Charlie Chaplin and Silent Films: Critical Issues

1. Chaplin's initial response to talkies derides the emerging genre as artistically inferior to silent films, however, over the course of a decade Chaplin himself enters into their production. Although he maintains many of the elements of his traditional style in these newer films, the addition of dialogue drastically alters the way they operate. For instance, there is less emphasis on creating beauty through sheer imagery, and more emphasis on the content of the film's dialogue. Consequently, these films no longer resemble the world as viewed through the artist's imaginative perception, rather they tend to resemble the world as the artist perceives it to actually be. More clearly, sound pushes film towards the genre of realism.

• How does the incorporation of dialogue make film more realistic?
• Chaplin contends that the more realistic talkies are less artistic than silent films. What is the connection between art and reality? Should art mirror reality or provide an imaginative representation of it?
• Chaplin saw the ability to communicate social and political critiques as a benefit of talkies. Should art transmit specific messages and ideologies? What is the place of politics in art?

2. The addition of sound to film did not slowly work itself into the industry, or make a smooth transition as silent films began to die out. Instead, it forcefully planted itself into Hollywood. Silent film had not yet reached its full potential. It was just beginning to peak. Silent films of 1928 were so fluid, beautiful, and adept at telling a story in pictures, with few titles, it was tragic to have cut this medium off in its prime. Sound however, could not wait. It plastered dialogue over every inch of every picture, regardless of whether or not it detracted from the film. Many films, originally silent, were replayed with sound dubbed in.

• If silent films had not been shut out so quickly, but allowed to continue in their innovation, would films today be on a much higher artistic and technical level?
• If silent films had continued along side the talkies, could they still entertain today as just another medium, and if so, which genres could support silent films?