Rating: 
Summary: A true Genius
Review: Charlie Chaplin is easily the most brilliant man that ever lived on-screen, and he had a very fascinating life, as you learn from his autobiography that Chaplin wrote late on in his life.He tells us of his childhood, living in poverty in London, his father rarely ever being there. About how Charlie, his mother, and brother Sydney had to go for a job at the workhouse, his mother later ended up going insane and was put into a Lunatic Asylum. His early life in the theatre, before going into the film business. Working for Mack Sennett's Keystone company, talking about Mabel Normand. His Essannay and Mutual films. He talks about his early romances, Edna Purviance and others. His marriages, firstly to Mildred Harris, up to his last wife, Oona O'Neill. He talks about his times with First National, then about forming United Artists with Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and D.W. Griffith. About his much loved feature films like 'The Kid' etc, however, he fails to mention 'The Circus' in his autobiography at all. And so on, and so on. While Chaplin fails to mention certain things in his autobiography, you still get an interesting look at the man himself, and his most interesting life. This book is most highly recommended, and no true Chaplin fan should be without it.
Rating: 
Summary: As told in his very own words
Review: Even though he was supposed to be a funny-looking little tramp, we could still see that he was a very beautiful and very savage young gentleman who had an unquenchable thrist for cute little girls, power, and eternal recognition for his great talents as a slapstick comedian of the silent era. Written late in his life, Charlie Chaplin's autobiography displays a very prosaic writing style and a great deal of candid details, though he very obviously left out a few parts of his personal life and some people he knew as well as incorrectly recreating some of his very own experiences, including the very part when he first conjured up his world-famous character as The Little Tramp. Nevertheless, it was a very interesting piece of history all about one of the 20th century's greatest actors. Here we are taken on Chaplin's very long tour from the London slums of his Victorian-Era childhood through the early Hollywood studios with The Keystone Kops and Mabel Normand, his lovely young co-star to his finally peaceful post-career days with his very last wife, Oona O'Neill at his beautiful home in Switzerland. And here he even paid a little respect to a few women who would haunt his memories like Lita Grey, his ill-fated second wife who was still passing her puberty at the time and Joan Barry, the vengeful hellcat who eventually dragged him to the court for paternity tests. Thus this is just one of the countless biographies all about the funny little man. Nevertheless - right behind Chaplin's comical mask is a great velvet-padded tiger sleepily reclining in the hot limelight - yet he is quite capable of suddenly lashing out to deal a painful, blood-tracing blow when sourly displeased.
Rating:
Summary: Just as good as his own films
Review: GREAT, WONDERFUL, THE BEST. these are just a few of the words that could discribe this briliant book about the talented little tramp, Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin. He tells of his hardships as a child, and his stage debute at the age of five that changed his life, all the way to the first time he walked onto the keystone movie sets, with the creation of the little tramp. He goes on to tell us about all of his movies and all of the trouble making them. He talkes about the invasion of talking movies and the meeting and wedding of the love of his life to the day he died, Oona O'neil. He very gracfully talkes of his exil on the way to the london premier of "Limelight," and the buying of his new house in Switerland, Manoir de Ban. This was, is, and forever will be a great book for all ages to read.
Rating:
Summary: An Exceptional Reading Experience!
Review: I originally read this book back in the early 1970's when I was a teen-ager. Recently I found it at my Dad's house and had the great pleasure of re-reading it. As with any autobiography there is a certain amount of self-promotion and justification, however this book really keeps it to a minimum. The period covered is from birth until his expulsion from the United States, and gives great insight on the early years of Hollywood, including his formation of United Artists with Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford. If you're a fan of "the Tramp" then I highly recommend this book. If you're not a fan but looking for a great true-to-life story, I would still recommend it as well.
Rating:
Summary: true guy, true story
Review: I remember one day I was sharing thoughts with this guy, who told me with sort of a mock on is face "Chaplin is a great guy for all Cuban people". I couldn't quite get his point, but I knew he had been there more than once, not living as a tourist. This is my favorite book (other than techy|science ones), I have read it more than 10 times. I am glad to have the time to read the English version of it, after reading one of these Castro's "Ediciones Revolucionarias" ..., that also published The Autobiography of Malcolm X. To me it was neither about "how he made it in Hollywood ...", nor about "the troubled life of a genious", but it is about - what a difference a Mother can make -. I don't think that inheritance is only|primarily about genes. Each time I read this book I get blasted by his Mother's strong character, and integrity.
