- Joined
- Feb 8, 1999
- Messages
- 18,428
- Real Name
- Robert Harris
If there is a single home video label that personifies the silent era, it must be Flicker Alley. Building upon their relationship with Blackhawk and Lobster, they have released Chaplin's Essanay Comedies -- the entire production output of Chaplin's work at Essanay in 1915, and then some.
Beginning with His New Job (the only film of the group shot in Chicago, before the move to the Niles Studio, near San Francisco), a three-reeler released in February of 1915, the new set is inclusive of fifteen other productions.
After Chaplin left Essanay, the company continued to "tinker" with his film, releasing several that not only did not follow his desires, but a final film, Triple Trouble (1918), that was created from bits of Chaplin's other films, along with some eye of newt and puppy dog tails.
Those involved have worked their magic to recreate, wherever possible, the original versions, most notably Burlesque on Carmen.
The films created after the Essanays, The Mutuals, are also available on Blu-ray from Flicker Alley, and show Mr. Chaplin's continued growth, as he expands the language of silent film comedy.
For those just discovering Chaplin's work, all of his later productions, beginning with his post Mutual films, either are, or will be shortly available via Criterion. His final work, A Countess from Hong Kong, which he created in 1967 for Universal, will hopefully come from that library.
To see the Chaplin Essanay productions on Blu-ray, reconstructed and restored, is a dream-like experience for anyone with a passion for the cinema.
While there have been some notable released on Blu-ray in 2015 from the silent era, at least for this cinema addict, Chaplin's Essanay Comedies, is that very special cherry atop a wonderful chocolate ice-cream sundae.
The current street price is $60, which will probably be discounted upon release.
Worth the price of admission?
Far more.
Image - Beautiful
Audio - N/A
4k Up-rez - 4
Pass / Fail - Pass
Very Highly Recommended
RAH