Geraldine-Chaplin Movie Reviews

These documentaries are superbly well organized and presented. All of the work I have seen by Kevin Brownlow and David Gill, including this one, has been top quality. The Unknown Chaplin set gives a behind the scenes glance at Chaplin and his working methods. It includes alot of rare footage, some of it never before seen in public. James Mason does an excellent job narrating with his clipped British accent, and the music is well chosen and well-fitted to the sequences shown.

On another note, I did not think the introductory speech given by Geraldine Chaplin (Charlie's daughter) was of any benefit.

And I would warn customers that the copy I received was made from an original which was in bad condition (I refer to volume 1, "My Happiest Years"). There were many sequences with scratches and little blank sections...

The third and final volume in the "Unknown Chaplin" series put together by Kevin Brownlow and David Gill for Thames Television, looks at some of the lost treasures that were hidden for over half a century in the Chaplin family film vault. Again the emphasis is on how simple gags eventually evolved and made their way into Chaplin's films. A home movie reveals a bit that eventually became the ballet with the globe balloon in "The Great Dictator," while some shots from the unfinished filmed "The Professor" reappears as one of the dream sequences in "Limelight." However, the centerpiece here is the restored opening sequence from "City Lights," presented with its original musical score. I stumbled across this documentary several years ago and was instantly enthralled. James Mason provides the perfect narration, where you feel he is enjoying the discoveries as much as you are as we watch Chaplin create his comic magic. "Unknown Chaplin" is an exemplary documentary treatise on one of the acknowledged masters of the cinema, showing us how he created some of the funniest sequences in movie history. Even if you have seen only bits and pieces of Chaplin's work, you will find this documentary absolutely fascinating.

"The Great Director," Volume 2 in the "Unknown Chaplin" series from Thames Television, looks at Chaplin working on some of his biggest films, including "The Kid," "The Gold Rush" and my personal favorite, "City Lights." The chief assets of this documentary are the treasures found in the Chaplin family private film vault, including discarded sequences and home movies never before seen by the public. There are also interviews with Jackie Coogan, Lita Grey, Virginia Cherrill and others who worked with Chaplin. The emphasis remains on how Chaplin worked, beginning with simple sight gags and slapstick and transforming them into comic masterpieces. This volume also gets into a bit more of Chaplin's artistic temperament, especially when his patience ran thin with Cherrill and he temporarily replaced her with Grey as the blind girl in "City Lights." There are even clips of the film's classic ending shot with Grey. Kevin Brownlow and David Gill were given access to these unseen films by Oona Chaplin and they make the most of it in providing a portrait of a great artist at work. James Mason provides the narration, managing to sound like a college professor lecturing students and at the same time like a fan of Chaplin's comic genius. Whether you have seen a few or all of Chaplin's films, "Unknown Chaplin" is an absolute treat.

These documentaries are superbly well organized and presented. All of the work I have seen by Kevin Brownlow and David Gill, including this one, has been top quality. The Unknown Chaplin set gives a behind the scenes glance at Chaplin and his working methods. It includes alot of rare footage, some of it never before seen in public. James Mason does an excellent job narrating with his clipped British accent, and the music is well chosen and well-fitted to the sequences shown.

On another note, I did not think the introductory speech given by Geraldine Chaplin (Charlie's daughter) was of any benefit.

And I would warn customers that the copy I received was made from an original which was in bad condition (I refer to volume 1, "My Happiest Years"). There were many sequences with scratches and little blank sections...

The third and final volume in the "Unknown Chaplin" series put together by Kevin Brownlow and David Gill for Thames Television, looks at some of the lost treasures that were hidden for over half a century in the Chaplin family film vault. Again the emphasis is on how simple gags eventually evolved and made their way into Chaplin's films. A home movie reveals a bit that eventually became the ballet with the globe balloon in "The Great Dictator," while some shots from the unfinished filmed "The Professor" reappears as one of the dream sequences in "Limelight." However, the centerpiece here is the restored opening sequence from "City Lights," presented with its original musical score. I stumbled across this documentary several years ago and was instantly enthralled. James Mason provides the perfect narration, where you feel he is enjoying the discoveries as much as you are as we watch Chaplin create his comic magic. "Unknown Chaplin" is an exemplary documentary treatise on one of the acknowledged masters of the cinema, showing us how he created some of the funniest sequences in movie history. Even if you have seen only bits and pieces of Chaplin's work, you will find this documentary absolutely fascinating.

