Charlie Chaplin (1951)

Chaplin's 1921 trip abroad 143 Turkey and was not even aware of the position and prestige of the man who showed such interest in her career. Chaplin did not forget her and years later he was glad to hear that Moussia had married well. Together with Robinson, Chaplin next visited Germany. From the train window he noticed the people busily working and rebuilding. In Berlin he went about unrecognized. His films had not been shown during the war and had only just begun to penetrate into Germany. He had a mixed reaction to this of relief, surprise, and annoyance. The Adlon Hotel had no rooms available and just as Chaplin and Robinson were about to try elsewhere, a newspaper man, Karl von Wiegand, recognized Chaplin and offered him his rooms. On being apprised of the importance of the new guest, the owner offered apologies— and the royal suite. That night, visiting the Palais Heinroth, then Berlin's chief night spot, his lack of a reputation in Germany was again brought home to him when the headwaiter led him and Robinson to a dim corner table. Soon, however, he heard a voice, "Charlie!" It was Al Kaufman, Paramount's Berlin representative. Then, as Robinson and he were led to Kaufman's table, the players in the American jazz band shouted and waved at him. At Kaufman's table was Pola Negri, Germany's most popular star and known to America by the films Lubitsch directed her in, "Passion" and "Gypsy Blood." Although the Polish actress knew no words of English and Chaplin not a word of German they managed with their eyes. Chaplin was smitten with her beauty and vivid charm — her jet black hair, white skin, and her soft voice. She, in turn, kept murmuring, "Jazz boy, Charlie." More specific compliments were exchanged with Kaufman's aid and one, in a deliberate, joking mistranslation by Kaufman, earned him a playful slap on the wrist. The interchange was not to the liking of a young German at the table, a rich merchant