Special Coverage The Photo IssueThe Must List2008 Fall TV2008 Fall Movies2008 Fall Music
  • --

Credits

Rated: Unrated; Genres: Comedy, Short; With: Charlie Chaplin

Limelight Charlie Chaplin, Claire Bloom (1952, FoxVideo/Image, B&W, unrated, $69.98)
The Kid/A Dog's Life Charlie Chaplin, Jackie Coogan (1918-21, FoxVideo/Image, B&W, unrated, $69.98)
Each of these two-disc sets has been remastered in the better-looking CAV format from film elements in Chaplin's archives. Too sweetly dreamlike to survive either the '50s tsunami of social-realist films or Red-baiting attacks against the auteur, Limelight languished in the vaults for 20 years. In the movie, Chaplin's Indian Summer vaudevillian natters eloquently about art as he befriends 21-year-old Bloom, who lives up to her name and matches him for balletic poise.

A less somber Chaplin cavorts with kid star Coogan in The Kid and a long-suffering mutt in A Dog's Life. Savor their reckless pace in slow-motion, and try to forget that little Jackie became television's Uncle Fester. The bonus laser supplements, including home movies of the Chaplin studios on The Kid disc, are dispensable. Limelight: A- The Kid/A Dog's Life: B+


Posted Jul 30, 1994
 

Add Your Comments

The rules: Keep it clean, and stay on the subject or we might delete your comment. If you see inappropriate language, e-mail us. You must have javascript enabled to submit a comment.
--
Change/Edit your grade
characters remaining