Rating:
Summary: A Fantastic Trip
Review: This book is amazing. Chaplin's descriptions of the slums of London and early Holywood are great, they really transport the reader to the locations. Chaplin discusses his art, his beliefs, and his loves, as well as often just going off on tangents, spending pages describeing other comedians of the time and other interesting oddities. I highly reconmend this book to anyone who has any intrest in film making or anyone who wants to see these worlds that are long gone.
Rating:
Summary: My Review
Review: What I wonderful book. I love Chaplin. He amazes me. I am 17. He is my hero. I have to say that he does go off a little on certain things, but they are very interesting topics. I have read this book many times. I am amazed by all the people he has meet through his life. He was very lucky. And the poeple who met him where very lucky, too. I have all his films, My Life In Pictures, and three other books written about him. All in all, it is a very fun read. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: In His Own Words
Review: While the movie Chaplin is very well done, no person can tell a story like they can tell there own. Based on this, I chose to read the book written by the cinematic legend himself. While there are some discrepencies between the book and movie, books have an ability to make details evident that movies can not make evident. The book spends a considerable amount of time in his early life. Chaplin struggled with a rarely present father and a mentally ill mother. It was through this poverty that he followed the chosen career path of his parents in the theatre. The theatre would would lead him to America where he would begin working in the new film industry. Through this industry he made classic films that continue to influence modern cinema despite their age. When Chaplin made a film, it had something to say. It was art that spoke to the human soul with humor, love, and hope. His films were not merely a way to make money. Aside from his work in films, Chaplin was a humanitarian. He supported America in times of war depite not being a citizen. Chaplin never forgot his roots, making him empathetic to the needs of the less fortunate. This trait led to the revoking of his citizenship when he spoke of openly of opening a second front in Russia during World War II. It was through this stance that he was labeled a "communist" and had his citizenship was revoked. In spite of these attacks led by J. Edgar Hoover, Chaplin rarely mentions Hoover in his book. Nor does he harbor ill will toward America. It is a travesty that this film legend and humanitarian was treated so poorly by the American government in his later years. The book ends shortly after Chaplin has settled in to his new life in Switzerland. With his new life, Chaplin has a positive outlook. One has to wonder what might have been if Chaplin finished his life in America. Surely he was capable of creating more great work. However, sometimes a man's greatest work and pleasure is his family.
Rating:
Summary: In His Own Words
Review: While the movie Chaplin is very well done, no person can tell a story like they can tell there own. Based on this, I chose to read the book written by the cinematic legend himself. While there are some discrepencies between the book and movie, books have an ability to make details evident that movies can not make evident. The book spends a considerable amount of time in his early life. Chaplin struggled with a rarely present father and a mentally ill mother. It was through this poverty that he followed the chosen career path of his parents in the theatre. The theatre would would lead him to America where he would begin working in the new film industry. Through this industry he made classic films that continue to influence modern cinema despite their age. When Chaplin made a film, it had something to say. It was art that spoke to the human soul with humor, love, and hope. His films were not merely a way to make money. Aside from his work in films, Chaplin was a humanitarian. He supported America in times of war depite not being a citizen. Chaplin never forgot his roots, making him empathetic to the needs of the less fortunate. This trait led to the revoking of his citizenship when he spoke of openly of opening a second front in Russia during World War II. It was through this stance that he was labeled a "communist" and had his citizenship was revoked. In spite of these attacks led by J. Edgar Hoover, Chaplin rarely mentions Hoover in his book. Nor does he harbor ill will toward America. It is a travesty that this film legend and humanitarian was treated so poorly by the American government in his later years. The book ends shortly after Chaplin has settled in to his new life in Switzerland. With his new life, Chaplin has a positive outlook. One has to wonder what might have been if Chaplin finished his life in America. Surely he was capable of creating more great work. However, sometimes a man's greatest work and pleasure is his family.
Rating:
Summary: A WONDERFUL, FIRST-HAND ACCOUNT
Review: While this is by no means a perfect book, it is still very enjoyable to read Chaplin's account of his life and times. Other works may portray him more accurately and with less bias, but they cannot offer the same personal touch that this book presents. For the most part, the book is a smooth read-even though Chaplin tends to leave out important points that are uncomfortable (but essential), creating a few strange transitions. Further, it appears that even the realm of non-fiction biography is not safe from fictional enhancements. Chaplin, being the tireless dramatist, invented at least one character in this book for fluency and apparently stretched a story here or there as well. Despite this, a fan of the great comedian must respect (or at least accept) the fact that this is how Charlie Chaplin wanted to be remembered.
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