New Chaplin Warner Releases

Any thoughts?

Countess from Hong Kong is not in the deal - I believe that is being released seperately.

I would not assume that 'Woman of PAris' would stand on it's own - who would buy it? It would probably be matched with another film.

COUNTESS is owned by Universal, and was given a bare-bones release (with a fine anamorphic transfer) a couple of months ago.

Richard Carnahan

True....I for one have never seen it nor do I want to.

So I guess we'll probably see a multiple film First National DVD set as with the Image release.

Right now, I'm only considering The Gold Rush set since it will include the original version. I have all of the Image releases and unless the MK2 transfers are exceptional, I'll probably just hang onto them. Not to mention that the Warners will have the Chaplin changes made to them.

I don't know how many total are going to be released or which titles are being released. But I thought the 2-disc announcement was in reference to most of the main feature-length releases (Great Dictator, Modern Times, City Lights, etc) being released with an original documentary.

I've seen the new French DVD of M2K's edition of THE GREAT DICTATOR and the picture and sound quality are flabbergasting. The quality is simply beyond any everyday superlative. This is the same version that Warner Bros will be releasing in the USA.

I produced the 1992 versions for CBS/Fox of the Chaplin First National and United Artists films which were later issued on DVD by Image. At the time everyone associated with them was terribly proud of the beautiful results. Well, video technology has come a long, long way in ten years. I compared our THE GREAT DICTATOR with the new one and was ashamed! Take it from me, the new edition makes our earlier one look and sound like cheap VHS by contrast.

Folks, if clarity and other aspects of technical quality mean anything to you, you're gonna have to buy all these films again.

David Shepard (who has no financial stake in the new editions)

David -

Any plan to re-encode and reissue the Chaplin Mutuals? They look good, but the moment you zoom in, it's clear that that were encoded with software now considered inferior, though probably the best at the time, so long ago (four years!)

Just curious - a box set would be a wonderful thing! Especially with the current Warner reissues.

Dear Mr. Shepard: Thanks for the insight to the new Chaplin dvd's and thanks for all the great work you've done for film restoration. Have you seen the 'new' 1925 Gold Rush? I'm sure many of us are anxious to find out if it is indeed the original story-line (ie: the note from Georgia). Any info? Thanks... Rick Deerfield

Hi David,

I was afraid you were going to say that. Having purchased all of your versions, I was hoping to get away with just buying The Gold Rush for the silent version. Based on my respect of your opinion, and the simple fact that I must have the best of my obsessions (Chaplin being one of them), it looks like I'll be buying again.

By the way, you shouldn't be ashamed at all. Your versions still stand well above all the Madacy and Koch versions. I'm sure those who can't afford the Warner releases will be extremely happy owning your versions.

I guess my copies will soon be available at my local DVD re-seller.

Scanz

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I'm currently planning on only buying 'The Gold Rush' to get the restored 1925 edition. Even if the new transfers look better, if the Chaplin Estate is only going to issue the silent films in the step-printed versions done while Charlie was alive, then I probably won't buy the others unless packaged with some significant extras that would make me want to own both.

Derek Gee

Hi David,

I bought most of the CBS/Fox versions (First National up to The Great Dictator) on LaserDisc 10 years ago (for $80 each) and I still enjoy those versions. They were almost the main reason for me to buy a LaserDisc player in the first place (the Deluxe Pinocchio set had something to do with it too).

Since I do not make a habit of buying DVD titles I already have on LaserDisc (like the Art of Buster Keaton sets and the Chaplin Mutuals), I only planned to order the Gold Rush (for the 1925 version). However, after reading your expert view on M2K's The Great Dictator I might buy all of them again. Thanks for your review,