(aka "Le Kid" or "Der Vagabund und das Kind" or "Chaplins Pojke")

 

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/direct-chair/chaplin.htm
USA 1921

Oft cited as being overly sentimental, Charlie Chaplin prefaces The Kid with an inter-title proclaiming that it is “a story with a smile—perhaps, a tear.” The film certainly pulls on the heart strings, most notably when social workers threaten to tear the kid away from the Tramp in a scene that comes from Chaplin's own experience at seven when his mother was committed to a mental institution. Charlie and his brother Sydney were assigned to an orphanage, and Chaplin clearly was emotionally scarred by the experience—read his autobiography or watch Richard Attenborough's Chaplin for details. So, in a very real sense, The Kid stands as a landmark for Chaplin. Not only is this his most personal film, but it marked a turning point in his career.

Chaplin's creativity had been languishing in a dry spell for several months in 1918 ever since his ill-fated marriage to 17-year old Mildred Harris. But fate intervened. Their son, Norman Spencer Chaplin, was born July 7, 1919 but lived only three days. Ten days after his son's death, Chaplin was back at work, auditioning babies for a project tentatively entitled “The Waif.” Fortuitously, a visit to a Music Hall where a vaudevillian performer brought out his four-year old son, Jackie Coogan, to charm the audience with his song and dance numbers changed film history. Chaplin instantly knew that he had found his co-star, as Coogan was a natural mimic that became the “perfect” actor for the demanding perfectionist. Had he been able to do so, Chaplin would have played every part in his films—he consistently acted out ever role and every nuance for his actors—so Coogan truly provides an accurate picture of Chaplin at age five.

Excerpt of a review by John Nesbit at CultureDose located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: 21 January 1921

Reviews    More Reviews  DVD Reviews

DVD Comparison:

 Image Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC vs. MK2 (Chaplin Collection) - Region 2 - PAL

Big thanks to Donald Brown and Arvid !

(Image Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT vs. MK2 (Chaplin Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)

DVD Box Cover

 

 
Distribution

Image Entertainment

Region 0 - NTSC

mk2

Region 2 - PAL
Runtime 1:08:45 50:24 (4% PAL speedup)
Video

1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 4.77 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s 

 1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 6.78 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate

Image Entertainment

Bitrate

MK2

Audio Original Dolby Digital (1.0) Original Dolby Digital (1.0), Dolby Digital (5.1)
Subtitles None English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Arabic, Croatian, Romanian, Slovenian, Bulgarian, Dutch, None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Image Entertainment

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• "A Dog's Life" (35:00)
• The original contract with the First National Exhibitor's Circuit
Home movies shot to show construction of the Chaplin Studios, the making of a silent movie, and visitors to the studio

DVD Release Date: February 8, 2000
 Snapper case

Chapters 17

 Release Information:
Studio: mk2

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• 2-Disc Set
• 'Chaplin Today - The Kid': a documentary by Alain Bergala with the participation of Abbas Kiarostami
• Introduction by David Robinson
• Outtakes (6 mins)
• 'My Boy': a later film starring Jackie Coogan in a role close to that of 'The Kid' (53 mins)
• 'How To Make Movies': a film in which Chaplin shows the building of his new studio and how movies are made
• Selection of Jackie Coogan in Chaplin Studios (1:30 mins)
• 'Charlie On The Ocean': Chaplin travelling in Europe newsreel footage (3 mins)
• Chaplin records 'The Kid' music (2 mins)
• Jackie Coogan in Paris (2 mins)
• 'Chaplin Collection' (11 mins)
• 'Nice & Friendly': a home movie with Lord & Lady Mountbatten & Jackie Coogan (11 mins)
• Photo gallery
• Film posters
• Trailers

DVD Release Date: September 22nd, 2003
Digipack

Chapters 24

 

Comments:
RE: the time differences: It says on the MK2 cover that Chaplin cut 6 minutes before the re-release in 1971. We still don't see that this and the PAL speed-up account for the difference (where is the other 10 minutes?). These deleted scenes are in the extras of the MK2 (under 'outtakes').

NOTE (from David Shepard): "I believe the difference is that I mastered THE KID at 20 fps and re-edited Chaplin's music to fit, whereas the MK2/Warner DVD uses the music "as is" and is probably mastered at 25 fps (since the NTSC DVD is converted from PAL)." (Thanks David!)

The MK2 have cropped about 11% off the top of the image. It is significantly brighter, but can look very unnatural at times in my opinion (overly contrasted). Saying that, MK2's blacks are blacker and the whites whiter. The Image Ent. disc is duller but there is not too much difference in sharpness - with a slight edge to MK2 as the contrast separation brings out textures and details more hidden on the Image DVD (see background walls etc.). My personal preference is the original theatrical version (at 20 frames per second). I've previously noted my feelings on these DVDs with their original aspect ratio cropping of City Lights and I don't share many people's opinions that these were the best DVDs of the year. My personal preferences, in almost every case, is for the original Image Entertainment discs, aside from the great extras available on the MK2's (and Warner). The Image DVD also has "A Dog's Life". I suggest owning both.

Chaplin came back into vogue with these new DVD releases, but for many of us his films never removed themselves from an elevated status. The fickle public has gone back to their flavors of the month, but I still cherish my Image Chaplin DVDs and watch them frequently (note: I don't have this one, but will get it !).

NOTE: The region 1 Warner Chaplin discs suffer from severe ghosting due to using the PAL masters. They are all flawed as far as I am concerned.

Gary Tooze

****

After the obvious masterpieces like Modern Times and City Lights, this is perhaps my favorite Chaplin film. Like in City Lights we get equal amount of laughter and tears. The film has very few and small print damages, and looks in my opinion outstanding for an over 80 years old movie. There are some great extras on this 2-disc edition to. We get the Chaplin today, the introduction by David Robinson, posters and trailers that's on ala the movies in the Chaplin Collection from mk2/Warner. But here is something other pretty cool namely a whole feature length film with Jackie Coogan from 1921 called "My Boy". I would like to recommend this for all Chaplin fans.

 - Arvid

 


DVD Menus


(Image Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT vs. MK2 (Chaplin Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)

 

 

Screen Captures

 

(Image Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. MK2 (Chaplin Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)

 

 

 

 

(Image Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. MK2 (Chaplin Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)

 

 

 

 

(Image Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. MK2 (Chaplin Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)

 

 

 

 

(Image Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. MK2 (Chaplin Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)

 

 

 

 

(Image Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. MK2 (Chaplin Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)

 

 

 

 

(Image Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. MK2 (Chaplin Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)

 

 

 

DVD Box Cover

 

 
Distribution

Image Entertainment

Region 0 - NTSC

mk2

Region 2 - PAL

Report Card:

 

Image:

(see comments)

Sound:

MK2 for superfluous 5.1 option
Extras: MK2
Menu: Image Entertainment




 

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