Once upon a time there was a make-believe kingdom called Hollywoodland. This soon-to-be famous, enchanted countryside made stars out of ordinary people. From around the world, young men travelled with dreams to become famous, hoping that if reality was going to be turned on its head, then this was the place for it to happen. But to make stars and to persuade the world to believe in these stars, the kingdom needed public ceremonies for packaging. Film premieres and awards ceremonies were the vehicles used to meld fantasy with reality.
With the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announcing its nominees for the 84th Oscars and the awards to be handed out three weeks from today, now is the time to pay tribute to the man who received a Special Award at that first Oscars ceremony in 1929, and who remains a standout as a fashionable man, in part because his most famous creation dressed to impress.
Charlie Chaplin is best remembered for his work in the early days of the silent film era. Both in front of the camera and in his private life, Chaplin was the definition of style. The Tramp, the character he introduced in 1914 and made famous in 10 movies, was a vagrant who wore a bowler hat, a single-breasted black suit (often accompanied by a waistcoat), a white shirt with a wing collar, and a black tie. Making the outfit that much more impressive was the cane, which was essential to The Tramp's comedic performance, and today - as we look back - represents the epitome of style.
As Chaplin was at the height of his power during what I believe to be man's most inspiring fashionable period, he could afford in his personal life to look every bit the rake he really was. Taking four wives, two of whom were 16 years old when the relationships began and one of whom was 18, would today likely find him in prison, but back then merely added to his Hollywood mystique.
The pictures that survive of him when he was not in front of the camera show a man who took meticulous care of his wardrobe. He was impeccably dressed throughout the 1920s, standing next to Douglas Fairbanks; as well as in 1931, for instance, when he was in his early forties and he met Mahatma Gandhi in London. He often sported a high-collared shirt with a bow tie and he always looked comfortable, a must when wearing a suit.
What makes Chaplin such a modern-day inspiration in front of the camera is the importance he put on his wardrobe. Talkies had yet to be invented, which meant that to convey a feeling or express a meaning, clothes carried added significance. The Tramp sometimes wore a pocket square, and he was usually homeless. When not on set, Chaplin still dressed the part of a star as well as that of a successful businessman, which he was. (In 1919, he and Fairbanks and the Canadian actress Mary Pickford created United Artists.)
Off camera, Chaplin never seemed to forget he was Hollywood royalty and his attire lived up to that title. On film, Chaplin used what was at his disposal for The Tramp to be most effective and today's man must make a similar effort to find what works for him.
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Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
Tips for taking the metro
- set out well ahead of time
- make sure you have at least Dh15 on you Nol card, as there could be big queues for top-up machines
- enter the right cabin. The train may be too busy to move between carriages once you're on
- don't carry too much luggage and tuck it under a seat to make room for fellow passengers
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
The lowdown
Bohemian Rhapsody
Director: Bryan Singer
Starring: Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee
Rating: 3/5
The Book of Collateral Damage
Sinan Antoon
(Yale University Press)
Stage results
1. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) Deceuninck-QuickStep 4:39:05
2. Michael Matthews (AUS) Team BikeExchange 0:00:08
3. Primoz Roglic (SLV) Jumbo-Visma same time
4. Jack Haig (AUS) Bahrain Victorious s.t
5. Wilco Kelderman (NED) Bora-Hansgrohe s.t
6. Tadej Pogacar (SLV) UAE Team Emirates s.t
7. David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ s.t
8. Sergio Higuita Garcia (COL) EF Education-Nippo s.t
9. Bauke Mollema (NED) Trek-Segafredo s.t
10. Geraint Thomas (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers s.t
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
SQUAD
Ali Khaseif, Fahad Al Dhanhani, Adel Al Hosani, Mohammed Al Shamsi, Bandar Al Ahbabi, Mohammed Barghash, Salem Rashid, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Shaheen Abdulrahman, Hassan Al Mahrami, Walid Abbas, Mahmoud Khamis, Yousef Jaber, Saeed Ahmed, Majed Sorour, Majed Hassan, Ali Salmeen, Abdullah Ramadan, Khalil Al Hammadi, Fabio De Lima, Khalfan Mubarak, Tahnoun Al Zaabi, Ali Saleh, Caio Canedo, Muhammed Jumah, Ali Mabkhout, Sebastian Tagliabue, Zayed Al Ameri
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
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