A biography of one of film's most legendary figures, Charlie Chaplin. Charlie Chaplin (1889-1997) had a difficult childhood. Because his father was absent and his mother struggled financially, he was in the infamous English workhouse, and Hanwell Schools for Orphans and Destitute Children. There were some advantages about being in Hanwell - education, warm clothes and food - compared to being at home where mum was struggling with poverty and ill health. But Charlie hated it. He survived by dreaming about becoming a great actor and developing enormous confidence in himself. Chaplin began performing early and began appearing for Keystone Studios in 1914. In 1919, he co-founded United Artists and wrote, produced and directed most of his films, in addition to starring in them.