"The Great Director," Volume 2 in the "Unknown Chaplin" series from Thames Television, looks at Chaplin working on some of his biggest films, including "The Kid," "The Gold Rush" and my personal favorite, "City Lights." The chief assets of this documentary are the treasures found in the Chaplin family private film vault, including discarded sequences and home movies never before seen by the public. There are also interviews with Jackie Coogan, Lita Grey, Virginia Cherrill and others who worked with Chaplin. The emphasis remains on how Chaplin worked, beginning with simple sight gags and slapstick and transforming them into comic masterpieces. This volume also gets into a bit more of Chaplin's artistic temperament, especially when his patience ran thin with Cherrill and he temporarily replaced her with Grey as the blind girl in "City Lights." There are even clips of the film's classic ending shot with Grey. Kevin Brownlow and David Gill were given access to these unseen films by Oona Chaplin and they make the most of it in providing a portrait of a great artist at work. James Mason provides the narration, managing to sound like a college professor lecturing students and at the same time like a fan of Chaplin's comic genius. Whether you have seen a few or all of Chaplin's films, "Unknown Chaplin" is an absolute treat.

These documentaries are superbly well organized and presented. All of the work I have seen by Kevin Brownlow and David Gill, including this one, has been top quality. The Unknown Chaplin set gives a behind the scenes glance at Chaplin and his working methods. It includes alot of rare footage, some of it never before seen in public. James Mason does an excellent job narrating with his clipped British accent, and the music is well chosen and well-fitted to the sequences shown.

On another note, I did not think the introductory speech given by Geraldine Chaplin (Charlie's daughter) was of any benefit.

And I would warn customers that the copy I received was made from an original which was in bad condition (I refer to volume 1, "My Happiest Years"). There were many sequences with scratches and little blank sections...

The third and final volume in the "Unknown Chaplin" series put together by Kevin Brownlow and David Gill for Thames Television, looks at some of the lost treasures that were hidden for over half a century in the Chaplin family film vault. Again the emphasis is on how simple gags eventually evolved and made their way into Chaplin's films. A home movie reveals a bit that eventually became the ballet with the globe balloon in "The Great Dictator," while some shots from the unfinished filmed "The Professor" reappears as one of the dream sequences in "Limelight." However, the centerpiece here is the restored opening sequence from "City Lights," presented with its original musical score. I stumbled across this documentary several years ago and was instantly enthralled. James Mason provides the perfect narration, where you feel he is enjoying the discoveries as much as you are as we watch Chaplin create his comic magic. "Unknown Chaplin" is an exemplary documentary treatise on one of the acknowledged masters of the cinema, showing us how he created some of the funniest sequences in movie history. Even if you have seen only bits and pieces of Chaplin's work, you will find this documentary absolutely fascinating.

"The Great Director," Volume 2 in the "Unknown Chaplin" series from Thames Television, looks at Chaplin working on some of his biggest films, including "The Kid," "The Gold Rush" and my personal favorite, "City Lights." The chief assets of this documentary are the treasures found in the Chaplin family private film vault, including discarded sequences and home movies never before seen by the public. There are also interviews with Jackie Coogan, Lita Grey, Virginia Cherrill and others who worked with Chaplin. The emphasis remains on how Chaplin worked, beginning with simple sight gags and slapstick and transforming them into comic masterpieces. This volume also gets into a bit more of Chaplin's artistic temperament, especially when his patience ran thin with Cherrill and he temporarily replaced her with Grey as the blind girl in "City Lights." There are even clips of the film's classic ending shot with Grey. Kevin Brownlow and David Gill were given access to these unseen films by Oona Chaplin and they make the most of it in providing a portrait of a great artist at work. James Mason provides the narration, managing to sound like a college professor lecturing students and at the same time like a fan of Chaplin's comic genius. Whether you have seen a few or all of Chaplin's films, "Unknown Chaplin" is an absolute treat.

