The Chaplin Revue
Encyclopedia
The Chaplin Revue is a 1959 film comprising three silent films made by Charlie Chaplin
. The three shorts included are A Dog's Life
, Shoulder Arms
, and The Pilgrim. All three star Chaplin's trademark character, The Tramp
. For the 1959 release, Chaplin added a soundtrack
to help appeal to modern audiences. Chaplin also added extra footage including clips from to express the context. He provides a personal introduction to each of the clips.
Current releases of the compilation on DVD
also feature other Chaplin films produced with First National
such as Sunnyside
and The Bond
. Introductions by David Robinson
, and behind-the-scenes footage are also included.
and in the 1950s, he lived in exile in Switzerland
with his wife Oona O'Neill
. He latest three films, Monsieur Verdoux
, Limelight, and A King in New York
, were not universally acclaimed and his star power was fading. The idea of reviving his role as The Tramp
for modern audiences was entertained.
Chaplin had often used scenes featuring The Tramp, such as The Tramp's final appearance in Modern Times
, as a vehicle for expressing his ideas. Critic and friend James Agee
wrote a script placing Chaplin's trademark character, the Tramp, in apocalyptic New York
.
Chaplin decided the best way to bring the tramp into the new era was by re-releasing three silent films he made with First National
as a feature length film. Released in 1959, The Chaplin Revue consisted of A Dog's Life, Shoulder Arms and The Pilgrim – each of which was introduced by Chaplin and juxtaposed with behind the scenes footage and clips from World War I
.
is singing while being annoyed by the club's patrons. Charlie and Scraps are kicked out and Edna is fired. Scraps finds money in a lost wallet, which is then stolen by a pack of thieves. Charlie manages to thwart their theft and he, Scraps, and Edna enjoy their new found happiness, together.
Charlie has no friends and seems to make enemies with his allies at the drop of the hat.
Through sheer dumb luck, Charlie stumbles into the enemy trenches and captures 13 German soldiers. After this "heroic" act, Charlie is given the duty of infiltrating enemy lines further under the guise of a tree trunk. His shining moment comes when he is hunted down by the Kaiser but with some quick thinking, reverses the ambush and captures the Kaiser for the allies. His fellow soldiers cheer him as a great wartime hero. He then awakes from his dream.
Concerning the DVD release, reviewer Robert Horton
says: "This box set is more than film history; it's a living treasure."
However, some reviewers have been critical of the re-release due to its format. To allow for a soundtrack, the original footage was stretched and certain frames were duplicated. Walter Kerr
in The Silent Clowns declares that the "cadence of all three films, and of Chaplin's work in them, is utterly destroyed. Let no newcomer to the form begin acquaintance with Chaplin on such terms; only the originals will do."
Charlie Chaplin
Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I...
. The three shorts included are A Dog's Life
A Dog's Life
A Dog's Life is a silent film written, produced and directed by Charlie Chaplin. This was Chaplin's first film for First National Films....
, Shoulder Arms
Shoulder Arms
Shoulder Arms is Charlie Chaplin's second film for First National Pictures. Released in 1918, it is a silent comedy set in France during World War I. The main part of the film occurs in a dream. It co-starred Edna Purviance and Sydney Chaplin, Chaplin's brother...
, and The Pilgrim. All three star Chaplin's trademark character, The Tramp
The Tramp
The Tramp, also known as The Little Tramp was Charlie Chaplin's most memorable on-screen character, a recognized icon of world cinema most dominant during the silent film era....
. For the 1959 release, Chaplin added a soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
to help appeal to modern audiences. Chaplin also added extra footage including clips from to express the context. He provides a personal introduction to each of the clips.
Current releases of the compilation on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
also feature other Chaplin films produced with First National
First National
First National was an association of independent theater owners in the United States that expanded from exhibiting movies to distributing them, and eventually to producing them as a movie studio, called First National Pictures, Inc. It later merged with Warner Bros.-Early history:The First National...
such as Sunnyside
Sunnyside (film)
Sunnyside is a 1919 short silent film written, directed and starring Charlie Chaplin. It was his third film for First National Pictures.-Plot summary :...
and The Bond
The Bond
The Bond is a propaganda film created by Charlie Chaplin at his own expense for the Liberty Load Committee for theatrical release to help sell U.S. Liberty Bonds during World War I....
. Introductions by David Robinson
David Robinson (film critic and author)
David Robinson is a British film critic and author. He started writing for Sight and Sound and the Monthly Film Bulletin in the 1950s, becoming Assistant Editor of Sight and Sound and Editor of the Monthly Film Bulletin in 1957-1958...
, and behind-the-scenes footage are also included.
Background
During the silent era, Charlie Chaplin was one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. Unfortunately for Chaplin though, he fell victim to McCarthyismMcCarthyism
McCarthyism is the practice of making accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason without proper regard for evidence. The term has its origins in the period in the United States known as the Second Red Scare, lasting roughly from the late 1940s to the late 1950s and characterized by...
and in the 1950s, he lived in exile in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
with his wife Oona O'Neill
Oona O'Neill
Oona, Lady Chaplin was the daughter of Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Eugene O'Neill and writer Agnes Boulton, and the wife of British actor, director and producer Charlie Chaplin....
