World Famous Comics: The Chaplin Collection, Vol. 1 (Modern Times / The Great Dictator / The Gold Rush / Limelight)
The Chaplin Collection, Vol. 1 (Modern Times / The Great Dictator / The Gold Rush / Limelight)
Starring: Chaplin Collection Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Audience Rating: Unrated Binding: DVD Format: Box set, Black & White, Closed-captioned, Dolby, DVD-Video, Original recording remastered, Subtitled, NTSC Label: Warner Home Video Number of Items: 8 Region Code: 1 Release Date: July 01, 2003 Running Time: 404 minutes Theatrical Release Date: February 05, 1936
Product Description: The Great Dictator Goldrush Limelight Modern TimesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: NR UPC: 085393794224
Amazon.com essential video: Charles Spencer Chaplin, the London ragamuffin who became the most popular man of his era, gets his proper due with this deluxe package of four classics. Each two-disc set begins with an excellent new digital transfer of the picture and remastered sound. The Gold Rush, Chaplin's 1925 masterpiece, puts the Little Tramp into the snowy Yukon; it includes such celebrated sequences as the "Dance of the Rolls" and Chaplin's uncanny metamorphosis into a large chicken. Both the original silent version and Chaplin's re-edited 1942 release (for which he added his own musical score and narration) are included. A documentary on "Chaplin Today" looks at the film through the eyes of Burkina Faso director Idrissa Ouedraogo. Modern Times (1936) is Chaplin's peerless take on the machine age; his ballet on the assembly line remains one of the great images of modern man driven mad by mechanization. The DVD extras include a couple of (somewhat extraneous) vintage promotional films about the wonderful world of mass production, the famous Chaplin composition "Smile" performed by Liberace (huh?), and penetrating comments on the film by the Belgian filmmakers Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne.
The Great Dictator is Chaplin's comic undressing of Hitler, boldly released in 1940. An absorbing documentary, "The Tramp and the Dictator," details production of the film, and color footage shot on the set provides fascinating behind-the-scenes material. Limelight (1952), in which he plays a fading vaudevillian, is Chaplin's magnificent elegy on his own career. Extras include a deleted scene, the entire Oscar-winning score, and Bernardo Bertolucci on the film's emotional impact: "I don't cry often, but here my tears flow." Each film has a loving introduction by Chaplin biographer David Robinson--but newcomers to Chaplin should watch the movies first, as the extras give away endings and the best jokes. --Robert Horton
Four exceptional films Before I bought this collection, I'd only ever seen one Chaplin film, "The Great Dictator". I liked it so much, I wanted a copy and at the time, this little set was on sale for half-off. I'd heard good things about "Limelight" and "Modern Times" as well, and so I figured,"What the heck?" and ordered the box set.
What an excellent choice!
In this set you get four fantastic films; the previously mentioend titles and "The Gold Rush", which I thought was the weakest of the set, but still brilliant and contains one of Chaplin's best-known routines.
These aren't dumbed-down versions of the special edition sets, either. If you buy this set, the version of "The Great Dictator" that you get is the same as one you get by buying The Great Dictator (2 Disc Special Edition), so you aren't getting ripped or anything.
Four great movies, one great price. No reason not to get this set!
Little tramp Chaplin is one of the greatest silent comedians/film makers only behind Buster Keaton and Roscoe Arbuckle (In my opinion.) If your looking for some Charles Chaplin films look no further this is by far the best quality out of all the other sets.
What's so funny about peace, love and understanding? I had the pleasure over the last few months of watching all of Chaplin's films in the Chaplin Collection, volumes 1 and 2, and I am a richer man for it. I came away having discovered Chaplin the mime, Chaplin the songwriter, Chaplin the comedian, Chaplin the satirist, Chaplin the peacemonger, and Chaplin the free spirit who was, I see now, the greatest artist in American cinema.
I thought the films looked great, and enjoyed the late-career additions of music and film edits that Charlie made. Chaplin's singing at the beginning of "The Circus" was delightful. It was fascinating to see how his films were made, and how he put the finishing touches on them later in life. I thought the extras were very informative, though often not so interesting.
But the simplicity, the directness and the power of his work was the real discovery here, with its consistent message of peace, love and understanding. And the courage to maintain those principles despite enormous opposition. What artist can claim higher principles than that?
Thank you, Charlie.
Amazon is the best ! Difficult product to find and Amazon had it... Excellent DVD collection for any cinephile - a "must-have". As always, Amazon delivered promptly, regardless of being out of the U.S. and the package arrived just as shown. Amazon is the best!
A great artist. A great collection. I purchased this for a birthday gift for my partner. He loved it and I have enjoyed watching movies I have never seen before. The collection is excellent and the quality of the films in general is very good, especially considering the time the originals were produced.
The Great Dictator is definitely a must see. I loved how in all Chaplin's film he displayed a range of emotions with out saying a word or even changing expression (except the Dictator of course). All communication was through movement.
How I wish we as a society can create change with the strength and simplicity of emotion and movement of Chaplin.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Trevor
