tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post7619133939709390188..comments2024-03-27T15:16:57.305-05:00Comments on F This Movie!: Heath Holland On...100 Years of ChaplinPatrick Bromleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00771837625286775607noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-75293690549060314582014-02-06T14:47:35.480-06:002014-02-06T14:47:35.480-06:00It really is amazing - it's pretty rare for me...It really is amazing - it's pretty rare for me to be so immediately captivated by an actor/character, the fact that he's not even talking makes it all the more so (though he does still manage to say so much).<br /><br />Apart from being the first photo-bomber which is hilarious, would this be considered an early example of guerrilla filmmaking as well? If you watch the crowd there definitely seems to be some people wondering what the hell that guy is up to - I envy their luck in witnessing that live performance of a legend in the making (but take some comfort in the fact that they're all probably dead - ha!).<br /><br />Unfortunately there is a paucity of Chaplin material on Netflix, though there is a collection of episodes of shorts that seems promising (I noticed <i>Kid Auto Races at Venice</i> was one of them) - they make for such interesting history lessons too; e.g. I had no idea department stores had rudimentary escalators in them back in the 1910s and he uses it to great comic effect (that must have been extra hilarious at the time).<br /><br />I also loved that quote about the world growing younger and look forward to reading more by/about him.<br /><br />Thanks again man!Solhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03114869401584310369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-75282391914814894812014-02-05T16:19:03.391-06:002014-02-05T16:19:03.391-06:00Well, maybe semi-blind. I had never seen it before...Well, maybe semi-blind. I had never seen it before, but of course I was familiar with the overwhelmingly positive cinematic legacy of Chaplin, and that the movie is very highly regarded. I didn't know much else about it, though. I was pleased when it was just as great as everyone makes it out to be. And yes, Criterion is wonderful for exactly the reason you mentioned. There are so many great movies I would have likely missed out on or directors whose works I would not have discovered I love if it weren't for Criterion.John Murphyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08810774557887719483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-51021574597650883602014-02-05T15:26:49.551-06:002014-02-05T15:26:49.551-06:00That's a heck of a blind buy. I don't have...That's a heck of a blind buy. I don't have any of those Criterion discs yet, but I want them. I have the boxed sets that came out years ago. It's frustrating for me that so much of his work is currently out of print and unavailable. Thank God for those Criterion discs, as they're the only chance some people have of seeing this stuff.Heath Hollandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03802874033845631338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-5531862160961150762014-02-05T15:23:51.832-06:002014-02-05T15:23:51.832-06:00I would LOVE to see some Chaplin on a big screen w...I would LOVE to see some Chaplin on a big screen with a live audience. You're right. It's for everybody, young and old. And because they're silent, there's no language barrier. It's timeless.Heath Hollandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03802874033845631338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-27403322735803355022014-02-05T15:22:41.856-06:002014-02-05T15:22:41.856-06:00RIGHT?! It's kind of amazing, especially when ...RIGHT?! It's kind of amazing, especially when you consider this is his SECOND short film. He was a star from the beginning. His work would only get more ambitious and emotionally involving as it went on, but even from this first appearance of the character you can just tell that there's SOMETHING about him that's different and special. I think this short is so funny because film was practically new in 1914, but here he is being a camera hog, photo-bombing an entire race. Has anything REALLY changed? I'm SO glad you dug it, Sol.Heath Hollandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03802874033845631338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-36900633606007896262014-02-05T15:20:14.141-06:002014-02-05T15:20:14.141-06:00I really want to dig into the work of Buster Keato...I really want to dig into the work of Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd. Right now I'm still going through Chaplin's MASSIVE output, but I definitely want to see more from his peers. When I do, you can bet I'll be writing about it. Heath Hollandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03802874033845631338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-77868827538861323372014-02-05T14:50:48.148-06:002014-02-05T14:50:48.148-06:00Terrific article! I've been a fan of Chaplin ...Terrific article! I've been a fan of Chaplin ever since I took a film studies class in college and they showed City Lights - still one of the most moving closing shots ever. Chaplin manages to have pathos in his films without stumbling head-first into bathos. I'm also thinking of the end of Modern Times, a film which might be the comic/silent version of Die Hard - you just can't keep the little tramp down.<br /><br />I hope that one day you'll write about 2 other great silent film stars, Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd.Steve K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02141959251034133806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-65740131527216047032014-02-05T14:04:12.887-06:002014-02-05T14:04:12.887-06:00I had my first real Chaplin movie viewing experien...I had my first real Chaplin movie viewing experience in December of last year when I blind bought the Criterion blu-ray for City Lights, which I thought was absolutely fantastic when I watched it. I'm not hugely into silent films yet, but like Sol, I'm trying to and want to get there. Despite my lack of silent film knowlege, I can easily see how and why Chaplin was one of the greats of that era of film history. This is a wonderful write-up and tribute to the man.John Murphyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08810774557887719483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-81989421481825401002014-02-05T13:37:16.055-06:002014-02-05T13:37:16.055-06:00Great piece, Heath. I've had the pleasure of s...Great piece, Heath. I've had the pleasure of seeing some Chaplin films on the big screen and they remain some of my favorite movie-going experiences of my life. I got such a kick out of the age difference of the audience, from little kids to old men and women, and how the films played great for EVERYONE. Michael Pomarohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04209918617642114880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-51875739221910561592014-02-05T13:16:58.482-06:002014-02-05T13:16:58.482-06:00Love this write-up on Chaplin, Heath, and I'm ...Love this write-up on Chaplin, Heath, and I'm saying that as someone who has had very little exposure to his work - I have yet to really begin my journey into silent film in general, though greatly due to this site I am at least <i>planning</i> on it.<br /><br />[WATCHES VIDEO]<br /><br />Oh my god - a Charlie Chaplin fan has been born (at least that's why I think I'm covered in blood and mucous) - I just sat here (at work) with a big dopey grin on my face the whole time I watched that. I can't even really describe why I found it so funny and entertaining - it's so simple but it's like it touches this primal part of my sense of humour that must predate language. I love him - I've seen little clips before but never a full sketch like this - I think it's like you say in your closing paragraph - something about the eyes and everything behind them. I also can't believe how fully-formed the iconic Little Tramp character seems to be at this nascent stage in its development. Wow - such a small thing but I'm blown away - hopefully I can find some stuff of his on Netflix for a start - thanks Heath, this was really an eye-opener!Solhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03114869401584310369noreply@blogger.com