. He latest three films, Monsieur Verdoux
Monsieur Verdoux
Monsieur Verdoux is a 1947 black comedy film directed by and starring Charles Chaplin. The supporting cast includes Martha Raye, William Frawley, and Marilyn Nash.-Plot:...
, Limelight, and A King in New York
A King in New York
A King in New York is a 1957 British comedy film directed by and starring Charlie Chaplin in his last leading role, which presents a satirical view of certain aspects of United States politics and society. The film was produced in Europe after Chaplin's exile from the US in 1952...
, were not universally acclaimed and his star power was fading. The idea of reviving his role as The Tramp
The Tramp
The Tramp, also known as The Little Tramp was Charlie Chaplin's most memorable on-screen character, a recognized icon of world cinema most dominant during the silent film era....
for modern audiences was entertained.
Chaplin had often used scenes featuring The Tramp, such as The Tramp's final appearance in Modern Times
Modern Times (film)
Modern Times is a 1936 comedy film by Charlie Chaplin that has his iconic Little Tramp character struggling to survive in the modern, industrialized world. The film is a comment on the desperate employment and fiscal conditions many people faced during the Great Depression, conditions created, in...
, as a vehicle for expressing his ideas. Critic and friend James Agee
James Agee
James Rufus Agee was an American author, journalist, poet, screenwriter and film critic. In the 1940s, he was one of the most influential film critics in the U.S...
wrote a script placing Chaplin's trademark character, the Tramp, in apocalyptic New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Chaplin decided the best way to bring the tramp into the new era was by re-releasing three silent films he made with First National
First National
First National was an association of independent theater owners in the United States that expanded from exhibiting movies to distributing them, and eventually to producing them as a movie studio, called First National Pictures, Inc. It later merged with Warner Bros.-Early history:The First National...
as a feature length film. Released in 1959, The Chaplin Revue consisted of A Dog's Life, Shoulder Arms and The Pilgrim – each of which was introduced by Chaplin and juxtaposed with behind the scenes footage and clips from World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
A Dog's Life
Charlie's tramp lives alone on the street. He persistently tries to get a job but there are none left at the employment agency when he gets there. Down and out, Charlie returns to the streets to find Scraps, a stray dog being attacked. He rescues her and the two form a bond. They fill the gap in each other's lives and they are no longer lonely – or hungry. Later, they attend a music hall where Edna PurvianceEdna Purviance
Edna Purviance was an American actress during the silent movie era. She was the leading lady in many Charlie Chaplin movies. In a span of eight years, she appeared in over thirty films with Chaplin.-Early life:...
is singing while being annoyed by the club's patrons. Charlie and Scraps are kicked out and Edna is fired. Scraps finds money in a lost wallet, which is then stolen by a pack of thieves. Charlie manages to thwart their theft and he, Scraps, and Edna enjoy their new found happiness, together.
Shoulder Arms
Originally released in the USA in October 1918, the relatively short black and white silent film ran for 46 minutes and finds Charlie playing the new recruit in the war effort against the Germans.Charlie has no friends and seems to make enemies with his allies at the drop of the hat.
Through sheer dumb luck, Charlie stumbles into the enemy trenches and captures 13 German soldiers. After this "heroic" act, Charlie is given the duty of infiltrating enemy lines further under the guise of a tree trunk. His shining moment comes when he is hunted down by the Kaiser but with some quick thinking, reverses the ambush and captures the Kaiser for the allies. His fellow soldiers cheer him as a great wartime hero. He then awakes from his dream.
