Please repost list of films to be withdrawn?

Woiuld someone be kind enough to repost the list that David Shepard supplied of the films that will be withdrawn?

Thank you.

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Since 1992, the laserdisc and DVD editions of all Charles Chaplin's films controlled by the filmmaker's family have been as close as possible to the original editions (although 'The Gold Rush' has been available only in Chaplin's 1941 [released 1942] narrated version).

According to an article in the British fanzine 'Chaplin Courier,' after the rights move over to MK2 films for twelve years beginning January 1, 2002, the films will be available only in the final versions with the cuts and alterations made by Chaplin between the 1930s and 1970s. Kate Guyonvarch of Association Chaplin said 'Whatever Chaplin fans or cinephiles might have to say about the changes/cuts Chaplin made late in life, HE made them, so he wanted them. We must and do respect that.'

The present USA DVD editions are scheduled to be withdrawn in approximately two months, although possibly some retailers may be remaindering copies until the end of the year.

These are the films which will be affected by the new policy:

A DOG'S LIFE, SHOULDER ARMS, THE PILGRIM. Running speeds will change ('The Chaplin Revue' contains considerable stretch printing) and scenes will be eliminated.

SUNNYSIDE, A DAY'S PLEASURE, THE IDLE CLASS, PAY DAY Running speeds will change. Some will be faster, some slower.

THE KID Scenes will be eliminated, running speed will change.

A WOMAN OF PARIS Scenes will be eliminated, running speed will change.

THE GOLD RUSH Aperture (cropping) will change.

THE CIRCUS (New credit sequence with song will be moved back to head of picture).

CITY LIGHTS will be accompanied only by 1931 sound track.

MODERN TIMES Scene [final verse of nonsense song] will be eliminated.

LIMELIGHT Scene [Calvero borrowing money from armless man] will be eliminated.

A KING IN NEW YORK Approximately 30 small bits will be eliminated.

I do not know what will happen with the extras on these editions or what extras will be added to the new editions of Chaplin's final cut versions.

Those who wish to own these films in the longer versions presently available and those who wish to own them in Chaplin's final cut versions will want to be guided accordingly.

David Shepard

Which company or companies have produced DVD's of the films mentioned below since 1992 and where can they be found? Alan Glick

Image released the discs and they are available from http://www.dvdplanet.com/ (which is owned by Image).

Richard Carnahan

Thanks. Just ordered some. With regards to the post of David Shepard; it said that: 'The present USA DVD editions are scheduled to be withdrawn in approximately two months, although possibly some retailers may be remaindering copies until the end of the year.' How long ago did he post this message? Alan Glick

Well, actually, I guess not, since in all matters relating to the restoration and presentation of his works, they seem unalteringly, persistantly dumb.

Hi,

It was posted on alt.movies.silent on July 23.

The problem I have with this argument is that the more significant changes reflected on the laser disks and DVDs happened either prior to (in the case of the fourth verse of the nonsense song in MODERN TIMES), or immediately following (in the case of Claudius in LIMELIGHT), the premieres of those films. Are you suggesting that the Chaplin Estate should second-guess Chaplin's own decisions about *those* cuts, made as they were by the director and based (one can reasonably assume) on his take of the reactions of preview and premiere audiences?

Most of the other changes you object to (we have been over this before) were made mostly for the practical reasons of preserving the best possible versions given the physical condition of the materials. Again, the decisions made were Chaplin's, and they were made at a time (in the ‘40s) when he could hardly be considered a doting old man. We can second-guess forever the wisdom of choosing ‘visual quality' over ‘adherence to original presentation,' but given the physical condition of the material, and prevailing attitudes about film preservation at that time, it is perfectly reasonable to me that Chaplin chose to have his artistic integrity represented by what *he* considered the best existing material. Film deterioration and overuse is a regrettable fact of life but decisions forced by facts of life are hardly ones that we can reasonably blame on Chaplin (except perhaps the overuse as a result of artistic excellence) or his Estate.

Help me out here. Which major (or even minor) changes, other than possibly adding scores, are the ones you refer to as having been made in his 'dotage?'

Just for the record, I didn't make either statement quoted.

Rick Richard Lanham

No. I believe that the films should be seen and restored to the state that they were in when first released. The extra scenes you mention above, and I think there were some from 'King In New York' as well, if I remember correctly, should be relegated to 'bonus material' status on future DVD issues.

I remind you again of Mr. Shepard's comments that most (if not all) of the First National material compiled in the 1940's consists of 2nd or rejected takes. It's the usage of this material instead of the original footage that I have a problem with.

I have read (here, I think) that the decisions were your Grandfather's, and that - in fact, Chaplin was unhappy when he realized what had been done to the films. Please clarify.

What we're talking about is:

A) Shall we take the better version of a film and issue it, even though the print may be worn or damaged, or...

Shall we construct the film, or portions of the film, out of 2nd best outtakes which AREN'T worn or damaged, and issue THAT.

Since the 1940's, the powers-that-be have chosen B. I find this objectionable on both aesthetic and historical grounds.

You've spun away from the point, here. Even accepting the statement that Chaplin knew of / approved the changes in the films, the fact that he followed the 'prevailing attitudes about film preservation at that time' does not mean we have to follow them today. If it's a choice between Charlie's wishes in the '20's, when he actually made the films, and Charlie's wishes in the '40's, when he was in his dotage (and I mean artistic dotage here, not actual old age), I'd choose the former anyday.

I never blamed film deterioration or overuse on Chaplin, or his estate for that matter.

I think this is answered earlier when I talk about the replaced footage. Now, I should say that I'm simply accepting David Shepard's word for all of this, and the changes may not be as dire as his comments have us believe - I don't know. I have not seen enough original First National material to verify the degree of replacement for myself. Perhaps you, or others here who have seen some dupes of the original issues can comment on the degree of difference between these and the 1940's edits.