Review of Limelight (1952) by Sarah K — 25 Jul 2007

This is the only film that Chaplin actually won an Oscar for - and it was for the music soundtrack which he helped compose. The fate of this film was complicated by the communist blacklist in Hollywood during the 1950s.

Chaplin was patronized by the U.S. government constantly to the point of being barred from re-entry to the country after leaving for a vacation in Europe. Released in 1952, Chaplin decided that it would be a European release because most Americans would not stand for it being shown in the States.

The music is indeed some of the most beautiful ever written. Chaplin uses this film as a psuedo review of his own life, portraying much the same aspects that he witnessed as a boy growing up in the world of English music halls.

We see traces of Chaplin's tramp character at times, but mostly what we see is Chaplin himself, older, and much more reflective of life. It is perhaps 30 minutes too long, a little slower than what you might like, and too talkative even for a talkie.

But the story told is a beautiful one, echoed by the music, and don't forget the cameo appearance Buster Keaton makes as we witness for the first and only time, the two comic geniuses on film together.