silent film era, it is his unique voice that defines him as one of the most important figures in the history of film. His first feature-length film, The Kid (1921), was one of the earliest Hollywood films to combine comedy with drama. Over the course of his career, Chaplin and his works became increasingly political and The Great Dictator (1940) satirized Adolf Hitler by playing upon the resemblance of the two famous moustaches. The film was hugely successful, but Chaplin’s closing speech – an impassioned plea to the audience to choose peace and democracy, reproduced on this journal cover – no doubt contributed to his place on the infamous Hollywood Blacklist and the eventual rescinding of his U.S. residency permit. Chaplin’s tenacious creativity prevailed and he continued to work in Europe before being welcomed back to Hollywood with an honorary Oscar in 1972. It is our honour to celebrate over a century of Charlie Chaplin with this journal commemorating both the 100th anniversary of The Kid (2021) and the enduring cultural impact of The Great Dictator.
