The comic actor and filmmaker, with a career spanning nearly 70 years, is to have his only novel published, sixty years since it was penned.
The Oscar-winning filmmaker was an icon in the silent film era and his famous work, Limelight, is said to be based upon the recently found novel written by the star, where a clown saves a dancer from suicide. The melancholy novella is called Footlights and deepens the story and mindset of the author at the time.
The revelation comes after Cineteca di Bologna’s – an Italian film restoration institute – worked with David Robinson, Chaplin biographer, on reconstructing drafts found in the Chaplin archive.
The 70 page long novella is likely to be published as part of a larger book by David Robinson.
Charlie Chaplin’s most famous works include Modern Times, The Great Dictator, and City Lights. As well as winning an Oscar for Limelight, Chaplin has also won the Honorary Award at the Oscars twice and the Academy Fellowship award at the BAFTAs.
The novella is to be launched at the BFI Southbank in London this Tuesday (11th).
Watch Charlie Chaplin in action, below.
