It's no joke: Charlie Chaplin in birth mystery

In 1991, following the death of Oona O'Neill, fourth and last wife of legendary comedian Charlie Chaplin, their daughter Victoria Chaplin inherited a piece of furniture from her father's bedroom. Hidden inside was a stunning secret — a locked drawer containing a decades-old letter that would cast doubt on one of cinema's most enduring legends.

The letter, written by a man named Jack Hill, accused Chaplin of fabricating his origins. "You are a liar," it declared, claiming the global icon was not born in London as widely believed, but in a gypsy caravan in Smethwick, a town near Birmingham.

Though discovered over 30 years ago, the revelation has only recently come to light for movie fans through the new documentary Chaplin: Spirit of the Tramp, which was screened at the 2nd Macao International Comedy Festival and the 15th Beijing International Film Festival, both held last month.

Spanning 89 minutes, the documentary — a combination of interviews, clips from Charlie Chaplin's classic films, and archival materials — explores the comedic giant's family ties and his Romani heritage, which helped inspire his iconic character, the Tramp: a childlike and mischievous vagrant who symbolized resilience and charm during the silent film era.