Limelight (1952 film)

Limelight
Original theatrical release poster
Directed byCharlie Chaplin
Screenplay byCharlie Chaplin
Story byCharlie Chaplin
Produced byCharlie Chaplin
Starring
CinematographyKarl Struss
Edited byJoe Inge
Music byCharlie Chaplin
Production
company
Celebrated Productions
Distributed byUnited Artists
(1952 release)
Columbia Pictures
(1972 release)
Release date
  • October 23, 1952 (1952-10-23) (United States)
Running time
137 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$900,000[1]
Box office$8 million

Limelight is a 1952 American comedy-drama film written, produced, directed by, and starring Charlie Chaplin, based on a novella by Chaplin titled Footlights.[2] The score was composed by Chaplin and arranged by Ray Rasch.

The film stars Chaplin as a washed-up comedian who saves a suicidal dancer, played by Claire Bloom, from killing herself, and both try to get through life. Additional roles are provided by Nigel Bruce, Sydney Earl Chaplin, Wheeler Dryden, and Norman Lloyd, with an appearance from Buster Keaton. In dance scenes, Bloom is doubled by Melissa Hayden.

Upon the film's release, critics' reception was divided; it was heavily boycotted in the United States because of Chaplin's alleged communist sympathies, and failed commercially. However, the film was re-released in the United States in 1972, which included its first screening in Los Angeles. This allowed the two-decades-old film to be in contention for the 45th Academy Awards where Chaplin won his only competitive Oscar. Today, the film is sometimes regarded as one of Chaplin's best and most personal works, and has attained a cult following.

  1. ^ Tino Balio, United Artists: The Company That Changed the Film Industry, University of Wisconsin Press, 1987 p. 56–58
  2. ^ Robinson, David (2015). Charlie Chaplin: Footlights with The World of Limelight. Cineteca di Bologna. ISBN 978-8895862828.