It is truly a shame that this movie is largely unknown, because it is one of the finer movies I have ever watched. The acting is amazing, and the characters play off of each other brilliantly. I have told others about the movie, and have to warn them that if they are looking for lots of explosions, blood, and guts, that this is not the movie for them. Unfortunately, we have come to expect and even crave that in a war movie. What makes A Foreign Field so great is the fact that the noise and bloodshed are long over, and the movie focuses instead on the memories and core emotions that veterans and their loved ones feel when reflecting on a different time. It is a great movie to watch on Veteran's Day or Memorial Day every year.

A sleeper. I fortunately saw Foreign Field on TV several years ago and remembered it. With the current interest in WW II Europe, this movie provides a different viewpoint than the tremendous violence of combat. No mud, no blood and the sun is shining. Wryly humorous at the start, it segues into an emotional end. Not a dry eye in the house.

The thing that impressed me the most was the crafting of the film to build to the touching climax at the grave of Lauren Bacall's brother. The movie begins with the Brit and the American at odds and moves forward as they realize they shared a common experience on D-Day with both contributing to the Allied victory. At the film's end they come to know that that experience was also shared by the enemy, who were also just soldiers doing their duty and likewise deserve respect. After 50 years, a common ground is reached and all are reconciled to the past.

A Hallmark/Family Channel production. You will totally enjoy all 93 minutes of this movie! This is Mother Teresa's story of helping the poor in Calcutta India. The acting is fantasic! It looks like it is filmed on location. This is a must buy for your collection!

This movie has one of the all-time best scenes in film history. I have viewed this particular scene at least 30 times and each time I love it even more. The scene could easily stand alone with a 5-star star rating, but it's not necessary because the entire film is well worth watching. It is unique in content and has a tension and tone that keeps you wondering where the film is leading you. I highly recommend it. Great soundtrack, too!

this video should be remembered as the very first piece of celluloid to ever record the dance steps of the (then) growing craze of the hustle in disco.

This is the decadent counterpoint to Out of Africa (both are good films). It's the story of British ex-pats drifting through their days in colonial Kenya. With all their money and boredom, the only thing that entertains them are parties, sex and drugs, sometimes all done together. This is the mischief these white folk get up to, while their black servants look on dispassionately but with certain disdain.
Charles Dance is wonderfully smarmy as the playboy who wins Greta Scacchi's affections. She is the young beauty who married an older man for title and money, but has no love for him. It's shameful to see how brazen Dance and Scacchi are in their affair. The old husband does what any man with pride left would do. You can almost feel the British Empire crumbling around you as you are absorbed by this movie, in much the same way as A Passage to India (another great film).
Great supporting performances by Sarah Miles and Geraldine Chaplin as part of the high society swingers.
I was fortunate to find this video on sale second hand at my local video store.

this movie is based on a history of the same title. the events were, more or less, as presented in the film. of course, the real people weren't quite as beautiful, and the sordidness wasn't quite as photogenic.

africa, like australia and new zealand, was where the 'remittance' men were sent by their families, to remove the scandals from the homefront. these sometimes extremely black sheep were sent, by the families who could afford it, 'remittances' (money) to keep them in the colonies. in those days of difficult communication, they could get up to whatever mischief they wanted without embarrassing the home folks. the group in happy valley made the most of this.

the acting is superb. the sets are marvelous. the scenery is magnificent. charles dance is gorgeous. the story is gripping. what more could you ask for?

I loved this film~ Very excellent. I'm wondering why Charles Dance always manages to be killed off (our hero) just midway (see China Moon) into his films. He is truly a "Star" as is Greta Scachi.

I have 5 copies of this film, (not for sale). It took 5 purchases to find one in good condition. And the Sound Track is "Excellent"~

I loved the story and you will too~ A very true account. Beautifully done and well worth the $ for the film~

David Lean's masterpiece "Doctor Zhivago", is a cinematic journey into the yesteryear world of movie making on a scale of lavishness and grandeur largely unheard of nowadays. With no expense spared on transferring this unforgettable love story to the screen, even now almost 40 years on this film still amazes me with it's sheer artistry and outstanding qualities in every department. I see it as one of the greatest classics to come out of the 1960's combining as it does a perfect marriage of romance, tragedy, human emotion and passion, all set against the terrifying upheavels of one of the most significant periods in modern history, in this case the Russian Revolution. Such a film as this only comes along rarely.

