The Chaplin Collection, Vol. 1 (Modern Times / The Great Dictator / The Gold Rush / Limelight)

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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

Customer Reviews:

A GREAT ARTIST BEFORE HIS TIME!.......2007-08-18

Charlie Chaplin was a true Genius of His time. He was superb in all his silent films. They each carried volumes of subliminal meassages of wit and reality. He was excellent in the Great Dictator and Modern Times. Charlie Chaplin was a Leader and he set the stage for all that came after him. He is an Iconic figure of Hollywood. These collections are very well preserved for all time. This is a must for all collectors of pantomine and great classic comedy.

The works of a genius who had life-long creative control.......2007-07-21

Although working conditions and terms don't create genius, it sure can inhibit and even destroy its expression. Buster Keaton and his experience at MGM are Exhibit A of that scenario. Chaplin, however, was in complete creative control of almost his entire career. After his early Keystone shorts, Chaplin never again starred in someone else's film production. In short, nobody could ever say "no" to his creative ideas and make it stick. Thus we can look at the films in this collection and lay any blame or applause entirely at the feet of Charles Chaplin, and that circumstance is as unique as Chaplin the artist himself.

It's very hard to describe this excellent set in the context of Chaplin's genius and his evolution as a film maker, because the films are separated from one another by quite large time intervals and interim films that are in volume two, with the exception of Modern Times and The Great Dictator which were sequential projects. "The Gold Rush" shows Chaplin's talent at comedy and pathos set in the heart of the silent era (1925) after he had already had some success making silent feature films. "Modern Times" is perhaps the best film he ever made, again a silent picture, long after silent films had gone out of vogue in Hollywood (1936). If anything, as time passes, Modern Times just becomes more and more relevant. "The Great Dictator" (1940) is Chaplin's first talking picture, and today, given the benefit of the knowledge of what was really going on in Germany during this time, the film almost seems in bad taste. However, even Chaplin admitted that if he had really known the extent of what was happening in Europe at the time he probably would not have made the film. Still, Chaplin turns in a fine performance in a great film where the best parts still involve Chaplin's gift of pantomime. Finally, there is Limelight (1952), which is a very sentimental film that has Chaplin perhaps looking back on his own career and showing what he was truly afraid of having happen - that he would someday be seen as a relic of the past and that only when people were told "who he used to be" would he be appreciated or for that matter even welcome. Thus it is really necessary to watch the films in volume 2 to fill in the blanks between the four movies in this collection and get a true picture of Chaplin the artist. Highly recommended.

great films and a great collection.......2006-12-30

What can i say, If you are a fan of Chaplin, then you cannot go without this collection. for every film you get a whole second DVD with extras. Every film is remastered, and although some are in black and white, still look amazing.

The chaplin masterpiece collection.......2006-12-15

In my view every chaplin movie is good, and if your a chaplin fan like I am then you will love this lovely collection.

You can't do the impossible..........2006-08-05

Although this set tries to do the impossible, it cannot. But it is a very good collection of Chaplin films.

So, to start with, let me cover what is great in this set.

First, the films are as clearly presented as possible, with great sound, pretty good mastering, and good clarity of image. The speed of projection, a subjective topic at best, is quite carefully handled, and seems to be quite good for the most part. (This only affects the silent Gold Rush, btw.)

The restoration of the original silent Gold Rush is excellent, and a welcome addition to the canon. I don't bother arguing over which version is better, silent or sound, because they both exist in our world and such arguments end up amounting to mere preferences.

Which brings me to the first impossibility. It is IMPOSSIBLE to present a "definitive" version of most any Chaplin film, due to the cuts and changes he made in them over the years, and the variation in the editions originally issued. In addition, there are some bits from the original release which simply don't exist in a quality comparable to the quality of the current versions, and which could not be edited in without comprimising the quality.

The Chaplin family made a decision, and stuck to it. They decided to issue the films in the final approved versions, with cuts intact. They also decided to include all cuts as additional material, so that we don't lose what was taken out. I'm not sure how I feel about this, but sometimes a decision must simply be made and stuck with, and the Chaplin family went with this. Not everybody will be satisfied, but the choice has been made.

The additional materials are often good, but equally often pointless. The good stuff includes the Great Dictator documentary, lots of home movies and still, and various sequences from older films that are relevent to the title. The bad stuff includes the truly boring "Chaplin Today" documentaries, which are a great example of material trying to prove a point but instead shooting itself in the foot. I regard these documentaries as another example of doing the impossible - by trying to argue that Chaplin is relevent today (and I think he is), the directors end up proving otherwise. Some things can't be won through argument, but only through experience.

