The Movie Theater Mall : A Countess from HongKong

Produced by Charles Chaplin and Jerome Epstein
Written by Charles Chaplin
Music by Charles Chaplin

Cinematography by Arthur Ibbetson
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release date : January 5, 1967
Running time : 120 min
Budget : US$3,500,000 (estimated)

Stars :

Marlon Brando ........ Odgen Mears

Sophia Loren .......... Natascha

Sydney Earle Chaplin ............. Harvey

Tippi Hedren ........... Martha

Patrick Cargill .......... Hudson

Oliver Johnson ........ Clark

Michael Medwin....... John Felix

John Paul ................ Captain

Margaret Rutherford ................. Miss Gaulswallow

Angela Scoular ....... Society girl

Geraldine Chaplin ............Girl at dance

Charles Chaplin......... An old stewar

A Countess from Hong Kong was a 1967 comedy film and the last film directed by Charles Chaplin. It was one of only two films Chaplin directed in which he did not play a major role
(the other was 1923's A Woman of Paris), and his only color film. The film was a financial and critical failure.

Marlon Brando plays a wealthy American diplomat aboard a cruise ship which docks in Hong Kong. A countess (Sophia Loren) comes aboard and smuggles herself in Brando's
closet. Brando spends the rest of the film trying to hide her and avoid the press; almost the entire 2-hour film takes place in his majestic stateroom.

Chaplin directs with his usual grace, favoring long shots and comedy at a distance. He also provided the sweet, sentimental score and appears in a small cameo as a seasick
steward.

Tippi Hedren co-stars as Brando's almost-divorced wife, and a young, adorable Geraldine Chaplin has one line in a ballroom scene.

Brando reportedly did not get along with Chaplin, and most critics used that as fodder for panning the film, though the conflict does not show in the final product. Most of all, A Countess from Hong Kong caused a lot of trouble for auteur critics in 1967.They didn't want to pan Chaplin's final film, but they also couldn't say it was any good.

Nevertheless,this film is best known for the theme music, written by Chaplin, which became the signature song "This Is My Song " of Petula Clark. Since the film was and remains
almost universally disliked, the success of the song made back the money spent on the film.

This Is My Song

Words & Music by Charlie Chaplin

Recorded by Petula Clark, 1967 (#3)

INTRO VERSE
C Am Cdim CM7/6

Why is my heart so light?
C Cdim Dm7 G7

Why are the stars so bright?
G7 Dm7 Cdim Dm7 G7

Why is the sky so blue
Cdim Dm7 Cdim C G

Since the hour I met you?
C Am Cdim CM7/6

Flowers are smi - ling bright
C Cdim Dm7 G7

Smiling for our delight
G7 Dm7 Cdim Dm7 G7

Smiling so ten - der - ly
Cdim Dm7 Cdim C G

For the world, you and me

BRIDGE
C Cdim Dm7 G7 Dm7 G7 Cdim C

I know why the world is smiling, smiling so ten - der - ly
A A7 Dm Dm+7 D D7 G7

It hears the same old story through all e - ter - ni - ty

MELODY

C CM7 C C9 CM7

Love, this is my song

CM7/6 CM7 C CM7/6 Cdim Dm7 G7

Here is a song, a ser - e - nade to you
G7 Cdim G7

The world can - not be wrong
Bm7-5 G7 Fdim C

If in this world there is you
C9 Am Em7 F

I care not what the world may say;
G7 Cdim G7 Fdim C

With - out your love there is no day.
G C CM7 C C9 CM7

So, Love, this is my song,
CM7/6 CM7 C CM7/6 Cdim Dm7 G7 C

Here is a song, a ser - e - nade to you.

The Movie Theater Mall