Which Chaplin DVDs should I get first?

>From: Paul pauls.DeleteThis@wauknet.com
>Date: 4/30/2004 9:37 PM Eastern Daylight Time wrote:


>Okay here's the deal- I've never seen any Charlie Chaplin
>movies. I want to start, but there are roughly 5 billion DVDs out there
>and I have absolutely no clue where to begin. What DVDs (or DVD sets)
>should I buy first?

You'll probably get a dozen different answers on this. Some will say THE GOLD
RUSH, others CITY LIGHTS, others MODERN TIMES. Some will say start with his
first films (the Keystones), and work your way through his career.

I myself would recommend watching the 12 Mutual (1916-17) shorts first.
Chaplin himself described it as the happiest period of his life. I think this
would represent Chaplin still early in his career, but also at the top of his
game. If you can afford them, get the David Shepard restorations (from Image
Entertainment).

The Mutuals are what got me hooked on Chaplin when I was a young boy in the
1970's, which is why I recommend them as your starting point.
 >> Stay informed about: Which Chaplin DVDs should I get first? 

In article <7qv590dfledmhtm9hvfqf8qasfnni51qjt.DeleteThis@4ax.com>, Paul
<pauls.DeleteThis@wauknet.com> wrote:

> Hi everyone,
>
> Okay here's the deal- I've never seen any Charlie Chaplin
> movies. I want to start, but there are roughly 5 billion DVDs out there
> and I have absolutely no clue where to begin. What DVDs (or DVD sets)
> should I buy first? Thank you.
>
> -Paul.

I would suggest either Volume 3 of the Mutuals, or "The Circus" (the
Mutuals disc has 4 shorts, while "The Circus" is a feature film). If
you don't like those, you won't like Chaplin.
 >> Stay informed about: Which Chaplin DVDs should I get first? 

My vote for favorite goes to City Lights. I've spent years and years of
watching Chaplin movies and it's still my favorite. You can't really go
wrong with any of the big ones like The Kid, Gold Rush, or The Great
Dictator, though. Although I like Modern Times too, it doesn't appeal to me
the way the others do.

Just my 2 pennies.

Steve


"Paul" <pauls.RemoveThis@wauknet.com> wrote in message
news:7qv590dfledmhtm9hvfqf8qasfnni51qjt@4ax.com...
> Hi everyone,
>
> Okay here's the deal- I've never seen any Charlie Chaplin
> movies. I want to start, but there are roughly 5 billion DVDs out there
> and I have absolutely no clue where to begin. What DVDs (or DVD sets)
> should I buy first? Thank you.
>
> -Paul.
>
 >> Stay informed about: Which Chaplin DVDs should I get first? 

"Steve Estes" <steve.estes RemoveThis @comcast.net> wrote in message
news:zU7lc.11120$TD4.1240122@attbi_s01...
> My vote for favorite goes to City Lights. I've spent years and years of
> watching Chaplin movies and it's still my favorite. You can't really go
> wrong with any of the big ones like The Kid, Gold Rush, or The Great
> Dictator, though. Although I like Modern Times too, it doesn't appeal to
me
> the way the others do.
>
> Just my 2 pennies.
>
> Steve
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ooh, not the Great Dictator as a starter. That's like recommending Mr. and
Mrs. Bridge to someone who's never seen Paul Newman.
Chaplin in middle age wasn't the same as the little tramp in any way. Do it
chronologically if possible, but don't jump ahead so far.
By the time you get to Monsieur Verdoux, he's a completely different
personality.
 >> Stay informed about: Which Chaplin DVDs should I get first? 

" Mack Twamley" <mackerel.RemoveThis@dslextreme.com> wrote in message news:<109eaa5kft5bs44.RemoveThis@corp.supernews.com>...
> "Steve Estes" <steve.estes.RemoveThis@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:zU7lc.11120$TD4.1240122@attbi_s01...
> > My vote for favorite goes to City Lights. I've spent years and years of
> > watching Chaplin movies and it's still my favorite. You can't really go
> > wrong with any of the big ones like The Kid, Gold Rush, or The Great
> > Dictator, though. Although I like Modern Times too, it doesn't appeal to
> me
> > the way the others do.
> >
> > Just my 2 pennies.
> >
> > Steve
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Ooh, not the Great Dictator as a starter. That's like recommending Mr. and
> Mrs. Bridge to someone who's never seen Paul Newman.
> Chaplin in middle age wasn't the same as the little tramp in any way. Do it
> chronologically if possible, but don't jump ahead so far.
> By the time you get to Monsieur Verdoux, he's a completely different
> personality.

