Charles Chaplin (director)
BFI Film (studio)
U (certificate)
390min approx (length)
23 January 2017 (released)
20 February 2017
In December 1914, the great Charlie Chaplin signed a one-year contract with the Essanay Film Manufacturing Company for what was then an unprecedented salary. The 15 films - shoot in their California and Chicago studios - firmly established Chaplin as the world’s favorite screen comedian although the emphasis here really is on ‘evolving’ style.
Not only did Chaplin receive a truly whopping salary from Essanay, he also retained complete creative control over his films including writing, directing and choosing his cast members (most prominently Edna Purviance, his leading lady until 1923). While Chaplin’s demand for controlling almost every aspect led to an increasingly strained relationship with Essanay, this fruitful period also saw him evolve his style. This comprehensive 2-Disc Blu-ray collection, featuring 15 films, is the result of a twelve-year project, led by Lobster Films and the Cineteca di Bologna. Each film is fully restored and is presented alongside exclusive Special Features – never before released in the UK.
Disc-1 starts with HIS NEW JOB and has a very young Gloria Swanson in a support role as a typist. Also aboard is Ben Turpin, who by that time already was one of Essanays’ stars (soon to be upstaged by Chaplin) though it’s an open secret that off-camera Turpin and Chaplin didn’t get along. Here, Chaplin assumes the part of a leading man in a film production after usurping the actual star’s dressing room. In true Chaplin manner, things on the film set as well as in the props department soon descend into utter chaos! On a par is A NIGHT OUT and here we follow Turpin and Chaplin on a drunken spree, with the latter accidentally ending up in the same bedroom as married woman Edna. Fans will already detect the trademark Chaplin characteristics though here the action often consists of rather repetitive kicks-up-the-butt, revolving doors smashing into faces and what have you. Quite different is THE CHAMPION in which Chaplin, aided by a loaded boxer glove, takes on boxing giant Bud Jamison in a championship contest – with hilarious consequences! One of the true highlights on the first disc is the seminal THE TRAMP in which tramp Chaplin rescues wealthy farmer’s daughter Edna from thieves but gets slightly wounded in the process. As a ‘thank you’ for his bravery she invites him back to the farm where her father promptly offers him a job as a farm hand. Mind you, what he really wants is winning Edna’s heart… The film’s finale is full of pathos while at the same time also uplifting as unlucky Charlie takes to the road once again in anticipation of the next adventure. Another undisputed highlight is the riotous WORK, in which Chaplin and pal Charles Insley are called to the house of owner Billy Armstrong in order to start some much-needed repair work. You don’t assume for even one minute that things will fare smoothly, do you? The slapstick humour is simply marvelous and it will make you think twice before you opt to hire handymen and decorators…
DISC-2 holds a bit of a surprise for A WOMAN features Chaplin in drag, and quite realistic he looks too! I won’t give anything away about this film, just watch it and marvel at his feminine side… Once again, pure slapstick and pathos are combined in THE BANK in which Chaplin’s hapless janitor falls for a typist (E. Purviance) but soon learns the hard way that falling in love with a dame above his class is not a clever thing to do. However, thanks to a bank robbery during which his selfless heroism comes up trumps Edna has a change of heart… One of the best films on the second disc is A NIGHT IN THE SHOW in which Chaplin plays the double role of wealthy and intoxicated Mr. Pest (disturbing folks in the front rows) and shabby, loudmouthed Mr. Rowdy who irritates punters and performers alike from his seat in the upper gallery. Watch out for the snakes in the orchestra pit-sequence, it’s a total hoot! In turn, POLICE is really quite dramatic with a heavy ending but if there’s one totally unexpected film then it is BURLESQUE ON CARMEN – Charlie’s inspired parody on Mérimée’s famous novel. Edna Purviance steals the show as temptress Carmen who is responsible for the downfall of Officer Darn Hosiery (Chaplin).
The action in all fifteen films is further emphasized with scores by the Mont Alto Orchestra and the Robert Israel Orchestra and thanks to the restoration it’s a treat to look at!