rasheed_node
Paranoid and narrow minded people like you in the US grossly mistreated a true genius like Chaplin. I could never understand how a maniac like J. Edgar Hoover can be and remain the chief of FBI for 50 years! Was there no American alive in those 50 years who can kick that lunatic out?
Well its not just america look at Middle east China Latin America and other countries like North Korea. For J Edgar I am guessing he greased alot of palm during his day
BobsBrotherFutureman
Pedophilia implies a relationship with a pre-pubescent minor, doesn't it? Dating/marrying a 16/17 year old does not make one a pedophile, in Chaplin's day or today.
It does if your gay

Paranoid and narrow minded people like you in the US grossly mistreated a true genius like Chaplin. I could never understand how a maniac like J. Edgar Hoover can be and remain the chief of FBI for 50 years! Was there no American alive in those 50 years who can kick that lunatic out?

Lord_Gyaldhart
He met Hetty when she was 16 years old (by the way, before the inquisition gets all crazy here, even nowadays the legal age of consent in England is 16), and for the remainder of his life he was looking for Hetty in other women, which is why he always looked for women of about those ages, until he meets Oona and finally settles with her for the rest of his life.
Well did you know gay love was illegal at that age until recently

I see that lots of people here in this thread do not even know what pedophile really means, instead they contribute to an ignorant witch hunt accusing people of it left and right.
To those people I say; If you can not tell the difference between a pre pubescent person (a REAL child) and an adolescent, then you are closer to a real pedophile than you would like to admit.
Also, I can not help to notice how no one in this thread seemed to have understood how the movie handled Chaplin's obsession with young women. Clearly he was crazy in love of Hetty Kelly, she and Oona (his last wife) were the true loves of his life (and they are both played by the same actress Moira Kelly to highlight this symbolism.)
Chaplin was very affected first when Hetty turned him down, then when he heard she got married, and he was devastated when he learned about her early death.
He met Hetty when she was 16 years old (by the way, before the inquisition gets all crazy here, even nowadays the legal age of consent in England is 16), and for the remainder of his life he was looking for Hetty in other women, which is why he always looked for women of about those ages, until he meets Oona and finally settles with her for the rest of his life.
Christianity's GREATEST ally and BEST friend throughout history is Satan

no. A pedofile is one that craves young girls that are not secually mature yet. Woemn get sexually mature in te age of 11-14. Once that happens, its not pedofilia, just illegal.
I didnt knew that he marrid a 16 year old, so that was new to me, and i found it kinda odd (not that much that he married but more that the movie didnt leave it out as they usually do). But i dont blame him as long as the marriadge was agreed by both parties.
Applied Science? All science is applied. Eventually.

mattcymru
Well the girls were well into puberty so pedophile, no, but in narrow-minded dumb and repressed, america, yea
well what if it was a gay older guy with a younger 16 year old guy?

You may want to check how some of those people are spelling pedophile before you brand everybody as an American.
This will be the high point of my day; it's all downhill from here.

Times were indeed different, but he was criticized even back in the day for it. He married his first wife because their relationship would have been illegal otherwise if I'm not mistaken and he probably had sexual relations before what was considered "the age of consent" back then.
So yes, Chaplin was wrong for this, but it doesn't take away from his artistic genius and my enjoyment of his films. Unfortunately all great minds tend to be troubled in their personal lives in some way.

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Well the girls were well into puberty so pedophile, no, but in narrow-minded dumb and repressed, america, yeah
In an insane world.. i am among the most sane

mikey1969
Well, in the first place, if Paulette was 26, then there is no way that he would be a "pedophile", since by definition, it is a person who is sexually attracted to children, not sexually attracted to 26 year old women.
In the second place, the correct term would probably be "ephebophile".
In the third place, it all depends on the age of consent where the marriages took place. It's one thing if they are 13 year old girls, but 16, 17 years old?
In 30 states, and the District of Coulmbia, the age of consent is 16.
IN 8 states, it's 17.
This means that the age of consent of 18 is actually the minority, not the majority
Just something to chew on
http://www.ageofconsent.us/
what about gay love?