Well, not completely. The Tramp isn't a serial killer, but he does
manipulate and exploit women in many of the earlier films--courting
Miss Moneybags in _The Count_, for example. Bazin has some interesting
arguments on the persistence of the Tramp in the later characters.

But one should start with the earlier films. The Mutuals are a good
choice.
_The Kid_ would be my suggestion for an introduction to the features.
I think _Modern Times_ is glorious, though; it made me a Chaplin
scholar.

Oddly enough, many people see _Dictator_ first, and it doesn't turn
them off.
Some see _City Lights_ first and are converted, but I think it's
gourmet fare that ideally should be savored later.

Connie K.
 >> Stay informed about: Which Chaplin DVDs should I get first? 

The first Chaplin movie I bought was my favorite Modern Times and that's the
one I started my collection. Back then there wasn't dvd so I got the video and
later bought the dvd and gave the video to a friend. I also think the Gold
Rush is a pretty good start. The 8 dvd set The Essential Chaplin Collection is
also a very good start. My favorite of the shorts would probably be The Tramp.
GOD bless
DeWayne
 >> Stay informed about: Which Chaplin DVDs should I get first? 

I don't think it really matters a whole lot which Chaplin films you see first
-- so long as it isn't "A King in New York."

(Couldn't resist -- I tossed that in for Bruce's benefit.)

"Modern Times" isn't a bad start. Starting with the Mutuals has its merits.
You can make a case for starting with "The Gold Rush" or "The Circus" or even
"City Lights."

The main thing, though, is just to start. :)


Tom Moran

"You can get a great deal of entertainment
out of tedious people if you keep your head.''
-- W. Somerset Maugham
 >> Stay informed about: Which Chaplin DVDs should I get first? 

in article 39a9a576.0405081505.3a5c1074 DeleteThis @posting.google.com, Constance
Kuriyama at constance.kuriyama DeleteThis @ttu.edu wrote on 5/8/04 6:05 PM:

> I like it quite a lot. Just about everything in it, actually, from the
> crude but funny pitchfork and flour sack routines to watering the
> orchard, attempting to milk the cow, shaking the egg down the pants
> leg, and the more serious stuff with the larcenous tramps.
>
> It's one of my favorite Essanays, along with _Police_ and _The Bank_.

I think those are three of Chaplin's best short films from any period. I
would also include A Night at the Show and Work from this particularly
fascinating period.

JN
 >> Stay informed about: Which Chaplin DVDs should I get first? 

in article 39a9a576.0405050335.24ffe8e5.DeleteThis@posting.google.com, Constance
Kuriyama at constance.kuriyama.DeleteThis@ttu.edu wrote on 5/5/04 6:35 AM:

> Oddly enough, many people see _Dictator_ first, and it doesn't turn
> them off.
> Some see _City Lights_ first and are converted, but I think it's
> gourmet fare that ideally should be savored later.

I say by all means start with the short films -- Mutuals are a good starting
point (those are the first Chaplins I saw, back in the sixties). The Kid is
a good feature film starter, as is The Circus. After that you can go
anywhere, but I agree chronologically can be fun.

JN
 >> Stay informed about: Which Chaplin DVDs should I get first? 

James Neibaur <jneibaur.RemoveThis@wi.rr.com> wrote in message news:<BCC32B31.3531A%jneibaur@wi.rr.com>...
> in article 39a9a576.0405081505.3a5c1074.RemoveThis@posting.google.com, Constance
> Kuriyama at constance.kuriyama.RemoveThis@ttu.edu wrote on 5/8/04 6:05 PM:
>
> > I like it quite a lot. Just about everything in it, actually, from the
> > crude but funny pitchfork and flour sack routines to watering the
> > orchard, attempting to milk the cow, shaking the egg down the pants
> > leg, and the more serious stuff with the larcenous tramps.
> >
> > It's one of my favorite Essanays, along with _Police_ and _The Bank_.
>
> I think those are three of Chaplin's best short films from any period. I
> would also include A Night at the Show and Work from this particularly
> fascinating period.
>
> JN

Yes, _Work_ slipped my mind. Excellent short. And _A Night at the Show_ is
interesting for a variety of reasons--not least because it's a precursor to
Keaton's _The Playhouse_.

