A fading comedian and a suicidally despondent ballet dancer must look to each other to find purpose and hope in their lives.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- Won 1 Oscar. Another 6 wins & 4 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Charles Chaplin | ... |
Calvero
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| Claire Bloom | ... |
Thereza 'Terry' Ambrose
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| Nigel Bruce | ... |
Postant
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| Buster Keaton | ... |
Calvero's Partner
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| Sydney Chaplin | ... |
Neville
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| Norman Lloyd | ... |
Bodalink
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| Andre Eglevsky | ... |
Dancer - Harlequin
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Melissa Hayden | ... |
Dancer - Columbine
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| Marjorie Bennett | ... |
Mrs. Sybil Alsop
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| Wheeler Dryden | ... |
Thereza's Doctor
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Barry Bernard | ... |
John Redfern - Calvero's Agent
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| Stapleton Kent | ... |
Claudius
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Molly Glessing | ... |
Maid
(as Mollie Glessing)
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| Leonard Mudie | ... |
Dr. Blake - Calvero's Doctor
(as Leonard Mudi)
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| Loyal Underwood | ... |
Street Musician
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| 'Snub' Pollard | ... |
Street Musician
(as Snub Pollard)
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Julian Ludwig | ... |
Street Musician
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Billy Lee Aimone | ... |
Little Boy (uncredited)
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John Alban | ... |
Empire Theatre Patron (uncredited)
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Benjie Bancroft | ... |
Music Hall Patron (uncredited)
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John Barton | ... |
Music Hall Patron (uncredited)
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Ray Beltram | ... |
Actor Backstage (uncredited)
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Paul Bradley | ... |
Empire Theatre Patron (uncredited)
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James Carlisle | ... |
Music Hall Patron (uncredited)
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| Charles Chaplin Jr. | ... |
Clown (uncredited)
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| Geraldine Chaplin | ... |
Little Girl on Steps (uncredited)
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| Josephine Chaplin | ... |
Child on Steps (uncredited)
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| Michael Chaplin | ... |
Child on Steps (uncredited)
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| Oona Chaplin | ... |
Extra (uncredited)
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Bud Cokes | ... |
Music Hall Patron (uncredited)
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Harry Crocker | ... |
Music Hall Patron (uncredited)
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Oliver Cross | ... |
Music Hall Patron (uncredited)
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| Billy Curtis | ... |
Midget in Agent's Office (uncredited)
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Jack Deery | ... |
Emissary - Dress Circle (uncredited)
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| Cyril Delevanti | ... |
Griffin - Clown Outside Stage Door (uncredited)
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| Tim Durant | ... |
Music Hall Patron (uncredited)
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Tom Ferrandini | ... |
Empire Theatre Patron (uncredited)
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| Dorothy Ford | ... |
Patrician Lady in Dress Circle (uncredited)
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Curt Furberg | ... |
Empire Theatre Patron (uncredited)
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Rudy Germane | ... |
Empire Theatre Patron (uncredited)
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Marion Gray | ... |
Empire Theatre Patron (uncredited)
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| Frank Hagney | ... |
Extra in Dress Circle (uncredited)
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| Charlie Hall | ... |
Newsboy (uncredited)
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| Stuart Hall | ... |
Reception Guest (uncredited)
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| Sam Harris | ... |
Socialite (uncredited)
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| Stuart Holmes | ... |
Dinner Guest (uncredited)
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| Jimmie Horan | ... |
Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
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| Kenner G. Kemp | ... |
Pub Extra (uncredited)
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| Colin Kenny | ... |
Music Hall Performer (uncredited)
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Judy Landon | ... |
Extra in Dress Circle (uncredited)
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Perk Lazelle | ... |
Empire Theatre Patron (uncredited)
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| Billy Lee | ... |
Little Boy (uncredited)
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Maurice Marks | ... |
Stagehand (uncredited)
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| Harold Miller | ... |
Dinner Guest (uncredited)
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| Frank Mills | ... |
Man in Music Hall Audience (uncredited)
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Sherry Moreland | ... |
Extra in Dress Circle (uncredited)
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George Nardelli | ... |
Empire Theatre Patron (uncredited)
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Milicent Patrick | ... |
Extra in Dress Circle (uncredited)
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| Jack Perry | ... |
Stagehand (uncredited)
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Jose Portugal | ... |
Empire Theatre Patron (uncredited)
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| Edna Purviance | ... |
Mrs. Parker (uncredited)
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Paul Ravel | ... |
Empire Theatre Patron (uncredited)
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| Charley Rogers | ... |
Man in Saloon (uncredited)
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Victor Romito | ... |
Empire Theatre Patron (uncredited)
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Elizabeth Root | ... |
Extra in Dress Circle (uncredited)
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Cap Somers | ... |
