Customer Reviews

Chaplin Mutuals Vol 1

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I agree with you Curleycue_82. I couldn't wait to write a review to these people!

In response to this review: "I don't believe that Chaplin achieved comedic excellence until his features. These shorts are crude physical humor and totally unfunny. Dated stuff."

Dated stuff? Of course it's dated. It's almost 90 years old! Anyone with any common sense, however, can discern the genious of the comedy for the period. What he was doing was breaking away from the mill of Keystone and developing stories with this comedy character. That wasn't done until then. You have to be able to relate the content with the time period and recognize these things. I guess that is hard for some if they don't understand history and fact. That is why you are the only person to write an uneducated, negative review. Did you notice that? Please know your content before you criticize.

I too found that the reviewer's comment on these Mutual shorts being "uninspired" and "unfunny" were extremely ill thought out. I've seen the Mutual films before, and just recently purchased the DVDs and enjoyed them all over again. (the quality of the prints are very good!) The Immigrant is a great example of his mastery of the pantomime (the restaurant scene is just plain charming) and in Easy Street, well, I can't find how someone could call it "crude". And what's funny about a Chaplin's getting people drunk in a rehab center? If you knew anything about history, this was a direct smack at the upper classes since alcoholism was a huge problem with the working class during this time. Charlie was poking fun at the upper crust: and to the working people that is ALWAYS funny.

There is nothing at all "uninspired" about Charlie's work in these four shorts. Especially since, in 1917, Charlie was creating the template for comedy that comedians would imitate for decades--Nearly one-hundred years on, people are still using many of the techniques debuted here for the first time by Chaplin (along with the National shorts). It is interesting that the "basher" (as I've called this reviewer) mentioned the revolving door sequence in The Cure to be maddening: to a modern audience, that gag can appear recycled-but that is only because countless comedians have copied what Chaplin created for the FIRST TIME here.

Now, I'm a huge fan of Lloyd and **especially** the inimitable Buster Keaton, but the earlier comment that "Until the late 20's, any Keaton, Lloyd, or Langdon film was infinitely better than the stuff that Chaplin turned out at the time" is really, quite frankly, silly. Keaton didn't even begin to appear in shorts until the very year of these Mutual films and here was Chaplin writing, directing and acting on his own!! Not to mention that, within two years, he would help to form (along with Mary Pickford and Doug Fairbanks) a little something called United Artists which was a huge step forward for filmmakers and is still a force in the Industry. And by the way, in 1921 Chaplin released his feature length, The Kid, which is widely acclaimed as one of the best films of the silent era and it also proved for the first time that a comedy could be funny as well as touching to the heart. (I don't know anyone who can watch the final scene of the Kid without getting a tug at the heart). That same year of 1921, Keaton released his first feature film, The Saphead.

Enough said.

I'm not bashing Keaton because he is an unbelievable genius (Sherlock Jr. is one of my favorite films of all time! =o) but I just think that one should give credit where credit is due. And every single comedian coming after Chaplin **including Keaton, Lloyd and Langdon**--right down to this day--is reminded to tip their derby to Charlie.

He isn't called a genius just for the hell of it, you know.

(Anyway, four stars to this charming collection of Chaplin full-speed ahead on his way to becoming a legend.)

I couldn't disagree more with the reviewer who bashes Charlie for being dated. Humour doesn't date only the context that surrounds it. This DVD contains some supremely witty and charming comedy. Anybody who is looking to buy it must already be a silent film fan so is familiar with the medium. The film quality is superb and I thoroughly recommend it!

Chaplin, once again, succeeds to convey strong political statements thru his 4 masterpices. I cannot recommend enough stories such as "The Cure". Chaplin's works does not diminish with time, and can be seen by those who simply are looking for something different.

One of the early film pioneers, Charlie Chaplin jumped from studio to studio. He made 12 two-reelers (about 25 minutes each) under the MUTUAL studio. Here they are, almost 90 years later in a remastered DVD with a new soundtrack and proper timing. Here are the four offerings on this DVD:

THE IMMIGRANT
Chaplin's Tramp is amongst many poor and weary travelers who long for freedom in the United States. Well, in 25 minutes we can't get into that, but we can see some of his pratfalls onboard the boat as well as his first meal in the States.

THE ADVENTURER
The Tramp is a convict escaping from the law in this quirky comedy. The film has two major set pieces: the escape on the beach and the chase around his wealthy girlfriends home. Like "The Immigrant", this is a light diversion.

THE CURE
Chaplin takes on alcoholism with this film and although it has great comic slapstick (his many run-ins with a revolving door is brilliant), he chose to leave the Tramp off of this film. By the end, mostly everyone is a bit inebriated.

EASY STREET
The Tramp returns to take on the gang violence on Easy Street. Once again, Chaplin approaches a serious subject matter with comedy. Yes, we see poverty, spousal abuse and even drug use but it is all presented through a classic comedy filled with bumbling police officers.

DVD is not just for Star Wars and glorious technicolor. This is what DVD was meant for At last a wonderful copy of some of Chaplin's Masterpieces.... And thsi one will last... Don't waste your money on new flashy best sellers... Don't miss the Mutuals.

With Chaplin, it is so important to be able to follow his facial expressions, and this series allows you to see these masterpieces like never before. Every moment of the restorations show love and care-you'll want all three volumes! Pair these with "The Unknown Chaplin" documentary, and experience genius at work.

Chaplin is one of its kind. It is great to be able to watch his creations in the original speed and without all the scratches. They have done a tremendous restauration job on these films: you can hardly believe they are almost a century old! Now you will be able to see Chaplin's mutuals they way he intended them. Real masterspieces of art! You won't be disappointed.

The Mutuals are wonderful works of art. Chaplin is more than just comical actor, but a true genius. There are so many little things that he has worked into every scene, that one cannot just pick up by watching it once, but need to watch it over and over.