Actors: Charles Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Claire Bloom, Nigel Bruce, Norman Lloyd, Sydney Chaplin Director: Charles Chaplin Language: ENGLISH: LPCM Mono Subtitles: English
Region: Region A
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
Number of Discs: 1 Rating: G Orig. Release Date: 1952 Studio: Criterion Release Date: 5/19/2015 Run Time: 137 Min.
- Trailers - two original trailers for Limelight. (5 min, 1080i).
- 1. In English, not subtitled.
- 2. In Italian, with optional English subtitles.
- Short Films -
- 1. A Night in the Show (1915) - the twelfth film Charlie Chaplin for the Essanay Film Manufacturing Company. It is based on the play Mumming Birds,
which Charlie Chaplin performed with the Fred Karno Company, first in
London from 1908 to 1909, and then when the company toured the United
States. Presented with a new score by composer Timothy Brock. (See the
video section of our review for additional comments).
- 2. The Professor (1919) - an uncompleted short by Charlie Chaplin. (See the video section of our review for additional comments).
- Chaplin Today: "Limelight" - this archival video
program produced by Edgardo Cozarinsky for MK2 in 2002 takes a closer
look at the production history of Charlie Chaplin's Limelight and
his controversial image in America at the time when the film was shot.
Included in it are clips from interviews with Sidney Chaplin, Charlie
Chaplin's son, Bernardo Bertolucci (Last Tango in Paris), and Claire Bloom. In English, Italian, and French, with optional English subtitles where necessary. (27 min, 1080i).
- Chaplin's "Limelight" - in this new video program, Charlie Chaplin biographer David Robinson discusses the long production history of Limelight
and the evolution of its script, Charlie Chaplin's relationship with
Paulette Goddard, his troubles with America's far right, the music
(which was composed before the film was shot), the personal overtones in
the film, the uncompleted short film The Professor (which
introduced the performing fleas), etc. The program was created
exclusively for Criterion in 2015. In English, not subtitled. (22 min,
1080p).
- Claire Bloom and Norman Lloyd - two video interviews. In English, not subtitled.
- 1. Claire Bloom - in this new video interview, actress Claire Bloom recalls how she was approached by Charlie Chaplin to play Thereza in Limelight,
and discusses the audition process, Thereza's devotion to Calvero and
her ambitions, the choreography, the film's reception, Charlie Chaplin's
directing style and his controversial image in America, etc. The
interview was conducted exclusively for Criterion in 2015. (16 min,
1080p).
- 2. Norman Lloyd - in this video interview, actor Norman Lloyd
recalls his initial encounter with Charlie Chaplin, and discusses the
visual style of Limelight, Charlie Chaplin's specific directions
for the cast during the shooting of the film and the type of period look
he wanted to evoke in it, the interactions between the principal
actors, the story of Limelight and Charlie Chaplin's relationship
with Oona Chaplin, etc. The interview was conducted exclusively for
Criterion in 2012. (15 min, 1080p).
- Outtake - scene that appeared in Limelight
when the film premiered in London in 1962, but was consequently removed
by Charlie Chaplin before the film was distributed worldwide. In
English, not subtitled. (5 min, 1080i).
- Charlie Chaplin Reads from Footlights - in this archival audio recording, Charlie Chaplin reads two excerpts from his novella Footlights, which inspired Limelight. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080i).
- Booklet - 40-page illustrated booklet featuring:
Peter von Bagh's "Portrait of an Artist as an Old Man", Henry Gris'
"Hollywood Chaplin", and technical credits.
Charlie Chaplin's masterful drama about the twilight of a former vaudeville star is among the writer-director's most touching films. Chaplin plays Calvero, a once beloved musical-comedy performer, now a washed-up alcoholic who lives in a small London flat. A glimmer of hope arrives when he meets a beautiful but melancholy ballerina (Claire Bloom) who lives downstairs. An elegant mix of the comic and the tragic, this poignant film also features Buster Keaton in an extended cameo, marking the only time the two silent comedy icons appeared together on-screen. Made at a time when Chaplin was under attack by the American press and far right, Limelight was barely distributed in the United States upon its initial release, but it is now considered one of his essential and most personal works.
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