Chaplin Today: Limelight (2003 TV Movie)

Claire Bloom: Self

Quotes 

• Claire Bloom, Herself : It was all an evocation of the melancholy and insular world of London that he remembered - and both loved and hated, of course. Because, you know, he'd been in a workhouse, he and his brother Sydney, as children. I mean, they'd been completely destitute. And when you go to that part of Kennington, now, which is now being gentrified, even when I was young, it was pretty dreadful.

• Claire Bloom, Herself : He wanted me to bring a chaperon, because, he'd had quite enough trouble with young girls. So, I came with my mother. When we arrived, very nervous about meeting Chaplin, you can imagine, he was at the airport - to meet us. He was extremely beautiful. Wonderful white hair, very blue eyes. People always think he had dark eyes; but, they weren't. And beautiful, expressive hands. From that moment on I was not frightened of him. And we worked everyday and, then, we went to a costumers. That was were he said to me, "Wear this shawl. My mother wore a shawl like that. My mother wore a skirt like that." And I realized he was focusing - horrible word - he was remembering and incorporating into the character both his mother and Oona, his wife. And, I think, all the lost - young women of his childhood.

• Claire Bloom, Herself : If you remember the scene where they walk along the embankment and she says, "I love you. That's all that matters." I felt so strongly that this was his wish.