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July, 1931
Close-Ups and Long-Shots
By
James R, Quirk
Dear Charlie:
I AM awfully sorry your European trip was such a disappointment to you. Things seem to have broken wrong for you from the start.
I don't blame you for being a good business man, but those English film men did feel pretty sore when you pushed them to the limit on the price of your film.
That made them peeved in Germany, too, where, with all the unemployment and unrest, a million marks seems an awful lot of money to them for the rights to your film in that country.
As I figure it, that is about a quarter of a million dollars, and I don't think they even hope to get it back.
Somehow or other they feel they have to have you, and I suppose business is business with you, and this Brotherhood of Man stuff is pleasant conversation.
OF course, Lita and the income people have made quite a gouge in your bankroll in the past few years, but with four or five million dollars left, and the possibility of doubling it on "City Lights," it might have been a nice gesture to have given them the million laughs for less than a million marks. But it does seem that even in these difficult times, people will dig down and find the money some place to pay for your pictures. So let 'em pay.
I was awfully sorry when I heard that you had to disappoint those children — the little fellows in your old Whitechapel public school — when they all dressed up to come to meet you.
But then, I suppose Bernard Shaw and those other high-brows did hound you to death, and at that time you were very popular with the noble folk of England.
W;
VSN'T it nice of Professor Einstein to give you that autographed photograph after you had spent an hour with him discussing the world's faults and troubles? "To Charlie Chaplin, the great economist." he inscribed it. Did you watch the Professor closely as he wrote that inscription? Did you notice if he had his tongue in his cheek? Do you suppose the old rascal was kidding you, Charlie? You don't suppose he had heard how you gave Lloyd George and Prime Minister MacDonald all that straight dope on how to settle England's problems?
I heard you got in a little pet because they did not knight you, but I know better because you have often said you did not want to be knighted.
It was gracious of 3rou, however, to accept the Legion of Honor from France. You probably gave Mr. Briand quite a thrill.
WHAT'S this I hoar about you rejecting the invitation of the King of Belgium to attend the opening of your picture in Brussels? Did you really have a previous engagement?
They tell me that it was quite embarrassing when that delegation from the Communists and unemployed called on you at the Adlon Hotel, where the Kaiser used to give his parties. and suggested that you put some of your theories about the Brotherhood of Man into practice for the relief of the unemployed. I don't blame you for leaving town immediately afterwards. Those chaps ask too many impertinent questions.
What's the low-down on all this fuss about your refusing to attend the annual variety performance for the indigent and unemployed actors, which the King and Queen have honored with their presence for generations? That seems to have caused no end of