One of early Hollywood's greatest and most versatile stars, Charlie Chaplin demonstrated his talents not just in his on-camera antics and directorial skills but his films' musical scores as well. Indeed, Chaplin—who was born in 1889, in London, and whose father was a professional singer—was a remarkably gifted composer, a fact that became clear once he shifted out of the silent era and exacted greater control over his soundtracks for movies like his 1940 masterpiece, The Great Dictator. He also revisited early hits such as Modern Times and City Lights to equip them with new scores, adding delightful melodies that accentuated his whimsical charm as a performer, along with richer, more emotive themes that enhanced the impact of his stories' most poignant moments.