Winner 1986

Unknown Chaplin

Thames Television International, London, UK, D.L. Taffner, Ltd., New York, New York

It is one thing to discover a rare object and another to know just what to do with it. History is full of stories of the destruction of historical treasures. Unknown Chaplin, happily, is not such a story. In Unknown Chaplin we see how Thames Television took rare and recently discovered footage of a master’s work and wove that footage into a tapestry that gives viewers insight into Charlie Chaplin’s creative mind. We can see how he filmed take after take of the same scene to achieve a desired effect-an effect that only Chaplin could envision. The Peabody Board recognizes Thames Television and D.L. Taffner, Ltd. For knowing precisely what to do with a found treasure.