--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Chaplin was the greatest thing ever to…" description: "\"Chaplin was the greatest thing ever to hit motion pictures.\" — Jackie Coogan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/492/jackie-coogan-7846_chaplin_chaplin-was-the-greatest-thing-ever-to-h_538144.jpg" --- # Chaplin was the greatest thing ever to hit motion pictures. ![“Chaplin was the greatest thing ever to hit motion pictures.” quote by Jackie Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/492/jackie-coogan-7846_chaplin_chaplin-was-the-greatest-thing-ever-to-h_538144.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/492/jackie-coogan-7846_chaplin_chaplin-was-the-greatest-thing-ever-to-h_538144.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/492/jackie-coogan-7846_chaplin_chaplin-was-the-greatest-thing-ever-to-h_538144.jpg) > “Chaplin was the greatest thing ever to hit motion pictures.” [Jackie Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-coogan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Chaplin's talent transformed cinema, making him an iconic figure in film history. **In simple terms:** Chaplin revolutionized movies. Key Takeaway Recognize and celebrate groundbreaking artists. Themes cinema legacy artistic influence Mood admiring reflective Type celebratory historical When to use this quote - film studies - creative inspiration - historical analysis Key Concepts innovation performance cultural impact Questions to Reflect On - What makes a performer timeless? - How does innovation shape art? A Different Perspective Not everyone agrees on his greatness; some prefer other pioneers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Motion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motion/) [Motion picture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motion-picture/) [Motion pictures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motion-pictures/) ## Related quotes > [Chaplin himself was the greatest scene stealer of all time. No matter what was happening Charlie could draw attention to himself - if he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-coogan/chaplin-himself-was-the-greatest-scene-stealer-of-all-time-no-matter/) [Jackie Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-coogan/) > [Charlie Chaplin is the greatest artist of the 20th century. He takes me from laughter to tears in seconds. And he was one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emo-philips/charlie-chaplin-is-the-greatest-artist-of-the-20th-century-he-takes/) [Emo Philips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emo-philips/) > [In 1972 Charlie Chaplin was allowed back to America to receive an honorary Oscar, 'for the incalculable he had on making motion pictures the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-jay-epstein/in-1972-charlie-chaplin-was-allowed-back-to-america-to-receive-an/) [Edward Jay Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-jay-epstein/) > [When I was a kid, my greatest escape was motion pictures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-connors/when-i-was-a-kid-my-greatest-escape-was-motion-pictures/) [Mike Connors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-connors/) > [I love all of the arts. I love motion pictures. I love stage. I love theater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/i-love-all-of-the-arts-i-love-motion-pictures-i-love-stage-i-love/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [It sort of filtered into their subconscious through motion pictures, but it's an historical secret. This - whatever this is - needs to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-schultz/it-sort-of-filtered-into-their-subconscious-through-motion-pictures/) [Dwight Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-schultz/) > [If you ever go to a music session, you'll notice that the musicians can sit down and start playing right away, and everyone knows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/if-you-ever-go-to-a-music-session-you-ll-notice-that-the-musicians/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [I always wanted to make motion pictures, ever since I was a wee boy, and I was 32, and time was marching on. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-always-wanted-to-make-motion-pictures-ever-since-i-was-a-wee-boy/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [Hollywood, what a place it is! It is so far away from the rest of the world, so narrow. No one thinks of anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-del-rio/hollywood-what-a-place-it-is-it-is-so-far-away-from-the-rest-of-the/) Dolores del Rio > [I use every single thing that Alfred Hitchcock taught me in my acting career... I am very grateful for the education he gave me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tippi-hedren/i-use-every-single-thing-that-alfred-hitchcock-taught-me-in-my-acting/) [Tippi Hedren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tippi-hedren/) > [I went around the corner to motion pictures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-reed/i-went-around-the-corner-to-motion-pictures/) [Jerry Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-reed/) > [I do believe motion pictures are the significant art form of our time. And I think the main reason is, they're an art form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-corman/i-do-believe-motion-pictures-are-the-significant-art-form-of-our-time/) [Roger Corman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-corman/) > [Then that did very well at the box office, so before you knew it, we were in a string of feature motion pictures. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-takei/then-that-did-very-well-at-the-box-office-so-before-you-knew-it-we/) [George Takei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-takei/) > [If you take the '70s with Blaxploitation pictures, there was a proliferation of black-content films and motion pictures, television, stage plays and so forth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glynn-turman/if-you-take-the-70s-with-blaxploitation-pictures-there-was-a/) [Glynn Turman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glynn-turman/) > [I began my career creating art for an animated feature film, and it has been a life-long dream to tell some of the story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-kinkade/i-began-my-career-creating-art-for-an-animated-feature-film-and-it/) [Thomas Kinkade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-kinkade/) ## More by Jackie Coogan > [My pictures of 'Oliver Twist' and 'A Boy in Flanders' are being used as school lessons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-coogan/my-pictures-of-oliver-twist-and-a-boy-in-flanders-are-being-used-as/) [Jackie Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-coogan/) > [That's what TV has forgotten: how to entertain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-coogan/that-s-what-tv-has-forgotten-how-to-entertain/) [Jackie Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-coogan/) > [I had the flu in New York and pushed the President of the United States off the front pages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-coogan/i-had-the-flu-in-new-york-and-pushed-the-president-of-the-united/) [Jackie Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-coogan/) > [People respect drama. They don't respect comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-coogan/people-respect-drama-they-don-t-respect-comedy/) [Jackie Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-coogan/) > [I surfed from Baja California to San Francisco when there were only nine or 10 surfers on the entire Pacific Coast. I spent three-month…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-coogan/i-surfed-from-baja-california-to-san-francisco-when-there-were-only/) [Jackie Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-coogan/) > [Everyone tells me that my pictures make little children happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-coogan/everyone-tells-me-that-my-pictures-make-little-children-happy/) [Jackie Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-coogan/) > [Maybe I'm funny but I look forward to getting to work each day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-coogan/maybe-i-m-funny-but-i-look-forward-to-getting-to-work-each-day/) [Jackie Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-coogan/) > [I lost my hair, and went around wearing a hair piece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-coogan/i-lost-my-hair-and-went-around-wearing-a-hair-piece/) [Jackie Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-coogan/) > [If you're known as a dramatic actor it helps you a lot. Even though to me it's simpler, it leaves a deeper impression on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-coogan/if-you-re-known-as-a-dramatic-actor-it-helps-you-a-lot-even-though-to/) [Jackie Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-coogan/) > [The Coogan Law had to come and it just happens that I was the goat for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-coogan/the-coogan-law-had-to-come-and-it-just-happens-that-i-was-the-goat/) [Jackie Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-coogan/) > [I've thrown my hair piece away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-coogan/i-ve-thrown-my-hair-piece-away/) [Jackie Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-coogan/) > [When you're accepted you don't have to fight for parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-coogan/when-you-re-accepted-you-don-t-have-to-fight-for-parts/) [Jackie Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-coogan/) > [I used to work eight hours a day and squeeze studies in whenever I could.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-coogan/i-used-to-work-eight-hours-a-day-and-squeeze-studies-in-whenever-i/) [Jackie Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-coogan/) > [I've been selling myself for a long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-coogan/i-ve-been-selling-myself-for-a-long-time/) [Jackie Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-coogan/) > [Working with Chaplin was a marvelous experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-coogan/working-with-chaplin-was-a-marvelous-experience/) [Jackie Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-coogan/) [Explore all 87 Jackie Coogan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-coogan/) ## More Chaplin quotes > [A certain type of critic doesn't really want French movies to be visual. They think movies started from books and they forgot this part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-tautou/a-certain-type-of-critic-doesn-t-really-want-french-movies-to-be/) [Audrey Tautou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-tautou/) > [People try to put ownership on things: 'That's mine, that's my joke.' No such thing. Like if you tripped or stumbled and people go,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-chong/people-try-to-put-ownership-on-things-that-s-mine-that-s-my-joke-no/) [Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) > [There