The Kid (1921)

[Akijama]

The Kid Blu-ray PRE-ORDER

New 4K digital restoration of Charlie Chaplin’s 1972 rerelease version of the film, featuring an original score by Chaplin, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray
New audio commentary featuring Chaplin historian Charles Maland
Jackie Coogan: The First Child Star, a new video essay by Chaplin historian Lisa Haven
A Study in Undercranking, a new piece featuring silent-film specialist Ben Model
Interviews with Coogan and actor Lita Grey Chaplin
Excerpted audio interviews with cinematographer Rollie Totheroh and film distributor Mo Rothman
Deleted scenes and titles from the original 1921 version of The Kid
“Charlie” on the Ocean, a 1921 newsreel documenting Chaplin’s first return trip to Europe
Footage of Chaplin conducting his score for The Kid
Nice and Friendly, a 1922 silent short featuring Chaplin and Coogan, presented with a new score by composer Timothy Brock
Trailers
PLUS: An essay by film historian Tom Gunning

Charlie Chaplin was already an international star when he decided to break out of the short-film format and make his first full-length feature. The Kid doesn’t merely show Chaplin at a turning point, when he proved that he was a serious film director—it remains an expressive masterwork of silent cinema. In it, he stars as his lovable Tramp character, this time raising an orphan (a remarkable young Jackie Coogan) he has rescued from the streets. Chaplin and Coogan make a miraculous pair in this nimble marriage of sentiment and slapstick, a film that is, as its opening title card states, “a picture with a smile—and perhaps, a tear.”

Charlie Chaplin - The Kid (Trailer) - YouTube

[Leterface]

Criterions best cover art for Chaplin BD's and best The Kid BD cover ever IMO.

Just damn curious what does digital 4k restoration mean?

[Namuhana]

The film I'm most excited for from Criterion's February releases. I love me some Chaplin, and The Kid is excellent.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Leterface

Just damn curious what does digital 4k restoration mean?

It means it's going to look pretty freakin' good!

[silverlakephil]

Originally Posted by Leterface

Criterions best cover art for Chaplin BD's and best The Kid BD cover ever IMO.

Just damn curious what does digital 4k restoration mean?

Growing up as a kid in the 70s, that cover art was one of the first introductions to film I ever saw, so I look forward to this. I always confuse Jackie Coogan with Jackie Cooper.

[Hubunkey]

One of my 10 year old son's favorite movies. Can't wait to get this.

Is this shortened version the same one that Criterion has on Hulu and has aired on TCM?

[Illy Scorsese]

Day 1

Been waiting on this one for awhile.

[javi92]

So only the re-release version is included?

[starman15317]

One of Chaplin's best! Definitely getting this.

[GrouchoFan]

It's about friggin' time we got some more Chaplin from Criterion! This reminds me, I need to pick up Limelight during the Barnes & Noble sale.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by Leterface

Just damn curious what does digital 4k restoration mean?

Means what it says. Directly using a 4K resolution scan of the film materials (without any down-sampling to a lower resolution like 1080p or 2K), the restoration team has performed scratch / dirt removal, stabilization, color grading and what-have-you techniques using fancy computers and software (no photochemical processes applied). It is a more tedious and time-consuming project than working with the same material at lower resolutions, but the benefit is that the end-product is easily adaptable for 4K presentations (like in cinemas, and maybe at some future point on 4k-able home systems).
One suspects the end result will be pleasing

[KG204]

Yes! I say bring on more Charlie Chaplin! Would love a release of The Circus after this.

[The Valeyard]

Originally Posted by Hubunkey

Is this shortened version the same one that Criterion has on Hulu and has aired on TCM?

Originally Posted by javi92

So only the re-release version is included?

Yes and yes.

[NoirFan]

Is the re-release version as awful as the Gold Rush one? I watched that once, just as a historical curiosity, and was cringing in my seat throughout. Every single change Chaplin made was for the worst, most egregiously the voice-over narration/exclamations.

[EVERYONE LIES]

Originally Posted by NoirFan

Is the re-release version as awful as the Gold Rush one? I watched that once, just as a historical curiosity, and was cringing in my seat throughout. Every single change Chaplin made was for the worst, most egregiously the voice-over narration/exclamations.

Not even close. This version of The Kid is the version we all know. The original as far as we know is lost. So unless you are 100 years old you will not know any better but I'm sure someone here can claim to have seen it in the theatre and can remember what it looked like.

[Akijama]

Originally Posted by EVERYONE LIES

but I'm sure someone here can claim to have seen it in the theatre and can remember what it looked like.

[EddieLarkin]

Say what? The original 68 minute version is not lost at all, it was released on DVD in 2000! Since the rights reverted to MK2 in 2002 they have forbidden this version to be made available and all subsequent official releases have been the 52 minute 1972 re-edit. Criterion are even offering all of the excised footage as an extra (though I'm willing to bet from ancient SD sources).

[EVERYONE LIES]

Originally Posted by EddieLarkin

Say what? The original 68 minute version is not lost at all, it was released on DVD in 2000! Since the rights reverted to MK2 in 2002 they have forbidden this version to be made available and all subsequent official releases have been the 52 minute 1972 re-edit. Criterion are even offering all of the excised footage as an extra (though I'm willing to bet from ancient SD sources).

Just because something was released on DVD does not mean it is not lost. I highly doubt the estate would forbid the original to be released. They had no problem with The Gold Rush plus cut scenes from The Kid are included on the blu-ray.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by EddieLarkin

Say what? The original 68 minute version is not lost at all, it was released on DVD in 2000!

Is this DVD still available? I did a cursory look for it at Amazon and couldn't find one that was released in 2000. Or did I just miss it?

[EddieLarkin]

http://www.amazon.com/Kid-Dogs-Life-...dp/6305760047/