 Charlie Chaplin 's 1952 film Limelight , set in 1914 London , evokes the music hall world of Chaplin 's youth where he performed as comedian before he achieved worldwide celebrity as a film star in America . The film depicts the last performance of a washed @-@ up music hall clown called Calvero at The Empire theatre , Leicester Square . The film premiered at the Empire Cinema , which was built on the same site as the Empire theatre . 