Well, in the first place, if Paulette was 26, then there is no way that he would be a "pedophile", since by definition, it is a person who is sexually attracted to children, not sexually attracted to 26 year old women.
In the second place, the correct term would probably be "ephebophile".
In the third place, it all depends on the age of consent where the marriages took place. It's one thing if they are 13 year old girls, but 16, 17 years old?
In 30 states, and the District of Coulmbia, the age of consent is 16.
IN 8 states, it's 17.
This means that the age of consent of 18 is actually the minority, not the majority
Just something to chew on
http://www.ageofconsent.us/

redai02-1
Yeahpeople who for some reason are ignorant on the fact that at that time (and centuries before, really), being married at 16 to a much older man was commonplace; hell, in the middle ages to be 18 and unwed was unthinkable. So try not to judge historical figures based on the times we ourselves live in. Except for a few cases, our thought processes don't apply.
well the life expetency wasnt in your 30. So People were not expected to live in there 90 heck even in there 100 let alone 103!
George Burns died before turning 102
tubularbelle2003
There have been reports that he met Lita when she was just 6 years old and groomed her until she was of an age to marry.
How is that not perverted?

No offense to Chaplin, but marrying a 17 year old at 50 is a little twisted, even if it was a 50 year old woman marrying a young guy.

That 'report' (gossip, actually) was in one of Kenneth Anger's 'Hollywood Babylon' books, which really ought to be subtitled "Bullstuff about the film industry by a jealous nobody"
The church may shout but Darwin roars

There have been reports that he met Lita when she was just 6 years old and groomed her until she was of an age to marry.
The Long Walk stops every year, just once.

Yeahpeople who for some reason are ignorant on the fact that at that time (and centuries before, really), being married at 16 to a much older man was commonplace; hell, in the middle ages to be 18 and unwed was unthinkable. So try not to judge historical figures based on the times we ourselves live in. Except for a few cases, our thought processes don't apply.
Well where'd ya lose him? It's not like he's a set of car keys

Thank you for your input Lord-Z. I agree with you, although attraction to prepubescent girls kinda has to do with age (under 14). But along with age, I believe it's also about purity, innocence, and most of all naivety and immaturity. That's my take on the difference between a true pedophile and Chaplin.

I believe that Oona was 18. And let us not forget, he married them. He liked them young, but he was nothing resembling a pedophile. He didn't rape anyone, they married him of their own free will. They weren't little innocent children, they were young women. He stayed with Oona for 34 years. In short, he did nothing wrong.
And a pedophile, in any case, has nothing to do with age-differences, it is about being sexually attracted to prepubescent children.
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Personally, I always find it a bit creepy when a very old man goes after a rather young woman. That said, there's nothing particularly shocking about Chaplin.
First off, let's not compare him to Polanski. Polanski drugged and RAPPED (force) a 13 year old girl. Big difference.
Second, as others have pointed out, a pedophile is really someone who lusts after those who have yet to reach sexual maturity. Chaplin was lusting after young virgins but those who had reached sexual maturity.
Finally, taking into account the times is important. Once again, I agree it's odd for a man that age the fact is that maturity is on a case by case basis and the age that a society chooses is largely arbitrary. In 2010, a 50 year old man can marry an 17 or 18 year old girl and no one bats an eye lash. 90 years ago, marrying a 16-year-old was acceptable. I really don't see how we can lambast someone for a difference of one year. Maybe in 2030, the age of conscent will be 21 and we'll look at anyone getting married under that as odd.

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Brigham Young was 48 and he was sleeping with a 14 year old bride;
Times were different then too; some girls got married at 13 or 14.
Look at the coal minors daughter Loreta Lynn who married as a young teen, not even knowing what sex was.
I think he had a thing for young girls; to be honest most men do.
When Anna Kournakova was smoking hot at 15 years old I dont' think those ratings sky rocketed to see what type of ribbon she was wearing in her pony tail.
It's easy to judge but society is as bad.
Polanski was much different; he was a perv that drugged a young teen to screw her; not to marry her.
Like J Edgar Hoover said, he marries all of them; he cant' get into trouble.
I think you are way off base.