One troubling aspect of this set is that, instead of tranferring the movies fresh from film to NTSC video, the films were transferred from film to PAL video, and then converted. This changes film speed a bit, and introduces unavoidable artifacts and degrades the video quality. While not as bad as the HORRENDOUS "Phantom of the Opera" fiasco, it's a shame that we cannot see these films in their top quality without getting imported dvds from overseas in the original PAL format.

That all said, we have here four (or five) Chaplin films in possibly the best quality possible in a neat package with lots of goodies. There are plenty of quibbles with this set and it's companion, but the fact is that this is as good as it might ever get, until an even better format comes along. The films are wonderful, and it's nice to have a good edition of them again.

The Great Dictator - Chaplin Collection (Limited Edition Collector's Set)

Average customer rating:

a brilliantly orchestrated dark dramedy (drama/comedy).....
the best parody about the führer :-)
Fabulous
The Great Dictator
Overrated Chaplin

The Great Dictator - Chaplin Collection (Limited Edition Collector's Set)
Starring: Henry Bergman , Charles Chaplin , Chester Conklin , Henry Daniell , and Robert O. Davis
Manufacturer: Creative Design Art
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Satire | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Classic Comedies | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

World War II | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

Anti-War Films | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

( G ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B000096IB8
Release Date: 2003-07-01

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Since Adolf Hitler had the audacity to borrow his mustache from the most famous celebrity in the world--Charlie Chaplin--it meant Hitler was fair game for Chaplin's comedy. (Strangely, the two men were born within four days of each other.) The Great Dictator, conceived in the late thirties but not released until 1940, when Hitler's war was raging across Europe, is the film that skewered the tyrant. Chaplin plays both Adenoid Hynkel, the power-mad ruler of Tomania, and a humble Jewish barber suffering under the dictator's rule. Paulette Goddard, Chaplin's wife at the time, plays the barber's beloved; and the rotund comedian Jack Oakie turns in a weirdly accurate burlesque of Mussolini, as a bellowing fellow dictator named Benzino Napaloni, Dictator of Bacteria. Chaplin himself hits one of his highest moments in the amazing sequence where he performs a dance of love with a large inflated globe of the world. Never has the hunger for world domination been more rhapsodically expressed. The slapstick is swift and sharp, but it was not enough for Chaplin. He ends the film with the barber's six-minute speech calling for peace and prophesying a hopeful future for troubled mankind. Some critics have always felt the monologue was out of place, but the lyricism and sheer humanity of it are still stirring. This was the last appearance of Chaplin's Little Tramp character, and not coincidentally it was his first all-talking picture. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

a brilliantly orchestrated dark dramedy (drama/comedy)............2007-08-31

I first saw THE GREAT DICTATOR when I was in grade school, around the time that SCHINDLER'S LIST was released, a far more sober look at the devestating effects of the Holocaust on countless Jews and gentiles alike, as well as the work of Oskar Schindler during that time of such unrest and profound social injustice. THE GREAT DICTATOR is a social satire, directed by and starring "The Little Tramp", himself, Mr. Charles Chaplin. I know it sounds really strange, gruesome and even inappropriate to create a film that is centered on poking fun at the evil commited by the Third Reich and the effect of Hitler, the Nazi regime and how that resulted in the death, torture, and imprisonment of droves of Jews, Gypsies, Jewish sympathizers, Gentiles and many others. I ask that you suspend your imagination and give this film a try anyway.

Charlie Chaplin plays two very opposite men. One is Adenoid Hynkel, a swarthy and short-tempered fascist dictator, based on none other than Adolf Hitler himself. The other man is a very good and courageous Jewish barber who must face the wrath that Hynkel inflicts on his ghetto. What's more, Hynkel is alligned with Benzino Napoloni (Jackie Oakie), an Italian fascist dictator (based on Mussolini). Together, they hope to completely drive out Jews and other groups they feel are standing in the way of the master race.

This film was Chaplin's first "talkie," is brilliant, thoughtful, humorous and provocative. I reccomend that you give this one a try. You won't be sorry and it will really leave you thinking hard about the state of the world when you are done watching it.

the best parody about the führer :-).......2007-07-24

i recommend this classic movie highly ... it is available at last!!! great special edition. if we germans would have seen this movie in the thirties history would have taken another course ... hopefully!

Fabulous.......2007-07-06

This is a great DVD, especially if you can get it for a good price.
The film itself looks like it was made yesterday (in B&W) and clearly a lot of time has been spent restoring it.