"Doctor Zhivago", tells its story in a long flashback from the Russia of the 1960's. General Yevgraf Zhivago (Alec Guiness in another superb role), is searching for his half brother's lost child and believes he has found her (Rita Tushingham) at a power plant somewhere in Central Russia. During his examination of her he recalls the story of her possible parents, the idealistic, poetry writing young doctor Yuri Zhivago (Omar Sharif) and the mysterious Lara (Julie Christie), the beautiful girl who won Yuri's heart but who vanished into Stalin's labour camps never to be heard of again. The flashback now takes us back to Pre Revolutionnary Russia where the orphaned Yuri is taken in by the wealthy Gromenko family of Moscow. We see Yuri train to become a successful doctor and eventually marry the Gromenko's lovely daughter Tonya (Geraldine Chaplin in her adult debut). War and revolution however sweep away Yuri's comfortable life as we witness the horrors of the great war and then the outbreak of the Russian Revolution. Working in a military hospital at the front Yuri encounters Lara again who is working as a field nurse and finds himself instantly drawn to her beauty and quiet strength of character. Yuri is torn between his love for Lara and his commitment to Tonya back in Moscow. Peace is declared and the two part company determined to get on with their lives. Yuri however finds that much has changed in his absence from Moscow as the Soviets have seized his home and moved in a large number of factory workers with his family now reduced to living in a couple of rooms of their former home. Starvation and deprevation are the harsh realities of life in Communist Russia and now Yuri encounters his half brother who warns him that the party does not look kindly on his free thinking poetry and have him targeted as an enemy of the new order in Russia. Moving to the country to escape possible persecution Yuri by chance encounters Lara now living on her own in the local town. The two reignite their passion for each other until Yuri is captured by the Red Army and taken away to provide medical assistance to them in the bloody civil war that is now tearing Russia apart. After much hardship he escapes and returns to Lara only to experience the unwelcome reappearance of Lara's old suitor Victor Komarovsky who informs the couple that they are about to be the next targets of the Soviet regime. He offers to take them to safety via the Orient but Yuri, concerned about Lara's safety allows Komarvosky to take her and her daughter on ahead but does not follow thus never seeing her again.

"Doctor Zhivago", is certainly an ambitious effort and one of the high water marks in film making in any decade. It boasts impeccable credits such as a fine literary source in the classic novel by Boris Pasternack, able direction with obvious reverence for the source material by the gifted David Lean, the hauntingly majestic "Lara's theme" by composer Maurice Jarre, and outstanding cinematography by Freddie Young. The superb cast is centred around Omar Sharif ideally cast in the best role of his career. Never has he been better than as the young doctor who is changed forever by war and revolution. Equally outstanding are Julie Christie in the role she is still best remembered for as the enigmatic Lara, Sir Ralph Richardson,brilliant as the long suffering head of the Gromenko family, Geraldine Chaplin as Tonya the ever loving wife of Yuri, and Tom Courtney as the ruthless revolutionary Strelnikov. The beautiful visuals used in this film also help enhance this unforgettable story with the wonderful location photography in Spain standing in for Russian landscapes. The many exciting and beautifully realised sequences in "Doctor Zhivago" constantly keep the viewers attention such as the brutal battle scenes in the frozen ice of the Russian Steppes, the frantic train escape from Moscow, and the scenes in the peaceful expances of Siberia with its daffodils and Silver Birch trees. The whole spectrum of violence, terror and beauty are captured in this one story make a viewing of "Doctor Zhivago", an awe inspiring journey.

Daid Lean displayed a genius in transferring a complex literary work onto the screen and a better screen version of the sprawling novel could not be achieved in my opinion. Every time I hear the hauntingly beautiful "Lara's Theme" I'm automatically transported back to this romantic story set in Russia and to images of daffodils and ice covered houses in the snow. For all lovers of romance "Doctor Zhivago", is unsurpassed entertainment of the first order and always manages to stir up all kinds of emotions which each screening. An outstanding viewing experience.

