But Don Rather than just come to see the excitement, he wanted to collect the material here, and then consider making a documentary, although he knew that such a film would definitely not make money, but probably due to the growth of age and status, he now looks at the problem from a different perspective than when he just crossed over.

Although Jimmy is very optimistic about Downing's idea, he still tries his best to help him find suitable documentary directors and screenwriters, but unfortunately in Hollywood, a place where entertainment is paramount, it is difficult to find directors of art films, let alone this kind of documentary director.

But to Jimmy and Downing's expectations, Downing's unintentional move actually aroused the interest of a world-class director, who is Charles? Spencer?" Sir Chaplin!

For the famous British comedian and the founder of modern comedy cinema, there must be no one who is not familiar with him. When Downing heard that Sir Chaplin was interested in his idea and wanted to talk to him, he was overjoyed and immediately flew to the United States.

Although Chaplin was hugely successful in the early and middle years of Hollywood, his relationship with Hollywood and even the U.S. government was strained at this time, both in terms of the persecution of McCarthyism in 1952 and in his own stubborn character.

Because of his pro-Soviet remarks in films such as "The Great Dictator", "City Lights" and "Monsieur Verdoux", Chaplin was asked by a reporter at the press conference of "Monsieur Verdoux": "Mr. Chaplin, are you a member of the Communist Party?" ”

It is said that when the McCarthy turmoil is on the cusp, you should be cautious in what you say and do, but Chaplin said without scruples: "No, I'm not." But I should be called a communist sympathizer, and I think that the Soviet Union held the front for us at the beginning of the war, for which I am grateful. I feel like we all owe the USSR a favor! ”

You said that during the Cold War, when Soviet-American relations were so tense, you made such remarks, so how could the government not clean you up? As a result, Chaplin's "Monsieur Verdoux" was boycotted in many cities in the United States, and in the end he did not even get back the cost of filming.

So Chaplin left for Paris, and published an article in a Parisian newspaper entitled "I declare war on Hollywood" (fortunately, he did not impulsively declare war on the United States...... Article. The United States government responded more thoroughly by complaining to the world about his persecution, and in September 1952 the Justice Department issued a statement permanently denying Chaplin entry into the country, and he was at odds with the United States, where he had lived for thirty years.

Fortunately, in the sixties, due to the changes of the Cold War and the advent of the Vietnam War, and the complete end of the McCarthy turmoil, the American government changed its attitude towards Chaplin, and by this time he had returned to the United States to start working on his new works, "Thirty Joyful World" and "The Countess of Hong Kong", in 1963. He organized his own film festival in New York. In 1972, he accepted the Academy Award for Special Achievement from the American Film Institute in the midst of the most enthusiastic and longest-lasting standing ovation ever at the Oscars. During a visit to the United States in 1972, the 83-year-old Chaplin said he had long since abandoned his radical political views.

At this time, he was in the period of relaxation with the US government, although after such a big turmoil, he no longer wanted to make political films that provoked the government, but he still liked this kind of subject matter sincerely, so when he heard that someone was planning to make a documentary about the Berlin Wall to reflect the East German people's yearning for freedom, he immediately became interested. If you don't let me be sarcastic about the United States, then it's okay for me to satirize the Soviet Union.

Especially when he heard that the person who came up with the idea was Tony Downing. The interest is even greater, because he is also a good friend with Mei Lanfang (this is true), as early as 1930, when the Mei Lanfang Theater Troupe visited six major cities in the United States, he met Chaplin at a welcome banquet in Los Angeles, and then Chaplin also invited Mei Lanfang to Hollywood for sightseeing. Chaplin was filming City Lights there. The two took a group photo, and when parting, Mei Lanfang and Chaplin agreed that if they came to China, they would definitely come to Mei's house as a guest.

Six years later. Chaplin and Pauline Gao Dai newlywed Yan'er, went abroad for a honeymoon trip, the ship passed through Shanghai, docked for two days, and specially went to the "Meihua Poetry House" (where he specially received guests) to visit Mei Lanfang, just that day Shanghai Xinguang Theater was staging Ma Lianliang's "Famen Temple", Chaplin not only watched very fascinated, but also liked the harlequin Jia Gui played by Ma Fulu very much, felt that the performance was meticulous and the character was portrayed very successfully, if time permitted, he also wanted to change into Jia Gui's dress and take a photo with Ma LianliangIn the end, due to the urgency of time, I had to wear a suit and take a photo of greeting with Ma Lianliang, who had never been unloaded.

For this old man, whether it is from his age or his status, Tangning has to be respectful, so he took the initiative to step forward and said: "Sir Chaplin, hello, it is an honor to have the opportunity to meet you today!" ”

After Chaplin shook hands with him, he warmly beckoned him to sit down: "Don't be so polite, although we haven't met, but we all have a mutual friend, China's Mei!" I haven't seen him since I went to Shanghai in '36, I heard that he went to perform with you the year before last, how is it, is he still in good health? ”

Tang Ning hurriedly replied: "Master Mei is in good health, and he can still perform on stage as usual, and his performance of "Mu Guiying in Charge" this time is very popular in Tokyo. ”

Chaplin nodded: "Mei's acting skills are beyond doubt, but it's a pity that he can't come to the United States to perform now, and it's inconvenient for me to go to China, hey, this damn politics!"

Hearing this, Tang Ning's heart was excited, and he said in his heart, your old man hasn't suffered enough of this political loss, he is at this age, don't toss around anymore, so he quickly changed the topic: "Eh, I heard that Sir is interested in this documentary about the Berlin Wall?" ”

Chaplin explained: "Well, I've seen your drafts and think that whether it's a submarine or a hot air balloon, especially what happened to that lazy and casual Argentine boy, it's a good choice for a comedy movie, and I don't think this kind of movie will ever be banned in the United States." ”

Tang Ning said in his heart, it will definitely not be banned in the United States, but it will be properly banned in the Soviet Union, but he still has to be careful to say: "I think it will definitely not, but whether it is suitable for adaptation into a comedy movie, you are a master in this regard, I listen to you." (To be continued......)