When you consider the private life of the real world Chaplin, who had gone through several marriages to women who were much than himself, you have to think that, at some point, he'd gleaned some hard lessons from all those experiences, and undoubtedly had leard the hard lesson that it would have been for the best both for himself and the wives had he not married them, considering the age difference and the strain put on the marriages by a disapproving public, etc.
Of course, his last marriage proved to be a very happy one but it, too, came at great personal cost, especially to his wife, the former Oona O'Neill and daughter of famed playwright Eugene O'Neill, having been disowned by her father for marrying Chaplin.
Perhaps I am not wise enough to make a correct interpretation of Calvero's ambivalence and his ambiguous communications with Terri; but I can't help thinking that Chaplin's own life experience is the "motivation" for his character, Calvero, to keep the much younger Terri at arm's length for her own good, and his own feelings for her be damned. I think it possible that Chaplin himself had his regrets and wished he had been as unselfish as Calvero had proven to be; Calvero's personal heroism and willingness to put Terri's best interests ahead of his own (despite her naive / youthful protests to the contrary) is a glimpse into what Chaplin might have done differently in his relationships if only he could have turned back the hands of time.
Okay folks, show's over, nothing to see here!
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lazysunbather4
11 years ago
Thanks for taking the time to post such a thoughtful response, i'm late in seeing it :)
I think you're right- the movie is all the more compelling because of his real life- in one sense I saw it as an old man's fantasy but in another, it was almost like an apology to his wife, and maybe to his other wives and girlfriends as well... An apology for sort of ruining or wasting their lives on him.
Maybe because he doesn't clearly express his feelings for terry is the reason I love the movie. I keep rewatching it to learn more, waiting for him to say that he loves her :)
It also became more haunting once i learned Charlie was exiled after this film.... The first time i watched it i had no idea about his life.
A chat with you and somehow death loses its sting.....
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howtonot
11 years ago
I love your take on Chaplin's/Calvero's ambiguity - I don't know a great deal about Chaplin's private life aside from what's accessible via documentaries/articles, etc, but I attribute much of the film's success & uniqueness to the fact Calvero never acted on his impulses, even though it's clear he desires, and loves, Terry. This is, of course, in stark contrast to the big fuss he made about life being "a desire, not a meaning...desire is the theme of all life." Initially, I found this so noble, forsaking his own desire in order to allow Terry to live a more fulfilling (and longer) life with a younger man, when in fact, the opposite is true. Terry pined for him all her life- a lifetime with someone you care for is no match for a few years with the love of your life.
This is why I adore this film so much, and can't get enough of it. Despite my constant begging, none of my friends have sat down to watch it yet (who can't spare 2 hours for cinematic magic like this!?) It's so well done.
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udippel
8 years ago
We have no votes, but I would definitively 'upvote' your post. I saw the question and would have answered likewise. If with a great actor like Chaplin, one can catch glimpses of 'play versus self'. And here Chaplin is at some scenes not Calvero but Chaplin.
Maybe I don't agree with the depth in which you see it, but that would be minor.
And purely pragmatic: If Calvero wasn't torn between his two sides, the movie would lose half its plot and meaning. ;-)
Of course, Calvero has feelings for her; she is very lovable. At times he obviously constraints himself cognitively from not coming to close to her; like him closing the door to the living room and wishing a good night. That is clearly a sign of retreat, like him leaving the common flat. He can't really stand seeing her, a most attractive lady, without deeply falling into a 'ridiculous' love.
The whole lot fits, by the way, to the character description given by Buñuel earlier about Chaplin, who was officially Buñuel's supervisor during the time of the latter in Hollywood. In his memoirs, Buñuel describes him as a rather insecure and indecisive person. Something quite typical for comedians, when you look at the private life of many of the best comedians.
I love this movie also for this aspect, since no other movie that I know about gives this much of insight in the sometimes schizophrenic life that a comedian must lead, and the gaps between a normal everyday life and the exit into quite another life of being 'funny'. Calvero talks frequently about that.
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