Reviews of silent film releases on home video.
Copyright © 1999-2024 by Carl Bennett
and the Silent Era Company.
All Rights Reserved. |
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Chaplin’s Goliath
(1996)
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Charles Chaplin’s greatest foil was Scottish-born actor Eric Campbell. Capable of the right level of intimidation and ferocity on cue, Campbell is still beloved by audiences who cherish Chaplin’s short Mutual comedy films. Unfortunately, Eric Campbell died an untimely death after Chaplin completed his Mutual contract.
This documentary places a long-overdue spotlight on the silent cinema’s greatest comedic heavy.
— Carl Bennett
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 Flicker Alley
2014 Blu-ray Disc / DVD edition
Chaplin’s Mutual Comedies 1916-1917 (1916-2013), black & white, 400 minutes total, not rated,
including Chaplin’s Goliath (1996), color and black & white, 52 minutes, not rated.
Flicker Alley, FA0034,
UPC 0-17311-67859-2, ISBN 1-893967-859.
Two single-sided, dual-layered, Region A Blu-ray Discs, 1.33:1 aspect ratio image in pillarboxed 16:9 (1920 x 1080 pixels) progressive scan AVC (MPEG-4) format, SDR (standard dynamic range), ? Mbps average video bit rate, ? Mbps audio bit rate, Dolby Digital 48 kHz 2.0 stereo sound, English language intertitles, no foreign language subtitles, chapter stops; and three single-sided, dual-layered, Region 1 NTSC DVD discs, 1.33:1 aspect ratio image in pillarboxed 16:9 (720 x 480 pixels) interlaced scan MPEG-2 format, SDR (standard dynamic range), ? Mbps average video bit rate, ? Kbps audio bit rate, Dolby Digital 48 kHz 2.0 stereo sound, English language intertitles, no foreign language subtitles, chapter stops; five-disc BD steelbook; $59.99.
Release date: 19 August 2014.
Country of origin: USA
Ratings (1-10): video: 7 / audio: 7 / additional content: 9 / overall: 8.
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This dual-format Blu-ray Disc / DVD edition’s supplemental material includes the documentary Chaplin’s Goliath (1996) on Chaplin star heavy Eric Campbell, a 28-page booklet, and the documentary The Birth of the Tramp (2013).
The collection is issued in limited-edition steelbook packaging, which we feel must be handled gingerly to avoid damaging its discs and the case itself.
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USA: Click the logo to purchase this Region A Blu-ray Disc / Region 1 NTSC DVD edition from Amazon.com. Support Silent Era.
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Canada: Click the logo to purchase this Region A Blu-ray Disc / Region 1 NTSC DVD from Amazon.ca. Support Silent Era.
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 Film Preservation Associates
2003 DVD edition
Chaplin’s Goliath (1996), color and black & white, 52 minutes, not rated.
Film Preservation Associates, distributed by Image Entertainment, ID0749DSDVD, UPC 0-14381-07492-5.
One single-sided, single-layered, Region 1 NTSC DVD disc, 1.33:1 aspect ratio image in full-frame 4:3 (720 x 480 pixels) interlaced scan MPEG-2 format, SDR (standard dynamic range), ? Mbps average video bit rate, ? Kbps audio bit rate, Dolby Digital 48 kHz 2.0 stereo sound, no foreign language subtitles, chapter stops; standard DVD keepcase; $19.99.
Release date: 8 July 2003.
Country of origin: USA
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We have not viewed this DVD edition. However, the documentary features Chaplin outtakes and screen tests that have rarely been seen.
The disc is likely to be of high quality and a pleasant surprise to everyone.
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USA: Click the logomark to purchase this Region 1 NTSC DVD edition from Amazon.com. Your purchase supports Silent Era.
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Canada: Click the logomark to purchase this Region 1 NTSC DVD edition from Amazon.ca. Your purchase supports Silent Era.
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 Film Preservation Associates
2006 DVD edition
The Chaplin Mutual Comedies (1916-1917), black & white, 301 minutes total, not rated,
including Chaplin’s Goliath (1996), color and black & white, 52 minutes, not rated.
Film Preservation Associates, distributed by Image Entertainment, ID2477DSDVD, UPC 0-14381-24772-5.
Four single-sided, dual-layered, Region 0 NTSC DVD discs, 1.33:1 aspect ratio image in full-frame 4:3 (720 x 480 pixels) interlaced scan MPEG-2 format, SDR (standard dynamic range), ? Mbps average video bit rate, ? Kbps audio bit rate, Dolby Digital 48 kHz 2.0 stereo sound, English language intertitles, no foreign language subtitles, chapter stops; plastic trays in cardboard wrapper box; $59.99.
Release date: 11 July 2006.
Country of origin: USA
Ratings (1-10): video: 7 / audio: 7 / additional content: 8 / overall: 7.
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The Chaplin’s Goliath documentary is now offered as an additional feature in this remastered DVD collection of Chaplin Mutual comedies.
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USA: Click the logomark to purchase this Region 0 NTSC DVD edition from Amazon.com. Your purchase supports Silent Era.
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Canada: Click the logomark to purchase this Region 0 NTSC DVD edition from Amazon.ca. Your purchase supports Silent Era.
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Other silent era CHARLES CHAPLIN films available on home video.
Other silent era-related DOCUMENTARIES available on home video.
Other SHORT COMEDY FILMS of the silent era available on home video.
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Charles Chaplin filmography in The Progressive Silent Film List
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