The Pilgrim
An escaped convict (Chaplin) dons the vesture of a clergyman and is mistakenly appointed as the new pastor of the small town of Devil's Gulch. After acquainting himself with a local mother and daughter, and subsequently moving in with them, one of his former buddies from prison arrives and steals from the two women. Charlie tries to get their money back but his former life is discovered by the sheriff who takes him to the border of Mexico; facing life as a convict if he returns.Cast
| Actor | A Dog's Life | Shoulder Arms | The Pilgrim |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlie Chaplin Charlie Chaplin Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I... |
The Tramp The Tramp The Tramp, also known as The Little Tramp was Charlie Chaplin's most memorable on-screen character, a recognized icon of world cinema most dominant during the silent film era.... |
A Recruit | An escaped convict |
| Edna Purviance Edna Purviance Edna Purviance was an American actress during the silent movie era. She was the leading lady in many Charlie Chaplin movies. In a span of eight years, she appeared in over thirty films with Chaplin.-Early life:... |
Bar Singer | French Girl | Miss Brown |
| Syd Chaplin | Lunchwagon Owner | The Kaiser | Boy's Father |
| Henry Bergman Henry Bergman Henry Bergman was an American actor of stage and film, known for his long association with Charlie Chaplin.... |
Unemployed man | Field Marshall | Sheriff on train |
| Charles Reisner Charles Reisner Charles "Chuck" Reisner was an American film director and actor of the 1920s and 1930s.He directed over 60 films between 1920 and 1950 and acted in over 20 films between 1916 and 1929... |
Agency Clerk | - | Crook |
| Albert Austin Albert Austin Albert Austin was an actor, film star, director and script writer, noted mainly for his work in Charlie Chaplin films. He was the brother of actor William Austin.... |
Clerk | Chaffeur | - |
| Tom Wilson Tom Wilson (actor) Tom Wilson was an American film actor. He appeared in 254 films between 1915 and 1963. He was born in Helena, Montana, and died in Los Angeles, California.-Selected filmography:* Little Marie... |
Policeman | Sergeant | - |
| Loyal Underwood Loyal Underwood Loyal Underwood was an American stock actor for Charlie Chaplin's film studio.Underwood's movie debut was in The Count, a 1916 Chaplin short film created for the Mutual Film Corporation... |
- | Short German Officer | Elder |
| Jack Wilson | - | Crown Prince | - |
| John Rand John Rand (actor) John Rand was an American actor who started his film career in the 1910s, and most notably supported Charles Chaplin in over 20 of his subjects.-Selected filmography:*The Pawnshop *Easy Street *Pay Day... |
- | German Soldier | - |
| J. Park Jones | - | U.S. Soldier | - |
| Tom Murray Tom Murray (actor) Tom Murray was an American film actor. He appeared in thirteen films between 1922 and 1931. Born in Stonefort, Illinois and died in Hollywood, California of a heart attack.-Filmography:-External links:... |
- | ||
| Sheriff Bryan | |||
| Dean Riesner Dean Riesner Dean Riesner was a prolific American film and television writer.Riesner's father was a silent film director, and Dean began acting in films at the age of five. His career at this young age ended because his mother wanted her son to have a real childhood... |
- | - | Little Boy |
| Mai Wells | - | - | Little Boy's Mother |
| Mack Swain Mack Swain Mack Swain was an American actor and vaudevillian, prolific throughout the 1910s, 1920s and 1930s.-Film career:... |
- | - | Deacon |
| Kitty Bradbury | - | - | Mrs. Brown (Edna's Mother) |
| M.J. McCarthy | Unemployed man | - | - |
| Mel Brown | Unemployed man | - | - |
| Charles Force | Unemployed man | - | - |
| Bert Appling | Unemployed man | - | - |
| Thomas Riley | Unemployed man | - | - |
| Slim Cole | Unemployed man | - | - |
| Ted Edwards | Unemployed man | - | - |
| Louis Fitzroy | Unemployed man | - | - |
Crew
Credited for the 1959 release:- Charles Chaplin - Director
- Charles Chaplin - Producer
- Charles Chaplin - Writer
- Charles Chaplin - Original Music
- Paul Davies - Editor
- Derek Parsons - Editor
- Bob Jones - Sound Recordist
- Wally Milner - Sound Recordist
- J.J.Y. Scarlett - Sound Recordist
- Eric Stockl - Sound Recordist
- Eric James - Music Arranger
- Eric Rogers - Conductor
- Eric SpearEric SpearEric Spear was an English composer of film music. He was born in Croydon and died Southampton.Spear is best known for composing the original theme tune for the UK's longest-running television soap opera, Coronation Street, for which he was paid £6.The cornet player Ronnie Hunt found the recording...
- Music Arranger - Jerome Epstein - Assistant to Mr. Chaplin
Release dates
- UK: September 1, 1959
- FinlandFinlandFinland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
: December 25, 1959 - DenmarkDenmarkDenmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
: July 28, 1960 - Germany: October 9, 1997:
Reception
The Chaplin Revue was critically acclaimed when released in 1959. According to Top Ten Reviews, which gives ratings based on average critic scores, it is ranked:- 88th – 1959
- 835th – 1950s
- 3,095th – comedy
Concerning the DVD release, reviewer Robert Horton
Robert Horton
Sir Robert Horton, FRSA is a British businessman. He is a Director of the European Advisory Council and of Emerson Electric Company. He spent 30 years working for BP, formerly British Petroleum. He became Chief Executive and Chairman of the Board of BP in March 1990, but was forced out in 1992...
says: "This box set is more than film history; it's a living treasure."
However, some reviewers have been critical of the re-release due to its format. To allow for a soundtrack, the original footage was stretched and certain frames were duplicated. Walter Kerr
Walter Kerr
For the RN admiral see Lord Walter KerrWalter Francis Kerr was an American writer and Broadway theater critic. He also was the writer, lyricist, and/or director of several Broadway plays and musicals.-Biography:...
in The Silent Clowns declares that the "cadence of all three films, and of Chaplin's work in them, is utterly destroyed. Let no newcomer to the form begin acquaintance with Chaplin on such terms; only the originals will do."