Festival honours city’s forgotten movie star
ONE of Glasgow’s forgotten Hollywood stars who inspired slapstick legend Charlie Chaplin, is to take centre stage at a film festival dedicated to the age of silent movies.
Billie Ritchie made more than 70 movies, many while dressed in tramp’s clothes, complete with walking stick, mini moustache and baggy trousers.
His films were made 10 years before Charlie Chaplin appeared on the screen in a similar style, prompting accusations he had copied the Glaswegian’s style.
But while Chaplin went on to become a global legend of the silver screen, Ritchie faded into obscurity.
He died at the age of 43 from stomach cancer apparently linked to injuries sustained after being kicked by an ostrich.
Now his life is to be remembered as part of Hippfest, Scotland’s only festival dedicated to silent film which will be held next month in Bo’ness.
Edinburgh University academic Trevor Griffiths, who has researched Billie Ritchie’s life, said the festival was an ideal setting to reintroduce Scotland to one of its earliest film stars.
“Long dismissed as just another Charlie Chaplin impersonator, an examination of his career illustrated by rare footage from some of his surviving films reveals Billie to be a star in his own right, securing him international fame as ‘The Man Who Makes the World Laugh’,” he said.
Ritchie travelled the world alongside Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel as part of a comedy troupe before leaving to make silent films.
Many of his short films featured him as a drunk tramp character in ridiculous situations – almost identical to later Chaplin performances. As well as featuring a talk on the screen star’s life, the five-day film festival will combine silent movie screenings with world-class music.
Among the highlights is a performance by Scottish singer-songwriter Gerda Stevenson, who will recite poetry and songs to celebrate the life and work of Scottish filmmaker, botanist and writer Isobel Wylie Hutchison.