Music Hall Patron (uncredited)
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Gus Taillon | ... |
Derelict (uncredited)
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| Valerie Vernon | ... |
Extra in Dress Circle (uncredited)
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Eric Wilton | ... |
Major Domo at Dinner (uncredited)
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| Florence Wix | ... |
Reception Guest (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Charles Chaplin | ||
Written by
| Charles Chaplin | ... | (original story) |
| Charles Chaplin | ... | (screenplay by) |
Produced by
| Charles Chaplin | ... | producer (uncredited) |
Music by
| Charles Chaplin | ||
Cinematography by
| Karl Struss | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Joe Inge | ||
Editorial Department
| Edward Phillips | ... | assistant editor |
Art Direction by
| Eugène Lourié | ... | (as Eugene Lourie) |
Costume Design by
| Riley Thorne | ... | (wardrobe designed by) |
Makeup Department
| Ted Larsen | ... | makeup artist |
| Florence Avery | ... | hair stylist (uncredited) |
Production Management
| Lonnie D'Orsa | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Robert Aldrich | ... | assistant director |
| Jack Verne | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Dorothea Holt | ... | illustrator (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Hugh McDowell Jr. | ... | sound (as Hugh McDowell) |
| Harold E. McGhan | ... | sound editor |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Roland Totheroh | ... | photographic consultant |
| Monroe P. Askins | ... | second assistant camera (uncredited) |
| Wallace Chewning | ... | camera operator (uncredited) |
| George Hommel | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
| Dick Johnson | ... | first assistant camera (uncredited) |
| W. Eugene Smith | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
| Frank Testera | ... | gaffer (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Elmer Ellsworth | ... | wardrobe: men (uncredited) |
| Drew Tetrick | ... | wardrobe (uncredited) |
| Ted Tetrick | ... | tailor (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Charles Chaplin | ... | music arranged by |
| Ray Rasch | ... | arranger |
| Keith Williams | ... | conductor |
| Russell Garcia | ... | Music Arranger (uncredited) / music orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Larry Russell | ... | music arranger (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Charles Chaplin | ... | choreographer |
| Wheeler Dryden | ... | assistant: Mr. Chaplin |
| Andre Eglevsky | ... | choreographer |
| Jerome Epstein | ... | assistant: to Mr. Chaplin (as Jerome L. Epstein) |
| Melissa Hayden | ... | choreographer |
| Carmelita Maracci | ... | corps de ballet |
| Oona Chaplin | ... | double: Claire Bloom in extreme long-shot (uncredited) |
| Hal Court | ... | stand-in (uncredited) |
| Harry Crocker | ... | unit publicist (uncredited) |
| Alfred Lewin | ... | production accountant (uncredited) |
| Maurice Marks | ... | stand-in (uncredited) |
| Kathleen Pryor | ... | secretary (uncredited) |
| Lisl Valetti | ... | stand-in (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- United Artists (1952) (United States) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1952) (Canada) (theatrical) (as United Artists Corporation, Ltd.)
- United Artists (1952) (United Kingdom) (theatrical) (as United Artists Corporation, Ltd.)
- United Artists (Australasia) (1952) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Les Artistes Associés (1952) (France) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1952) (Sweden) (theatrical) (as United Artists A/B)
- Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (1952) (Norway) (theatrical)
- C.B. Films S.A. (1955) (Spain) (theatrical)
- Roy Export Company (1958) (United States) (theatrical)
- Columbia Pictures (1972) (United States) (theatrical)
- Roadshow Films (1972) (Australia) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Parafrance Films (1975) (France) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Palace Home Video (1984) (Australia) (video)
- PolyGram Video (West Germany) (VHS)
- Antenne 2 (A2) (1987) (France) (tv)
- RBC Film Group (1991) (United States) (16mm rental)
- Fox Video (1993) (United States) (video) (LaserDisc)
- Image Entertainment (2000) (United States) (DVD)
- MK2 Diffusion (2001) (World-wide)
- Warner Home Video (2003) (United States) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2005) (United States) (DVD)
- Kinowelt Home Entertainment (Germany) (DVD)
- Arthaus (2010) (Germany) (DVD)
- Park Circus (2011) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- Soul media (2011) (Denmark)
- Classic Films Distribución (2015) (Spain) (theatrical)
- The Criterion Collection (2015) (United States) (DVD)
- Théâtre du Temple (2019) (France) (theatrical) (re-release) (restored version)
- HBO Max (2020) (United States) (video) (VOD)
- Piece of Magic Entertainment (2021) (Netherlands) (theatrical) (re-release) (restored version)
- Shochiku (1953) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Towa. (1974) (Japan) (theatrical) (re-release)
- CBS/Fox (United States) (VHS)
- NHK BS Premium (2011) (Japan) (tv)
- NHK Kyôiku (1986) (Japan) (tv)
- NHK Sôgô (1988) (Japan) (tv) (subtitled)
- SBS Movies (2023) (Australia) (tv)
- Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Glen Glenn Sound Company (sound re-recording)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Chaplin's final American film tells the story of a fading music hall comedian's effort to help a despondent ballet dancer learn both to walk and feel confident about life again. The highlight of the film is the classic duet with Chaplin's only real artistic film comedy rival, Buster Keaton.
Written by Kenneth Chisholm |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | It will move you to love, laughter and tears See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Cumulative Worldwide Gross | $8,000,000 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | The Academy Award that Sir Charles Chaplin won for composing this film's score is the only competitive Oscar he ever received; his other awards were given to him for special achievement outside of the established categories. See more » |
| Goofs | In discussing the ballet with the cast, the dance director Bodalink casts a giant shadow in front of the auditorium seats (revealing it to be nothing more than a backdrop). See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into Une histoire seule (1989). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Eternally (Terry's Theme) See more » |
| Crazy Credits | "The glamour of limelight, from which age must pass as youth enters." See more » |
| Quotes |
Terry:
If all else fails, there's always that little home in the country. Calvero: This is my home, here. Terry: I thought you hated the theater. Calvero: I do. I also hate the sight of blood, but it's in my veins. See more » |