Charlie Chaplin (1951)

Chaplin's 1921 trip abroad 137 Crowninshield, Conde Nast, Alexander Woollcott, and other writers and artists. Later that day he missed a meeting with Ambassador Gerard through a car breakdown. The next evening he attended a "Greenwich Village" party given by Max Eastman, poet and radical, then editor of The Liberator, whom Chaplin had met in California and whom he found interesting company although he did not always agree with his doctrines. As host in his turn, Chaplin brought together a mixed group at the Elysee Cafe: Woollcott, Broun, Eastman, Edward Knoblock, Mme. Maeterlinck, Rita Weiman, Neysa McMein, and Doug and Mary. The famous movie couple performed charades on top of the table. Chaplin and Mme. Maeterlinck did a hilarious burlesque of the dying scene in "Camille." Camille coughed but it was Chaplin, playing Armand, who wTas racked by convulsions and died in Camille's stead. There was singing, dancing, talk, and impromptu speeches to provide a great evening in which Chaplin was able to lose himself entirely in friendly play. Edward Knoblock, who was also sailing, became Chaplin's companion-guide on the crossing. Knoblock, author of "Kismet" and other successful plays, had written the screen adaptation for Fairbanks' "The Three Musketeers." The voyage had its trials. At the very start there was an unpleasant incident. A news photographer asked Chaplin to throw kisses at the Statue of Liberty. Chaplin refused to make this cheap and obvious gesture and the refusal became food for malicious gossip. The Olympic, on which the crossing was made, had its quota of autograph hunters and people who would not forego an opportunity to brush elbows with the great. Even in the Turkish bath men wanted to know was Chaplin friendly with Theda Bara and Louise Glaum and asked other idiotic questions. On his exercises around the deck he was embarrassed by people staring and pointing at him. He wanted