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.