This is a good adaptation of the Boris Pasternak novel. The enigmatic poet and doctor is at the center of the scenarist Robert Bolt's never ending poetic riddle, and the director David Lean surrounds him with an enormous historical reconstruction of the Russian Revolution. Neither the contemplative Zhivago nor the flux of events is uninteresting, and they remain an enigmatic dichotomy. In a movie, so full of realism, there is great impressionism. What is behind all those remarkable performances, the ideas presented in the dialogue, even the majestic cinematography of those daffodils, which Zhivago seems to gaze at so often. Freddie Young beautifully photographed this film. The lyrical composer Maurice Jarre gives us a love theme that goes through many innovative and emotional renditions evoking many interpretations of the events on the screen. David Lean's two other masterpieces, LAWRENCE OF ARABIA and RYAN'S DAUGHTER form a trilogy along with DOCTOR ZHIVAGO. The years surrounding World War I form the backdrop for all 3 films, thus the trilogy I suppose. The Full Frame version on VHS never did justice to DOCTOR ZHIVAGO. I highly recommend the widescreen DVD version for the ultimate experience and the director's true meaning.

To Fans of Russian Literature/Film or TeleFilm,

I must say that the New Version that was made
this year(in 2003) of Dr.Schivago is really more
beautiful than the Original Version. The Re-Make
has the Charismatic Hans Matheson who hails from
the United Kingdom, and the Beautiful Keira Knightley.
The New Version of this Russian Story was on Exxon
Mobiles MasterPiece Theatre, ask Amazon.Com for copies
to be sold here. The story is beautiful indeed, to bad
that love in the end does not prevail. This might sound
as usual mushy, but Love is powerful....Dr.SchiVago(2003)
re-make is worth it, and better in my opinion than the original
from the 20th Century.

Thank you for reading.

David Lean's masterpiece "Doctor Zhivago", is a cinematic journey into the yesteryear world of movie making on a scale of lavishness and grandeur largely unheard of nowadays. With no expense spared on transferring this unforgettable love story to the screen, even now almost 40 years on this film still amazes me with it's sheer artistry and outstanding qualities in every department. I see it as one of the greatest classics to come out of the 1960's combining as it does a perfect marriage of romance, tragedy, human emotion and passion, all set against the terrifying upheavels of one of the most significant periods in modern history, in this case the Russian Revolution. Such a film as this only comes along rarely.

"Doctor Zhivago", tells its story in a long flashback from the Russia of the 1960's. General Yevgraf Zhivago (Alec Guiness in another superb role), is searching for his half brother's lost child and believes he has found her (Rita Tushingham) at a power plant somewhere in Central Russia. During his examination of her he recalls the story of her possible parents, the idealistic, poetry writing young doctor Yuri Zhivago (Omar Sharif) and the mysterious Lara (Julie Christie), the beautiful girl who won Yuri's heart but who vanished into Stalin's labour camps never to be heard of again. The flashback now takes us back to Pre Revolutionnary Russia where the orphaned Yuri is taken in by the wealthy Gromenko family of Moscow. We see Yuri train to become a successful doctor and eventually marry the Gromenko's lovely daughter Tonya (Geraldine Chaplin in her adult debut). War and revolution however sweep away Yuri's comfortable life as we witness the horrors of the great war and then the outbreak of the Russian Revolution. Working in a military hospital at the front Yuri encounters Lara again who is working as a field nurse and finds himself instantly drawn to her beauty and quiet strength of character. Yuri is torn between his love for Lara and his commitment to Tonya back in Moscow. Peace is declared and the two part company determined to get on with their lives. Yuri however finds that much has changed in his absence from Moscow as the Soviets have seized his home and moved in a large number of factory workers with his family now reduced to living in a couple of rooms of their former home. Starvation and deprevation are the harsh realities of life in Communist Russia and now Yuri encounters his half brother who warns him that the party does not look kindly on his free thinking poetry and have him targeted as an enemy of the new order in Russia. Moving to the country to escape possible persecution Yuri by chance encounters Lara now living on her own in the local town. The two reignite their passion for each other until Yuri is captured by the Red Army and taken away to provide medical assistance to them in the bloody civil war that is now tearing Russia apart. After much hardship he escapes and returns to Lara only to experience the unwelcome reappearance of Lara's old suitor Victor Komarovsky who informs the couple that they are about to be the next targets of the Soviet regime. He offers to take them to safety via the Orient but Yuri, concerned about Lara's safety allows Komarvosky to take her and her daughter on ahead but does not follow thus never seeing her again.

