Charlie Chaplin and Criterion

[Svevan]

Divided into silents and talkies would make sense. The total running time of all the silents is 596 mins, and for the talking films is 567 mins. Two five-disc sets? With perhaps Gold Rush, City Lights, and Modern Times released individually? That's my bet.

Edit: Ugh, my math is off because The Gold Rush is listed under 1942. So make that silents: 668 and talkies: 495. So six discs on one, four on the other? I dunno. It'll be interesting whatever they do.

[Minkin]

I would imagine that they would draw the process out as long as they could. Perhaps a small set of the shorts followed by individual titles of everything else- or copy however else Park Circus and the others do it. I couldn't imagine a boxset of everything would be the most profit advantageous decision.

Also, I might suggest moving the poster image to the Criterion store topic- since we will be able to buy that thing soon

[swo17]

Divided into silents and talkies would make sense. The total running time of all the silents is 596 mins, and for the talking films is 567 mins. Two five-disc sets? With perhaps Gold Rush, City Lights, and Modern Times released individually? That's my bet.

But aren't they all talkies now? And if some of them still aren't, can't we just get a Chaplin impersonator to talk over them? Silent movies hurt my ears.

My guess: a box (not Eclipse) of the First National films, and then individual releases for each of the features.

[HistoryProf]

my guess are spine #s individually for City Lights, The Kid, Gold Rush, The Great Dictator, and Modern Times with the rest split among two boxes chronologically, maybe one box in eclipse. the big ones get loaded blu rays, a box with more extras, and then the shorts and other stuff on eclipse. spread the wealth, so to speak.

They could also do the first multi-film blu ray box a la War Trilogy in one package.

[domino harvey]

Every feature will be released separately, maybe two a month for a while

[Cinephrenic]

Boxsets:

Chaplin: Silent Years
Chaplin: A little more silence with some horrible voiceover
Chaplin: No silence, but in exile

[Matt]

But I'm sure there will also be an AK100-type complete set as well.

[perkizitore]

I hope so, because there is no way i am spending $400 on individual releases (the box won't be that much cheaper, but i hope that until B&N's November 2011 sale at the latest it will be mine)

[Finch]

Releasing the terrible 1942 version of Gold Rush only would be a major cock up that I just can't see them making (not only does the 42 version have the inferior score and needless voiceover, it's also more chaste than the silent, omitting the passionate kiss between Chaplin and his costar from the original in the concluding moments!).

Individual spines for the most famous titles (wonder if that would include Monsieur Verdoux too?), boxsets for the lesser known films and a huge AK100-style set would certainly please everyone (myself included as I'd want City Lights and Gold Rush 21, and a silent box including The Kid and A Woman of Paris).

[Tribe]

Releasing the terrible 1942 version of Gold Rush only would be a major cock up that I just can't see them making (not only does the 42 version have the inferior score and needless voiceover, it's also more chaste than the silent, omitting the passionate kiss between Chaplin and his costar from the original in the concluding moments!).

I think Criterion is well aware of the problems inherent in the 1942 release. My sense is that the estate is the force behind requiring any licensees to bestow an "authoritative" title on that re-release. There must be someone here who has more definitive insight into the influence of the estate.

[scotty2]

Since Janus is showing only the 1942 version, I suspect the best we can expect is that the 1925 will be included as an extra as the Warner/MK2 release did--though the entire idea of one of the greatest of silent films as an extra is mindblowing. I remember my naive disappointment when I bought the Image DVD back in the day--nothing but the 1942 version on that one.

[zedz]

I'm optimistic that the Chaplin family will facilitate the release of the original versions with their original scores, since Timothy Brock has been working with them to reconstruct those scores over the past several years. I'm not sure how far he's got, but including these with the eventual Criterion releases is too good an opportunity to pass up and will be a huge point of difference with all previous (and current) releases of the films.

Here's a list of Timothy's Chaplin restorations - seems to be quite up to date.

[Anthony]

I just wish they'd release them all on Blu. I don't care how they do it... one at a time, several box sets, or one big expensive set.

[felipe]

Releasing the terrible 1942 version of Gold Rush only would be a major cock up that I just can't see them making (not only does the 42 version have the inferior score and needless voiceover, it's also more chaste than the silent, omitting the passionate kiss between Chaplin and his costar from the original in the concluding moments!).

I actually find the score for the 1942 version much better.

[knives]

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[prokosch]

To my continued delight, and likely confirming the meaning of the Facebook "Coming Soon" posting, Kate Beaton's Chaplin masterwork is now available for sale at the Criterion Shop.

[matrixschmatrix]

Our local theater is doing a Janus Charlie Chaplin Series, and their listing for The Gold Rush mentions "This version features Chaplin’s own music and poetic narration, added for his 1942 reissue." That seems like confirmation that that's what were getting on dvd, too.

[captveg]

The 1942 version of The Gold Rush has always been in the bag. The question remains if the 1925 original version will also be included, and if so, how will it be presented on the Blu-ray (SD or HD).

[Peacock]

Or more likely: 1080i or 1080p...

[Finch]

"This version features Chaplin’s own music and poetic narration, added for his 1942 reissue."

Looks like Janus are letting the estate write their release blurbs too..

Ain't too late yet to pester Criterion for a 1080p transfer of the 1925 cut..

[Tribe]

"This version features Chaplin’s own music and poetic narration, added for his 1942 reissue."

Looks like Janus are letting the estate write their release blurbs too..

Ain't too late yet to pester Criterion for a 1080p transfer of the 1925 cut..

I think it's the estate that is calling the shots here.

[scotty2]

I don't see why the Estate would not allow Criterion to release the 1925 as an extra when it is present and accounted for on the Warner/MK2 R1 DVD release. Though the idea of it as an extra is kind of revolting.

[Minkin]

I know I'm a little late on the draw here, but does the inclusion of The Rink on Modern Times serve to the hope that more Mutuals will be included in later installments? It does appear that Image has/had them.

[Jonathan S]

According to David Shepard on Nitrateville, The Rink at least will be from his latest edition (on Image):

THE RINK on the Criterion DVD of MODERN TIMES will be the same as is on the 90th Anniversary Edition of the Mutuals, with the Carl Davis score. It runs at 20 fps, and has the original intertitles and some bits that were missing from my earlier video editions.

[knives]

They're showing the Janus prints of The Kid and The Pilgrim on TCM right now. Guess that makes them the next ones, March hopefully. Also I haven't seen the Warner disc, but the transfer's real sweet.