Chaplin Music and Color Chaplin Footage

Hello fello fans! I found a link to a page with some interesting information about color Dictator footage here:

In the article it lists the company 'Mk2' as the manufacturer. I was able to find a website for what I'm assuming is that company, but it's in FRENCH (http://www.mk2.com).

At any rate, I couldn't make heads or tails of it. Has anyone found any thing related to this?

I'd also like to know if anyone can point me to a location to download Chaplin music from his movies. I have some stuff from The Kid and Limelight, however I'd like as much of it as possible. I don't mind purchasing it if that is neccesary

On a related note, what is the best quality set of DVDs that I can purchase with Chaplin footage? I do NOT want footage that has altered sound tracks (ie. Koch Vision 'The Artist In His Prime' DVD's, which loop the SAME music over and over...very annoying).

I appreciate any help! I'm working on making my own little silent shorts just for fun, and reading Walter Kerr's 'The Silent Clowns' as well....looking foward to responses!

I'll check it out. I think this is probably the new distributor.

Can't help you with downloading music. There is a lot of Chaplin music avaliable on CD, most notable being a couple of CDs by Carl Davis, one consisting just of music from _City Lights_, the other a selection called 'The Film Music of Charles Chaplin.' If these are no longer available from venders, they may show up, along with many other recordings of Chaplin's music, on Ebay. Quite a bit of his music can be had on vinyl on Ebay at very reasonable prices.

Which films did you have in mind? If you want shorts, the Image Mutuals and Essanays are the best to date. I'm not sure how available they are.

If you want the features, better wait for the new Warners set.

I do NOT want footage that has altered

Then you don't want any Madacys.

Connie K.

Constance, Thanks for the great info! I had a French friend of mine find the Chaplin section on the mk2.com site and there doesn't appear to be anything out of the ordinary there. I'm looking for the features, as I have most of the shorts that I want already. Do you have a link to the Warner production site or where I can find more info? If Madacy isn't a good product, then what is? Thanks!

There's no very good product as yet for the Keystones. For the Essanays and Mutuals, the Image DVDs are the best and most recent versions.

This is their commercial outlet, where one can buy their DVDs. They have quite a few interesting items. I'm not sure if these DVDS are region 2 specific. Anyone able to order from them could easily find out.

Connie K.

Constance, Thanks for the info about Image. Found their website (http://www.image-entertainment.com) and searched for the Chaplin films they have to offer. I am worried about the following comment in one of the descriptions located in a DVD description:

'...new digital stereo scores by Michael Mortilla.'

I'm assuming you own these, since you recommended them. Are the original scores, just re-recorded, or new compositions, or new scores all together? Thanks for your assistance Constance!

Michael Mortilla only did scores for the Mutuals (1916-17), which never had 'original scores'. His work is fine, if uninspired. The largely synth instruments sound pretty ordinary but were ok in the early 90's when they were recorded. You can do a lot better with midi today. What I do is turn off the sound and play Scott Joplin piano rags, or Chaplin music from other films. Always seems to work.

I can't add anything to Phil's answer. I recommended them for image quality and completeness, primarily. The scores are generally tolerable, but not up to the standard of the best Chaplin scores. How tolerable they are is largely a matter of taste. If scores fall into the tolerable range, my tendency is to ignore them. If they're so bad that I can't ignore them, I turn off the audio, and, if I have the energy, play something else. Phil's suggestions are excellent.

Not on Chaplin. The available Chaplin material is pretty much the same worldwide.

Connie K.

: in FRENCH (http://www.mk2.com). : : At any rate, I couldn't make heads or tails of it. Has anyone found any : thing related to this? : Maybe I can help; I'm able to read some French. This is what it says on the mk2.com site:

The Dictator DVD is a set of 2 DVDs (region 2). The bonus scenes are:

- a documentary called 'The Tramp and the Dictator', 2001 - colur scenes shot at the set by Sydney Chaplin - a short film, 'Charlie the Barber', from 1919 - an extract out of 'Monsieur Verdoux' (what's that got to do with it?) - a gallery of posters for 'The Great Dictator' - and some spoilers for 10 other Chaplin feature films that will be published by mk2

The Dictator DVD is for sale right now. More films will follow; they're going to publish a series of Chaplin films. They're also publishing a CD of Chaplin songs and music, for sale now. On the CD Chaplin will sing some of the songs himself; in the cellar at Vevey they have found a box of tapes

performed by the Irish group The Fureys - Chaplin liked Irish music, says Joséphine Chaplin at the mk2 site, and The Fureys happen to be her favourite Irish group. On the mk2 site you can listen to a few seconds from Chaplin's song at the end of 'Modern Times' and a few seconds of The Fureys doing 'Eternally'. I didn't know that there were lyrics for 'Eternally' and I'm not convinced that the song sounds better when you hear the lyrics....

What's 'Charlie The Barber' from? -never heard of that one.

Thanks Hakan! That's GREAT info