The man quickly dismissed the idea, but then Charlie starts performing a wonderful routine of slapstick comedy that wins the man over. Sydney approaches a wealthy man that he works for, and asks him to hire Charlie as a comedian for a play. After this, we see a teenage Charles Chaplin out of the labor house being guided by his older brother to a new job in show business. The two brothers are separated, and quietly descend into the terrible living conditions of a labor hose. After this, the British police come, and seize young Charlie and Sidney to put them to work in a labor house. Charles, his mom, and his brother Sydney settle down to a meal of fish heads. After this, Charles and his mother return home, and the audience sees the poor, wretched lifestyle that this child is subjected to. He sang the same song, and the men love it, and are bewildered that a young 5 year old boy could have that much courage. Within a few minutes, these military men boo her off the stage, and a young, 5 year old Charles Chaplin walks out on the stage. We see Chaplins mother, a poor, defeated woman performing in front of a full theatre of army cadets.

Chaplin then recalls the first time he ever participated in show business. This reveals to the audience that the entire movie is the flashbacks of an old Charles Chaplin. The film starts out with the narrator (played by Anthony Hopkins) and an old Charles Chaplin (played by Robert Downey Jr.) preparing Chaplin's autobiography. Chaplin is the story of Charles Chaplin, the famous director and actor that changed film forever.

Chaplin autobiography