A King in New York **** (1957, Charles Chaplin, Maxine Audley, Jerry Desmonde, Dawn Addams, Oliver Johnston, Sidney James) – Classic Movie Review 2550

Troubled writer-director-star Charles Chaplin satirises America in the witch-hunt era of the Fifties and his personal history in a story seen through the eyes of a disillusioned foreign ruler in New York. Chaplin plays the exiled king he no doubt saw himself as, who is at loggerheads with modern life.

When a revolt in his European country forces King Shahdov (Chaplin) to flee into American exile in New York City, he has to make TV adverts to survive. Making commercials, he meets a child of communist parents and is wrongly accused of being a communist himself, having to face a McCarthy hearing.

This bold and bitter 1957 comedy drama is a half-charming, half-amusing, semi-autobiographical late Chaplin vehicle, which had a hostile reception because of its supposed bitter tone against America that had rejected him but also because of the continuing fury of the American public against Chaplin for alleged communist sympathies. Indeed, because of the anti-American theme, it was not shown in America till 1973.

The attractive performances by Chaplin, his son Michael (particularly effective as a jaundiced 50s rebel) and Oliver Johnston (as the king’s ambassador retainer) help along this patchy, though sometimes amusing satire. Chaplin’s comic touch varies between the slightly ponderous and the deftly witty in a film that is not his best work, but is still very welcome.

Also in the cast are Dawn Addams, Maxine Audley, Harry Green, Jerry Desmonde, Sidney James and Frazer Hines.

Chaplin was accused of anti-Americanism in 1952. After Chaplin sailed to London for the 16 October 1952 world premiere of his last American film Limelight, his re-entry permit to America was revoked because of alleged Communist Party ties. An anti-Chaplin frenzy caused cancellation of showings of Limelight in other cities after screenings in New York and East Coast cities. Limelight wasn’t shown in LA till 1972.

Whatever its merits as a movie, A King in New York remains an important document of an appalling era.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2550

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