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The Kid  (2 Disc Special Edition)

The Kid (2 Disc Special Edition)

List Price: $29.95
Your Price: $26.96
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: CHAPLIN'S FIRST FEATURE LENGTH COMIC MASTERPIECE
Review: "The Kid" is a story that, under anybody else's direction would seen trite, maudelin and coy. In the hands of Charlie Chaplin it is pure magic times a thousand. Jackie Coogan has to get part of the credit for making this tale of an orphaned child turned pre-teen vandal, a comedic winner. When the little tramp (Chaplin) discovers the abandoned baby he decides to raise the boy as his own and quickly molds the street urchin into part of his plan to sell plate glass to the slums. Jackie throws stones to break the windows. Charlie appears to fix the windows and charge a handsome fee for his services.
TRANSFER: The film is riddled with age related artifacts that, even with this skillful transfer, are still present. Film grain is moderate. Black levels are sometimes weak. The gray scale is adequately balanced. Aliasing, edge enhancement and shimmering of fine details are all present and sometimes distract. The audio is 5.1 and nicely balanced.
EXTRAS: a short subject in which Chaplin shows the building of his new studio and how movies are made, a couple of short subjects with Jackie Coogan, newsreel footage of Chaplin's trip to Europe, deleted scenes, a photo gallery, film posters and trailers.
BOTTOM LINE: AN ABSOLUTE MUST FOR THE FILM. The transfer is merely above average, though for its age, well above par.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: CHAPLIN'S FIRST FEATURE LENGTH COMIC MASTERPIECE
Review: "The Kid" is a story that, under anybody else's direction would seen trite, maudelin and coy. In the hands of Charlie Chaplin it is pure magic times a thousand. Jackie Coogan has to get part of the credit for making this tale of an orphaned child turned pre-teen vandal, a comedic winner. When the little tramp (Chaplin) discovers the abandoned baby he decides to raise the boy as his own and quickly molds the street urchin into part of his plan to sell plate glass to the slums. Jackie throws stones to break the windows. Charlie appears to fix the windows and charge a handsome fee for his services.
TRANSFER: The film is riddled with age related artifacts that, even with this skillful transfer, are still present. Film grain is moderate. Black levels are sometimes weak. The gray scale is adequately balanced. Aliasing, edge enhancement and shimmering of fine details are all present and sometimes distract. The audio is 5.1 and nicely balanced.
EXTRAS: a short subject in which Chaplin shows the building of his new studio and how movies are made, a couple of short subjects with Jackie Coogan, newsreel footage of Chaplin's trip to Europe, deleted scenes, a photo gallery, film posters and trailers.
BOTTOM LINE: AN ABSOLUTE MUST FOR THE FILM. The transfer is merely above average, though for its age, well above par.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: "The Kid" is still a terrific film story 83 years later
Review: Chaplin's "The Kid" was a pleasure to rediscover on this two-disk set. The print is excellant, and Chaplin's original score beautifully compliments what is a really terrific story. Say what you like about some of the now dated, even artificial, touches in the film. But if you rewrote the script and submitted it to a producer today it would still sell. The second disk extras were also fascinating, including the documentary about an Iranian film maker who discusses "The Kid" from a century and half a world away. Well worth it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of Chaplin's finest!
Review: I am so pleased this film is making its way to DVD. I have owned the VHS for many years, which is showing tremendous wear and tear. Young Jackie Coogan stole the show from Chaplin, and yet the Little Tramp didn't seem to mind! An extraordinarily touching film, suitable for the entire family! I cannot recommend this movie strongly enough!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Among Chaplin's finest!
Review: I am so pleased to learn this film is finally being released on DVD. I have owned "The Kid" on videotape for about ten years, and it is showing great wear and tear! Young Jackie Googan stole the show from Chaplin, yet the Little Tramp didn't seem to mind. An extraordinarily touching film, suitable for the entire family! A splendid way to introduce children to the wonderful world of silent cinema! I cannot recommend this film highly enough!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Among Chaplin's Best.
Review: I think, while "City Light's" is my favourite of Chaplin's movies, "The Kid" is maybe second. It was the first full length movie Chaplin made, with a time limit here lasting something like 50 minutes. The film co-stars the five-year old, Jackie Coogan. The film also includes Chaplin's leading lady, Edna Purviance. The title at the beginning of the film reads: "A comedy with a smile -- and perhaps a tear". That describes it extremely well. This is a First National production, 6-reels. Released in 1921.

Edna Purviance plays a unmarried woman, who abandons her new child, when she leaves him in a strangers limousine, with a note. It was stolen by thieves, and when they discover the child, they take him out and leave him. When the Little Tramp (none other than Chaplin) discovers this child, he tries unsuccesfully leaving him places, with the cop coming past, trying to leave the kid with another woman, etc. Until he gives up, and takes care of the kid himself. When the kid is a little older (he was a baby when the tramp first took him) he goes around throwing rocks at windows, breaking them, so that just on time the little tramp can come along and get paid to fix it. Through these years, Edna has become a huge star, and does work for charitys for poor children, in hope of finding her son again. She does come across the kid a few times, but does not immediately realize its him. The boy is sick, and she has a doctor come to see him. The doctor discovers the note, that Edna had left with the child, upon abandoning him, and he discovers that the tramp is not his father, and so he sends for some people to take the kid away to an orphanage. There is a lot of struggle on the way, and the tramp takes the kid back, just before they get there. The tramp and the kid, go to rest in this place, where the person who works there is reading that there is a reward for this kid. While the tramp is asleep, the man takes the kid, and takes him to his mother, Edna (who by now knows, of course). The tramp is awoken by a policeman, and takes him to Edna's mansion, to see the kid again. And, yeah, the end.