GunesFS
A paedophile is an adult who is sexually attracted to prepubescent children. It may be morally wrong for an older man to have a relationship with a seventeen year old girl, but Chaplin was not a paedophile.
beep
If a gay man were too do that he would cruxified for LIFE!
sweiland75
It is amazing how many people misuse that word.
its amazing how we have a double standard for straight love versus gay love!
razdamonas
You can thank our media for that, because every time a 18 year old boy has sex with 17 year old girl all the television channels scream "pedofile" for a month.
I do agree
jpm4444
Brigham Young was 48 and he was sleeping with a 14 year old bride;
Times were different then too; some girls got married at 13 or 14.
Yet if a gay man made love to a 13 14 year old boy he would be branded from life and possiably castrated
Look at the coal minors daughter Loreta Lynn who married as a young teen, not even knowing what sex was.
I think he had a thing for young girls; to be honest most men do.
then they need to talk to there wives! not little girls
When Anna Kournakova was smoking hot at 15 years old I dont' think those ratings sky rocketed to see what type of ribbon she was wearing in her pony tail.
It's easy to judge but society is as bad.
No your proably right but that doesnt mean its going to be acceptable. We have age of consent for a reason.
Polanski was much different; he was a perv that drugged a young teen to screw her; not to marry her.
Like J Edgar Hoover said, he marries all of them; he cant' get into trouble
there both pervs
WllmShakespeare
Well you cant really consider someone a pedophile/pederast when they are sexually attracted to a person who is sexually mature which 16 - 17 year olds certainly are despite what the law says. Put it this way; If a gorgeous 17 year old person wanted to have sex with you and lied and told you they were 20, would you NOT be sexually attracted to them? You would be because they are sexually mature. well some states allow that SOME but for gay love its 18 why is that? In Great Britain they have lowered the age of consent for both straight and gay love at 16 beierfilms Personally, I always find it a bit creepy when a very old man goes after a rather young woman. That said, there's nothing particularly shocking about Chaplin. First off, let's not compare him to Polanski. Polanski drugged and RAPPED (force) a 13 year old girl. Big difference. Doesnt matter his like Mary Kay Letruenau Second, as others have pointed out, a pedophile is really someone who lusts after those who have yet to reach sexual maturity. Chaplin was lusting after young virgins but those who had reached sexual maturity. that maybe so but his like putting his toe across the line! Again why wouldnt a woman satisfy him? Finally, taking into account the times is important. Once again, I agree it's odd for a man that age the fact is that maturity is on a case by case basis and the age that a society chooses is largely arbitrary. In 2010, a 50 year old man can marry an 17 or 18 year old girl and no one bats an eye lash. True but its still perverted for a 50 year old man marrying or dating a young guy who is the same age 90 years ago, marrying a 16-year-old was acceptable. I really don't see how we can lambast someone for a difference of one year. Maybe in 2030, the age of conscent will be 21 and we'll look at anyone getting married under that as odd. Oh I know but not for gay males there is that double standard. I doubt it when we reach 2030. Plus i doubt it with gay love if the guy is 90 and the other person is 16 or 17 WllmShakespeare A 50 year old guy marrying a 17 year old is really not creepy at all no more than them being friends. In the grand scheme of things age means absolutely nothing. Oh yes it is. Why we have age of consent is becuase kids are not fully mature yet to handle adults things even if there bodies can house a child and give birth. All that matters is being alive. People die everyday from the age of birth to 100. If someone dies at 17 does that mean they were middle aged at 8 1/2? Yes it does! How so? You cant base someone on age because then you are guessing death which is foolish.
how are you guessing death?
People can die at any time. Yes a 50 year old has more of a chance of dying and has more life experience than a 17 year old, but that is just living life through pure gambling. The only thing that matters is being alive now. Johnny Depp is now 47, so does this mean if he wants to go out with a 17 year old he is sick?
If its the age of consent no but why would a 47 year old have the same interests as some younger? When your that age your reactions are slower and you begin to feel the age. Versus someone younger and all that.
He is a pedophile? Of course not. All that matters is if two people can connect and enjoy love and life together.. In 100 years, even 70 years from now, everyone alive today will probably be dead so what is the point?
The Point is there b