modern times

The Chaplin Collection, Vol. 1 (Modern Times / The Great Dictator / The Gold Rush / Limelight)
$79.98
The very first Chaplin film that I ever saw was when I was a kid when my mother brought me to see "The Great Dictator" on the big screen. As a kid, I didn't really appreciate what the movie was about and so although I laughed at the slapstick moments, I didn't really "get it" until I watched it again many, many years later as part of this very good box set. The only downer is that my copy here is faulty and hence everything after the classic pudding scene for some reason will not show; as no one else has mentioned it here I'm assuming that I'm just the unlucky one to get a bum disc.

Watching the other very well restored picture and remastered sound quality films I realised that Chaplin's genius was such that I actually enjoyed the "silent" films like "Modern Times" and "The Gold Rush" - redux a.k.a. 1942 version a whole lot better than the sound comedies of the time and also many of the more recent comedies that age poorly from the 70s. I was amazed that I could still laugh at most of "Modern Times" which I can now say is not only my favourite Chaplin film but also one of my favourite comedies ever as well as the re-done "The Gold Rush" especially the dancing rolls scene with the very well composed piece accompanying it as well as the brilliant boot-eating scene. I have watched "City Lights" separately which is also a very good film but I feel Chaplin's best work is in this volume one collection.

Watching these films made me realise just how talented this man really was as he was also very good in talkies such as "Limelight" which is also an excellent film. He composed the score which was later awarded an Oscar and indeed he was an excellent composer and singer as well even if it is gibberish lyrics such as in "Modern Times" or on "Limelight" where he also wrote the script and directed this and all his movies. I can't imagine why people say sound killed the silent stars except perhaps because of their own unwillingness to make the transition as watching Buster Keaton's cameo and very funny role on "Limelight" I thought there was nothing wrong with his voice and if he wanted to, he could have made the transition to voice just as Chaplin did. He would just need to find a good script or write his own as Chaplin did. In fact, I thought Keaton's cameo on "Sunset Boulevard" was good although he hardly said anything.

I watched the Marx Brothers Collection immediately after this set and it is night and day with regards how much more I liked Chaplin's work over that one. For one most of the jokes are still funny with Chaplin while much of the Marx Brothers' stuff made me keep looking at the watch to see how much more time there was left to endure it. Also Groucho shamelessly steals many of Chaplin's dance moves with the kicking steps in some scenes of "Horse Feathers" which if you compare are identical to what Chaplin does in his earlier films. Amazing how so many words on the Marx Brothers can barely raise a chuckle from me while the sparse and efficiently used words on Chaplin's works made me laugh a whole lot more and I am actually looking forward to watching them again and even to buy "The Great Dictator" again to replace the dud that Amazon sent me the first time. I thought "Duck Soup" was pretty good but you'd have to pay me to watch the other ones on that set again; maybe "Cocoanuts", "Animal Crackers", "Monkey Business" and "Horse Feathers" were funny during the Depression but watching them today almost gave me a depression!

Excellent restoration job, excellent choice of content, good special features extras and packaging make this a very good value purchase and a must have for any fan of film's video library; just make sure you don't get a dud disc like I did. As I live too far away from the U.S. I'm afraid I can't do a return or exchange but I'm sure you can.

Recommended!

Modern Times (Special Limited Edition)
$15.93
Dylan's third "lounge singer" album improves on its predessors. The slow songs are especially good. Highlights: Spirit on the Water, When the Deal Goes Down, Workingman's Blues #2, Nettie Moore.
Also included in the "Special Limited Edition" is a DVD containing four fascinating music videos although "Love Sick" is probably a candidate for worst video ever with its background of swaying groovers.

Modern Times
$29.99
Not sure why I'd bother to write a review of a movie made in 1936 but I recently viewed the DVD and was just blown away by what a complete film this is on so many levels. Chaplin's genius is on full display throughout. An amazing crossroads moment as Chaplin maintains the silent film aesthetic with some concessions to the new "talkies" technology.
The story succeeds as a social satire, as a love story and as a comedy all in one. No mean feat. Chaplin's costar and "wife" Paulette Goddard is stunning and he frames every scene she is in with a close up that shows her face to be one that the camera loves. Chaplin sings a nonsensical song in French which is a classic scene and there are many others.
If you have any hesitation about watching older silent movies this is a great place to start because despite the age of this film there is enough here to delight any movie lover.

Modern Times
$8.99
You couldn't go wrong buying this CD. Every song on this album is fantastic to listen to. He rocks. He blues. Bob has written some great songs in his career and continues to do so with this masterpiece. A MUST HAVE piece of his work. One of his BEST.