This DVD is presented on 2-Discs. A part of the Chaplin Collection. The print of the actual film looks stunning, and the score, composed by Chaplin himself, is wonderful. The extras on the 2 discs, include another film, again lasting around 50 minutes "My Boy". Another Jackie Coogan one, from 1921 (came after "The Kid"). The print for this is watchable, but nothing has really been done for it. No score. Another extra, is "How to Make Movies". A 1918 short where Chaplin shows the building of his brand new studio, and how he makes movies. Again, no score, which is the only bad part to these extras. "Nice and Friendly" is also included. Its a home movie from 1922 with Lord and Lady Mountbatten, Jackie Coogan and Charlie Chaplin, which is great to be able to have on DVD. Among these, are tons of other little things too. This is essential for any Chaplin fan to have in their collection.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Among Chaplin's Best.
Review: I think, while "City Light's" is my favourite of Chaplin's movies, "The Kid" is maybe second. It was the first full length movie Chaplin made, with a time limit here lasting something like 50 minutes. The film co-stars the five-year old, Jackie Coogan. The film also includes Chaplin's leading lady, Edna Purviance. The title at the beginning of the film reads: "A comedy with a smile -- and perhaps a tear". That describes it extremely well. This is a First National production, 6-reels. Released in 1921.

Edna Purviance plays a unmarried woman, who abandons her new child, when she leaves him in a strangers limousine, with a note. It was stolen by thieves, and when they discover the child, they take him out and leave him. When the Little Tramp (none other than Chaplin) discovers this child, he tries unsuccesfully leaving him places, with the cop coming past, trying to leave the kid with another woman, etc. Until he gives up, and takes care of the kid himself. When the kid is a little older (he was a baby when the tramp first took him) he goes around throwing rocks at windows, breaking them, so that just on time the little tramp can come along and get paid to fix it. Through these years, Edna has become a huge star, and does work for charitys for poor children, in hope of finding her son again. She does come across the kid a few times, but does not immediately realize its him. The boy is sick, and she has a doctor come to see him. The doctor discovers the note, that Edna had left with the child, upon abandoning him, and he discovers that the tramp is not his father, and so he sends for some people to take the kid away to an orphanage. There is a lot of struggle on the way, and the tramp takes the kid back, just before they get there. The tramp and the kid, go to rest in this place, where the person who works there is reading that there is a reward for this kid. While the tramp is asleep, the man takes the kid, and takes him to his mother, Edna (who by now knows, of course). The tramp is awoken by a policeman, and takes him to Edna's mansion, to see the kid again. And, yeah, the end.

This DVD is presented on 2-Discs. A part of the Chaplin Collection. The print of the actual film looks stunning, and the score, composed by Chaplin himself, is wonderful. The extras on the 2 discs, include another film, again lasting around 50 minutes "My Boy". Another Jackie Coogan one, from 1921 (came after "The Kid"). The print for this is watchable, but nothing has really been done for it. No score. Another extra, is "How to Make Movies". A 1918 short where Chaplin shows the building of his brand new studio, and how he makes movies. Again, no score, which is the only bad part to these extras. "Nice and Friendly" is also included. Its a home movie from 1922 with Lord and Lady Mountbatten, Jackie Coogan and Charlie Chaplin, which is great to be able to have on DVD. Among these, are tons of other little things too. This is essential for any Chaplin fan to have in their collection.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Kid - Timeless Cinema
Review: It all begins with a mother who has a child out of wedlock and in despair she leaves her boy in an abandoned vehicle. The car is stolen and the infant is dumped in the garbage. The orphan kid is found by the Tramp (Charles Chaplin) who then attempts to get rid of the kid. However, when the Tramp finds a short, yet affectionate note he decides to care for the child and teach him everything he knows. The Kid is a tragic drama with much humor that will entertain with it's visual imagery and teach valuable lessons with it's many themes. In the end, Chaplin will leave the audience with a timeless and brilliant cinematic experience.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Kid - Timeless Cinema
Review: It all begins with a mother who has a child out of wedlock and in despair she leaves her boy in an abandoned vehicle. The car is stolen and the infant is dumped in the garbage. The orphan kid is found by the Tramp (Charles Chaplin) who then attempts to get rid of the kid. However, when the Tramp finds a short, yet affectionate note he decides to care for the child and teach him everything he knows. The Kid is a tragic drama with much humor that will entertain with it's visual imagery and teach valuable lessons with it's many themes. In the end, Chaplin will leave the audience with a timeless and brilliant cinematic experience.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: The Tramp and the Kid who went on to play Uncle Fester
Review: The Little Man with the little mustashe stars in his classic and touching comedy, the Kid. He plays his legendary Tramp character in this story about a man who finds a orphan baby boy, left by his real mother, the tramp takes him in and raises him and loves as if he was really his kid, and the kid loved him. The kid is 5 years old in the movie, ,but when men from an orphange come to take away the kid, Tramp will not let them, he fights them off, they eventually get the kid and drive off, but our hero will never give up on his most important possesion and Tramp does get his kid back and the kid back to his da da, the kid was not his blood, he loved the kid and kid loved him. A happy ending, this is good for a silent movie and for a father and son movie, this is the silent Big Daddy, Chaplin is perfect father. mixing comedy and love between a father and a son makes this chaplin classic and a classic all around.


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