Modern Times 1936, Photo ©Roy Export Company Establishment
A new museum, which pays tribute to the life and work of Charlie Chaplin, will open this Sunday, 17th April, in the heart of the Vaud Riviera.
Created by the leading wax museum specialists, Grézin International, Chaplin’s World invites visitors to discover both the man and the artist - Charlie and Charlot (The Tramp) – through a series of thematic tours and studio presentations. Set within a four-hectare park, located in Corsier-sur-Vevey, the museum enjoys spectacular views over Lake Geneva and the Alps.
There are three main elements to Chaplin’s World:
- His former home, the Manoir de Ban, which retraces the private and public life of this genius of the seventh art.
- The Studio, a 1,350m² building inspired by Hollywood, which presents the cinematographic work of one the greatest artists of the 20th century.
- A four-hectare park, which showcases hundred-year-old trees beloved by Charlie Chaplin and his family.
Meet the man, Charlie Chaplin, on the Manoir de Ban thematic tour
As part of the cultural heritage of Switzerland, the Manoir de Ban embodies the peace and serenity so eagerly sought by Charlie Chaplin. It was here, in Corsier-sur-Vevey, that he lived the last 25 years of his life in the company of his wife, Oona, and his eight children. The 500m² staging of the Manoir is dedicated entirely to Charlie Chaplin, the man, and to his daily life.
Some rooms in the Manoir have been recreated with furnishings and personal items on public exhibit for the first time. The library breathes life into the words and writings ― and the place they occupied in the artist’s mind. The living room evokes memories of Chaplin’s meetings with the musicians of his era and his passion for musical composition.
On the first floor, visitors will discover new aspects of the intimate life of Charlie Chaplin, his many travels around the world, the celebrities he met and the rhythm of family life in their new home in Switzerland. A tour of the Manoir provides insight into the reasons that led him to Switzerland, how he lived there and memories that he treasured.
Meet the artist, Charlot – The Tramp, at The Studio cinematographic world
The Studio is a 1,350m² building built on the domain to present the cinematographic world of the artist and filmmaker. The tour starts with a montage of images tracing Chaplin’s life and work. It continues onto a street right out of an Easy Street decor, one the most emblematic settings of his movies. In a decor drawn from the movie, The Circus, discover great actors of the silent movies such as Buster Keaton and Laurel and Hardy. Then, try to mime the most varied figures of Charlot’s Pantomime.
The Circus
Enter a production set and experience the atmosphere of a film set under the projectors: in the cabin of The Gold Rush, imagine being in the famous movie scene ― in the decor of the machine in Modern Times, have an incredible photo taken!
A recreated editing room explains how the unforgettable music and images were imagined, shot and edited. Move along Hollywood Boulevard and find Charlot in situations most characteristic of his personage: human, dramatic and funny in moving scenes of the barber in The Great Dictator, the restaurant in The Immigrant, the cabin in The Gold Rush, and The Bank.
At the Manoir and Studio alike, the tour is punctuated by encounters with more than 30 wax figures created by Grévin: Charlie Chaplin and Oona, Charlot, actors and actresses in his movies, Claire Bloom, Paulette Godard and Sophia Loren, as well as friends and people who mattered to him: Albert Einstein, Winston Churchill, and artists greatly inspired by his work, such as Roberto Benigni, Federico Fellini, and even Michael Jackson.
Talking about the new museum, Jean-Pierre Pigeon, the manager of Chaplin’s World, said: “The tour of Chaplin’s World is scripted and staged using cutting-edge multimedia technologies to immerse visitors in the atmosphere of the era, the personality of the man, his work and his talent. With the agreement of the Chaplin Family, designers Yves Durand and Philippe Meylan and Compagnie des Alpes, the developer and operator, have drawn on the huge heritage left by Chaplin to open to the public a truly immersive venue and offer a Chaplinian experience. We very much look forward to welcoming our first visitors.”
The new museum will open on Sunday 17th April 2016. To be the first to visit Chaplin’s World, you are advised to purchase your e-tickets in advance from the museum website at: http://tickets.chaplinsworld.com/. Tickets are priced at Fr. 23.- for adults and Fr. 17.- for children aged between 6 and 15 years. Entry is free for children less than 6 years old. There are family passes and reduced rates for seniors, students and handicapped people. There are also special rates for groups of 15 or more people, and guided tours can be booked in French, English or German.
Chaplin’s World
Route de Fenil 2
1804 Corsier-sur-Vevey
Switzerland
021 903 01 20
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www.chaplinsworld.com
Open: Daily from 10h-18h
Opening on Sunday, 17th April 2016