are people that I am in love with, totally in love with them. I would die for them. I love Michelangelo. I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/there-are-people-that-i-am-in-love-with-totally-in-love-with-them-i/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [In spite of their obvious differences, folk art and popular art have much in common; they are easy to understand, they are romantic, patriotic,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-seldes/in-spite-of-their-obvious-differences-folk-art-and-popular-art-have/) [Gilbert Seldes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-seldes/) > [When Chaplin found a voice to say what was on his mind, he was like a child of eight writing lyrics for Beethoven's Ninth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/when-chaplin-found-a-voice-to-say-what-was-on-his-mind-he-was-like-a/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [I know of only six genuine comic geniuses in movie history; Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Groucho Marx & Harpo Marx, Peter Sellers, and W.C.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-know-of-only-six-genuine-comic-geniuses-in-movie-history-charlie/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [He's my favorite! He wrote and produced, and starred in and cast all of his movies! Can you imagine? I get really excited when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-stone/he-s-my-favorite-he-wrote-and-produced-and-starred-in-and-cast-all-of/) [Emma Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-stone/) > [My mother doesn't have much of a social life with other A-list people. Which in a way I'm very grateful for, because if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oona-chaplin/my-mother-doesn-t-have-much-of-a-social-life-with-other-a-list-people/) [Oona Chaplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oona-chaplin/) > [In my life, I wanted to meet certain people. I never met Charlie Chaplin, but I met Werner Herzog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/in-my-life-i-wanted-to-meet-certain-people-i-never-met-charlie/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [Chaplin is no business man - all he knows is that he can't take anything less.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/chaplin-is-no-business-man-all-he-knows-is-that-he-can-t-take/) [Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) > [Charlie Chaplin, too, through spectacle, contraband certain ideas, put them through, ideas that even today are not being expressed by great statesmen and politicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-leone/charlie-chaplin-too-through-spectacle-contraband-certain-ideas-put/) [Sergio Leone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-leone/) > [To truly laugh, you must be able to take your pain, and play with it - Charlie Chaplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-chaplin/to-truly-laugh-you-must-be-able-to-take-your-pain-and-play-with-it/) [Charlie Chaplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-chaplin/) > [Working with Chaplin was a marvelous experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-coogan/working-with-chaplin-was-a-marvelous-experience/) [Jackie Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-coogan/) > [I read every book about Buster Keaton and Chaplin to see how they worked - it's all about dedication, tunnel vision, pursuit of perfection,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-merton/i-read-every-book-about-buster-keaton-and-chaplin-to-see-how-they/) [Paul Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-merton/) > [Making people laugh is one of the highest achievements you can have. And when you can make someone laugh and cry, alternatively, as Chaplin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-erwitt/making-people-laugh-is-one-of-the-highest-achievements-you-can-have/) [Elliott Erwitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-erwitt/) Browse all 114 Chaplin quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Chaplin was the greatest thing ever to hit motion pictures.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jackie Coogan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-coogan/chaplin-was-the-greatest-thing-ever-to-hit-motion-pictures/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Chaplin" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-coogan/chaplin-was-the-greatest-thing-ever-to-hit-motion-pictures/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/492/jackie-coogan-7846_chaplin_chaplin-was-the-greatest-thing-ever-to-h_538144.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/492/jackie-coogan-7846_chaplin_chaplin-was-the-greatest-thing-ever-to-h_538144.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/492/jackie-coogan-7846_chaplin_chaplin-was-the-greatest-thing-ever-to-h_538144.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Chaplin was the greatest thing ever to hit motion pictures.” — Jackie Coogan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jackie Coogan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-coogan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Chaplin was the greatest thing ever...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-coogan/chaplin-was-the-greatest-thing-ever-to-hit-motion-pictures/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-coogan/chaplin-was-the-greatest-thing-ever-to-hit-motion-pictures/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```