For funny man Charlie Chaplin, life wasn't all roses and sunshine. He and his brother were abandoned by their drunk of a father. Only to be "rescued" and then abandoned again in later years. His mother, once a dancer and singer, teetered on the edge of sanity and frequently resided in the asylum. Where did this leave young Charlie? A swarthy, good-looking chap, he strives for a change of luck and discovers his talent for comedy as a teen. The man with the undersized coat, oversized shoes, bowler hat and tiny mustache comes along way from the streets of Kennington to Hollywood.