Charlie Chaplin Boxed Set (City Lights / The Great Dictator / Modern Times / The Gold Rush)

Editorial Review:
Description
Four of Charlie Chaplin's greatest films. "The Gold Rush." (1925, 71 min.) - Chaplin's classic comic masterpiece about the hardships of life on the Alaskan frontier, battling blizzards, bears, killers, crazed gold miners, and even gravity. "City Lights" (1931, 87 min.) - The touching story of a young blind woman who believes the Little Tramp to be a wealthy duke, and the series of comic adventures when he sets out to earn the money to pay for an operation to restore her sight. "Modern Times" (1936, 103 min.) - The Little Tramp battles technology, unemployment, jail, burglars, demanding customers, bosses and "The Gamin." Chaplin's last silent film is remarkably unsilent, featuring the only time the Little Tramp's voice was heard on film. "The Great Dictator" (1940, 125 min.) - In his first talking film, Charlie Chaplin skewers Hitler on sharp spears of ridicule, playing both the malevolent dictator Adenoid Hynkel and his lookalike, an innocent Jewish barber.
Average customer rating:
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Charlie Chaplin Boxed Set (City Lights / The Great Dictator / Modern Times / The Gold Rush)
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment ProductGroup: DVD Binding: DVD ASIN: B00004Y2QL Release Date: 2000-10-03 |
Description
Four of Charlie Chaplin's greatest films. "The Gold Rush." (1925, 71 min.) - Chaplin's classic comic masterpiece about the hardships of life on the Alaskan frontier, battling blizzards, bears, killers, crazed gold miners, and even gravity. "City Lights" (1931, 87 min.) - The touching story of a young blind woman who believes the Little Tramp to be a wealthy duke, and the series of comic adventures when he sets out to earn the money to pay for an operation to restore her sight. "Modern Times" (1936, 103 min.) - The Little Tramp battles technology, unemployment, jail, burglars, demanding customers, bosses and "The Gamin." Chaplin's last silent film is remarkably unsilent, featuring the only time the Little Tramp's voice was heard on film. "The Great Dictator" (1940, 125 min.) - In his first talking film, Charlie Chaplin skewers Hitler on sharp spears of ridicule, playing both the malevolent dictator Adenoid Hynkel and his lookalike, an innocent Jewish barber.Customer Reviews:
its perl of my collection.......2002-08-28
An Extraordinary Quartet.......2002-07-04
Forget "New Comedy" and watch some classics.......2002-02-12
The boxed set has fewer extras than I expected. Where is the shot of Chaplin rehearsing one of his scenes from CITY LIGHTS in street clothes? The footage exists, but It's not included here.
I also see no reason for an alternative soundtrack on MODERN TIMES. The original is more moving, surface noise, monaural track and all. The stereophonic sound distracts from the picture.
The only really big disappointment in this set (the other quibbles being very minor) is that they used the 1942 sound version of THE GOLD RUSH instead of the 1925 original, and Chaplin's narration just breaks in and destroys the flow of the story. Thank goodness we still have the Oceana Roll.
I can only give this set a 4 for the above reasons. And Amazon, why not pack DVDS a little better? I have gotten this set with two of the four jewel boxes completely shattered, and it's annoying having to cut up the cheap cardboard covers when transferring the discs to better cases.
Treasure Trove of Chaplin.......2001-01-10
"City Lights" (1931)is one my top favorite films of all time--the end sequence has me blubbering like a baby every time I see it--balancing brilliant comedy (ie. the night club & prize fight scenes)w/pathos and never losing balance.
"The Gold Rush" (1925), Chaplin's Klondike epic I would rate right up there w/"City Light" with the exception that the version here is Chaplin's 1942 re-edited sound re-release, with the inter-titles cut & replaced by Chaplin's often overly coy & obvious voice-over. It also has a slightly different ending than the original. It would have been nice to have had both versions one DVD. Oh well, you still have the film itself which retains its brilliance.
When Chaplin began "City Lights" in 1928, sound films had not yet taken over, but by the time he began "Modern Times" (1936)the idea of doing a silent film was thought to be crazy-well with the exception of music, fxs & a gibberish song that's exactly what Charlie did. A farewell to the Little Tramp and a hillarious social satire, "Modern Times" is Chaplin's last masterpiece.
With "The Great Dictator" (1940), a combination of slapstick, satire and overt social commentary, Chaplin made his first venture into sound films. Filled with brilliant sequences (ie. the shaving scene & Hynkel's ballet with the globe)the blending w/the social commentary at time seem awkward. Nevertheless, Charlie's double portrayal of the Jewish barber (a variation of the Little Tramp) and Adnoid Hynkle is alternating touching, hillarious and at time more than a little frightening.
Well that is either too much or not enough, depending on how you read these things. All I can say is watch these movies and see for yourself. And if you like them, be sure to watch Chaplin's Mutual & First National comedies, "The Kid" & "The Circus"--all great film & fun.
A must for everyone.......2000-10-06
Average customer rating:
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Charlie Chaplin-55 Classics-6 DVD Boxed SET
Manufacturer: ATI ProductGroup: DVD Binding: DVD ASIN: B000C7Q3OS |
Product Description
CHARLIE CHAPLIN WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST AND WIDELY LOVED SILENT MOVIE STARS. FROM "EASY STREET"(1917) TO "MODERN TIMES" (1936), HE MADE MANY OF THE FUNNIEST AND MOST POPULAR FILMS OF HIS TIME. HE WAS BEST KNOWN FOR HIS CHARACTER, THE NAIVE AND LOVABLE-LITTLE TRAMP. THE LITTLE TRAMP, A WELL MEANING MAN IN A RAGGEDY SUIT WITH CANE,ALWAYS FOUND HIMSELF WOBBLING INTO AWKWARD SITUATIONS AND MIRACULOUSLY WOBBLING AWAY. THIS ITEM IS SHIPPED THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY AFTER PAYMENT. PLEASE EMAIL ME FOR EPISODE LIST. 55 CLASSIC EPISODES.Customer Reviews:
Let's keep this simple -.......2006-08-04
DVD:
DVD
Literatur des zwanzigsten Jahrhunderts und Christentum. 1. G