We all know the plot, this is a parady of Hitler and its brilliantly done. I've never been a great Chaplin fan but you have to give the man credit - this is a masterpiece. Not only is it funny, but its message, especially the end speech, is deeply moving. The film shoot started 6 days into WW2 and took another 559 days to complete and Chaplin changed the ending completely when he realised that Hitler was even more of a lunatic than he first thought!
The extras are good. There is some colour footage that his brother shot, and a very interesting documentary (thats been on TV) which parallels the life of Hitler and Chaplin. They were born in the same week of the same year.
The DVD packaging is very good, and in truth I can't fault it any way.

The Great Dictator.......2007-06-25

In his first-ever talkie, writer-director Chaplin ferociously lampooned the sadistic politics and fiery rhetoric of Hitler, juxtaposing his mustachioed Little Tramp character with Der Führer himself, whose unintelligible rantings Chaplin plays to hilarious effect. The most political of Chaplin's films, "Dictator" combines slapstick humor and vicious parody; in particular, portly actor Jack Oakie's Mussolini-like incarnation of Napaloni, dictator of Bacteria, is pure genius. Notably, Chaplin's pointed criticism of the Nazis occurred before Hollywood at large was daring to follow suit. (Most brilliant sequence: Hynkel's sublime dance with a balloon-like globe.)

Overrated Chaplin .......2007-05-26

Having heard for many years of this famous film, I finally caught up with this 2 disc set and looked forward to the viewing event with enthusiasm. Why was I so disappointed?

As a piece of film making, it is very ordinary. It plays like a cartoon with cardboard sets, a poorly developed story without much logic and some corny gags, many of which can be seen in the skits of Benny Hill who incidentally Charlie Chaplin admired tremendously. Paulette Goddard is poor and most of the supporting cast have little to do with the notable exception of Jack Oakie who wildly burlesques the famous character he imitates and is quite funny. There are a few jewels like the dance with the globe but most of the humour is pretty basic. By 1940, Hollywood was capable of much more sophisticated satire.

However, the DVD print is excellent and the film really can not be appreciated without an understanding of the context of its release. Accordingly, the DVD contains an excellent documentary which follows the lives of Chaplin and Hitler, who co-incidentally were born within a week of each other. As a result of the documentary, I watched the film again and there is no doubt that it was an extraordinary undertaking by Chaplin to make the film at all. His final speech resonates and is patently sincere. The film opened to controversy and I asked my 89 year old mother if she recalled it. Her reply was enlightening. She said that she was never much of a fan of Chaplin but she specifically avoided this film when it was released because her own world was turned upside down by the events of the day and at the time the uncertainty about her own future was such that she felt Chaplin's film was offensive. I am sure she was not alone.

The DVD contains a few other extras which are variable. There are scenes from other Chaplin films, clearly included to encourage purchase of those DVDs. There is also some rare home movie footage in colour of the making of the film but it quickly becomes boring to watch.

{Two (2) Charlie Chaplin Limited Edition Collector's Box Sets from the Chaplin Family Collection} The Great Dictator / Modern Times [DVD] (1937-1940)

Average customer rating:

{Two (2) Charlie Chaplin Limited Edition Collector's Box Sets from the Chaplin Family Collection} The Great Dictator / Modern Times [DVD] (1937-1940)
Director: Charlie Chaplin
Manufacturer: Creative Design Art
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

All-new digital transfers and audio elements of both pictures from the Chaplin family vault; soundtracks remastered; two heavy, vinyl cases.
GREAT DICTATOR: Two disc Dvd Set, including rare behind-the-scenes footage and making-of documentaries; exclusive soundtrack CD
Distinctive art poster; a commemorative booklet; collective Limited Edition Senitype and corresponding 35mm film frame; photo stills; additional features
MODERN TIMES: Two Disc Dvd Set, including several rare features; soundtrack CD; beautiful art poster
A commemorative booklet; collective Limited Edition Senitype and corresponding 35mm film frame; photo stills; additional features

ASIN: B000MC54XY

Product Description

Charlie Chaplin stands alone as the greatest entertainer of modern times! No one on earth can make you laugh as heartily or touch your heart as deeply... the whole world laughs, cries and thrills to his priceless genius! GREAT DICTATOR: In Chaplin's satire on Nazi Germany. Dictator Adenoid Hynkel has a double... a poor Jewish barber... who one day is mistaken for Hynkel. MODERN TIMES: The Tramp struggles to live in modern industrial society with the help of a young homeless woman.

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