Charlie Chaplin: Celebrity, Politics, and Exile

This chapter explores the tumultuous events surrounding Charlie Chaplin's ban from the U.S. in 1952, driven by political intrigue and public opinion. It highlights the influence of gossip columnist Hedda Hopper and the subsequent investigation by the Immigration and Naturalization Service, despite Chaplin's legal right to challenge the ban. The emotional toll of his forced exile is examined, alongside the backlash from groups like the American Legion, revealing the complexities of his identity and philosophy on global citizenship amid a climate of fear and suspicion.