Diane Kiesel
When Charlie Met Joan : the Tragedy of the Chaplin Trials and the Failings of American Law
- ISBN 13:
- 9780472133581
- author:
- Diane Kiesel
- format:
- Hardcover
- publisher:
- University of Michigan Press
- language:
- English
- Publication Year:
- 2025
- Pages:
- 408
- Genre:
- Entertainment & Performing Arts Law
- Condition:
- New
- Availability:
- Item usually sent within 2 working days
Description
Charlie Chaplin, the silent screen's "Little Tramp," was a beloved figure until he starred in a series of high-profile federal courtroom dramas. In 1944, he was on trial, described by a New York Daily News reporter as "the best show in town." His protégée and former mistress, Joan Barry, was a key figure in the case. Although Chaplin won the trial, he lost a paternity case and had to pay child support, despite evidence that proved he was not the child's father. A decade later, the US government used the trial as an excuse to bar Chaplin from the country, citing his left-leaning politics. These trials had a lasting impact on law and raise questions about the power of celebrity, Cold War politics, and the media frenzy surrounding high-profile court proceedings. This book examines the trials from both perspectives, asking whether Chaplin was unfairly persecuted by the government due to his politics, or if he should have been held accountable for his treatment of Barry and other women in his life. By exploring the Chaplin trials, Diane Kiesel sheds light on a fascinating and complex period in American history, one that continues to resonate today.
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