Connie K.
 >> Stay informed about: Which Chaplin DVDs should I get first? 

James Neibaur <jneibaur.DeleteThis@wi.rr.com> wrote in message news:<BCC32BF0.3531B%jneibaur@wi.rr.com>...
> in article 39a9a576.0405050335.24ffe8e5.DeleteThis@posting.google.com, Constance
> Kuriyama at constance.kuriyama.DeleteThis@ttu.edu wrote on 5/5/04 6:35 AM:
>
> > Oddly enough, many people see _Dictator_ first, and it doesn't turn
> > them off.
> > Some see _City Lights_ first and are converted, but I think it's
> > gourmet fare that ideally should be savored later.
>
> I say by all means start with the short films -- Mutuals are a good starting
> point (those are the first Chaplins I saw, back in the sixties). The Kid is
> a good feature film starter, as is The Circus. After that you can go
> anywhere, but I agree chronologically can be fun.
>
> JN


I was lucky, my first exposure to Chaplin was a syndicated show called
THE CHARLIE CHAPLIN COMEDY THEATER that ran in the 70's when I was a
teenager in Boston. It had music, sound effects and narration. All the
Mutual and Essany two reelers were part of the program but only a few
of the Keystones like DOUGH AND DYNAMITE. The shorts made a big impact
on my love of Chaplin and his comedy, so I agree, started with the
shorts is the best way to go.

My picks would be the Essanay and Mutuals, of course. From the Essanay
period I always had a fondness for WORK, POLICE, IN THE PARK, BY THE
SEA, A JITNEY ELOPEMENT, A WOMAN, SHANGHAIED and A NIGHT IN THE SHOW.
All twelve Mutuals are top notch funny stuff for and could never pick
a favorite out of the bunch.

Chaplin's Keystones can be funny also, my taste for rough and rowdy
humor tends to like many of them. DOUGH AND DYNAMITE, HIS TRYSTINGS
PLACES, CAUGHT IN THE RAIN, GETTING ACQUAINTED, LAUGHING GAS, HIS NEW
PROFESSION and GENTLEMEN OF NERVE among the ones I like.
Unfortunately, none of the Keystones are restored and on quality DVD
releases like the Essanays and Mutuals. Hopefully one day they will
be.

--Tony
 >> Stay informed about: Which Chaplin DVDs should I get first? 

I think I remember that same show back in the early 60's in NYC. Wasn't
the music the same that R. Youngson used?
I'd also recommend the Mutuals and Essanays as the best intro to CC.
Alan Glick

"StanInDrag" <keystonekapers RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:8e6c8f09.0405110624.5cde7759@posting.google.com...

> I was lucky, my first exposure to Chaplin was a syndicated show called
> THE CHARLIE CHAPLIN COMEDY THEATER that ran in the 70's when I was a
> teenager in Boston. It had music, sound effects and narration. All the
> Mutual and Essany two reelers were part of the program but only a few
> of the Keystones....
 >> Stay informed about: Which Chaplin DVDs should I get first? 

"Alan D Glick" <a.glick RemoveThis @worldnet.att.net> wrote in message news:<uu6oc.545745$B81.10217313@twister.tampabay.rr.com>...
> I think I remember that same show back in the early 60's in NYC. Wasn't
> the music the same that R. Youngson used?
> I'd also recommend the Mutuals and Essanays as the best intro to CC.
> Alan Glick
>

No, Youngson used a composer and an orchestra for his theatrical
movies. CHAPLIN COMEDY THEATER used the Seely Film Music Library,
popular with TV commercials, sitcoms and cartoons throughout the 50's
and 60's.

In the 70's Blackhowk Films used the Seely music library to score many
of their home movie editions like Snub Pollard's IT'S A GIFT(used in
Slapstick Encyclopedia) and Laurel and Hardy's TWO TARS, BIG BUSINESS
and YOU'RE DARN TOOTIN'(which were used for the laser disc editions in
the 90's). Some of the music is still avalable today for use today.

--Tony
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