Richard Attenborough attempting to get the project made for 18 years. He directed the screen version of the musical "A Chorus Line" (1985) and the anti-apartheid drama "Cry Freedom" (1987). He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Director for both films. His later films as director and producer include "Chaplin" (1992) starring Robert Downey Jr., as Charlie Chaplin and "Shadowlands" (1993), based on the relationship between C. S. Lewis and Joy Gresham (the star of the latter was Anthony Hopkins, who had appeared in four previous films for Attenborough: "Young Winston", "A Bridge Too Far", "Magic" and "Chaplin"). Between
Chaplin (1993 musical) Chaplin (1993 musical) Chaplin is a musical about the early life of the silent film star Charlie Chaplin. The first act is portrayed in the genre of the British music hall, while in the second act, Chaplin goes to Hollywood, where he becomes "the Little Tramp". The musical was announced to premiere on Broadway in 1981, but the project was cancelled. An abridged version premiered in Miami, Florida, in 1993 and played in Sarasota, New York, in 2001. The musical had a brief run in London in 2012. In July 1981, the musical was announced to open on Broadway in