"Doctor Zhivago", is certainly an ambitious effort and one of the high water marks in film making in any decade. It boasts impeccable credits such as a fine literary source in the classic novel by Boris Pasternack, able direction with obvious reverence for the source material by the gifted David Lean, the hauntingly majestic "Lara's theme" by composer Maurice Jarre, and outstanding cinematography by Freddie Young. The superb cast is centred around Omar Sharif ideally cast in the best role of his career. Never has he been better than as the young doctor who is changed forever by war and revolution. Equally outstanding are Julie Christie in the role she is still best remembered for as the enigmatic Lara, Sir Ralph Richardson,brilliant as the long suffering head of the Gromenko family, Geraldine Chaplin as Tonya the ever loving wife of Yuri, and Tom Courtney as the ruthless revolutionary Strelnikov. The beautiful visuals used in this film also help enhance this unforgettable story with the wonderful location photography in Spain standing in for Russian landscapes. The many exciting and beautifully realised sequences in "Doctor Zhivago" constantly keep the viewers attention such as the brutal battle scenes in the frozen ice of the Russian Steppes, the frantic train escape from Moscow, and the scenes in the peaceful expances of Siberia with its daffodils and Silver Birch trees. The whole spectrum of violence, terror and beauty are captured in this one story make a viewing of "Doctor Zhivago", an awe inspiring journey.

Daid Lean displayed a genius in transferring a complex literary work onto the screen and a better screen version of the sprawling novel could not be achieved in my opinion. Every time I hear the hauntingly beautiful "Lara's Theme" I'm automatically transported back to this romantic story set in Russia and to images of daffodils and ice covered houses in the snow. For all lovers of romance "Doctor Zhivago", is unsurpassed entertainment of the first order and always manages to stir up all kinds of emotions which each screening. An outstanding viewing experience.

This is a good adaptation of the Boris Pasternak novel. The enigmatic poet and doctor is at the center of the scenarist Robert Bolt's never ending poetic riddle, and the director David Lean surrounds him with an enormous historical reconstruction of the Russian Revolution. Neither the contemplative Zhivago nor the flux of events is uninteresting, and they remain an enigmatic dichotomy. In a movie, so full of realism, there is great impressionism. What is behind all those remarkable performances, the ideas presented in the dialogue, even the majestic cinematography of those daffodils, which Zhivago seems to gaze at so often. Freddie Young beautifully photographed this film. The lyrical composer Maurice Jarre gives us a love theme that goes through many innovative and emotional renditions evoking many interpretations of the events on the screen. David Lean's two other masterpieces, LAWRENCE OF ARABIA and RYAN'S DAUGHTER form a trilogy along with DOCTOR ZHIVAGO. The years surrounding World War I form the backdrop for all 3 films, thus the trilogy I suppose. The Full Frame version on VHS never did justice to DOCTOR ZHIVAGO. I highly recommend the widescreen DVD version for the ultimate experience and the director's true meaning.

To Fans of Russian Literature/Film or TeleFilm,

I must say that the New Version that was made
this year(in 2003) of Dr.Schivago is really more
beautiful than the Original Version. The Re-Make
has the Charismatic Hans Matheson who hails from
the United Kingdom, and the Beautiful Keira Knightley.
The New Version of this Russian Story was on Exxon
Mobiles MasterPiece Theatre, ask Amazon.Com for copies
to be sold here. The story is beautiful indeed, to bad
that love in the end does not prevail. This might sound
as usual mushy, but Love is powerful....Dr.SchiVago(2003)
re-make is worth it, and better in my opinion than the original
from the 20th Century.

Thank you for reading.