Chaplin Feature Films on Blu-ray from Kinowelt

Posted January 18, 2010 09:52 AM by Juan Calonge


Kinowelt Home Entertainment has unveiled its Blu-ray slate for April/May, which prominently features no fewer than five movies directed by and starring Charles Chaplin: 'The Kid', 'The Gold Rush', 'City Lights', 'Modern Times', and 'The Great Dictator'. At the moment it is not confirmed whether they'll be sold separately or in a movie set. Also scheduled are BD releases of Martin Scorsese's 'Kundun' and Sidney Lumet's 'Serpico'.
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News comments (35 comments)

Titanicfave

Jan 18, 2010

"The Kid"? what version? Is it the Disney one?

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TheManInBlu

Jan 18, 2010

Awesome news!!! Those are Chaplin's best films! Will they be region-free?

MortenR.

Jan 18, 2010

If they come, they will probably be issues everywhere.....

dmarvin

Jan 18, 2010

I thought Warner owned these Chaplin films (?)

If true, this is amazing news. Those really are his five most notable films, I believe a couple of them are AFI Top 100 films.

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OMG!!! Chaplin, Kundun, and Serpico? It must be my birthday!

dmarvin: from memory, I believe The Gold Rush, City Lights, and Modern Times are all on AFI's Top 100. I know that The Kid and The Great Dictator are on IMDb's Top 250 list, and possibly all are.

Cap Nord

Jan 18, 2010

I haven't got The Kid, so that will be a first day buy for me. I got all the rest on DVD when the Chaplin Collection came out a few years ago and the quality was perfect, so no need to upgrade those.

JediFonger

Jan 18, 2010

YIPEE!!!! =D

1921's 'The Kid' remains Chaplin's most personal film =). only 50min.

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RipleyLV426

Jan 18, 2010

Finally some masterpieces on Blu ray! I can't wait to see Charlie all cleaned up on blu, it will be like seeing a whole new movie. I hope they do him justice. Day one buy for me!!

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Atreyu

Jan 18, 2010

Chaplin on blu-ray, frickin' awesome!!!! Best news today. Now how about some Laurel and Hardy and Abbott and Costello.

ShellOilJunior

Jan 18, 2010

Interesting development. For a while it's been rumored Criterion was looking to release a slew of Chaplin films on Blu-ray.

I'd love to know what films CC has rights on

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DetroitSportsFan

Jan 18, 2010

Wow, I'll take all of the Chaplin films.

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fdm

Jan 18, 2010

Guess the Criterion rumors were just that.

cathexist

Jan 18, 2010

Great news

PGW

Jan 18, 2010

I don't know why the Criterion rumors couldn't be true. There are certainly instances where Criterion has the U.S. rights to a film while a different company has the European rights.

Thing is, there were SO many issues with the Warners releases (ghosting, cropping, scrubbing, editing...) that I wouldn't think of getting the Kinowelts if they're going to be from the same masters as the last DVD release. I'm hoping Criterion has the rights for the U.S. and does it right.

milesadrift

Jan 18, 2010

Looking forward to City Lights and Modern Times!

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Arkadin

Jan 18, 2010

Warner no longer has US rights to the Chaplin films,
they are all now OOP, and selling for typical exorbitant seller sums on amazon.
If these turn out to be properly restored Chaplin films, then this is amazing news.

retablo

Jan 18, 2010

RipleyLV426, you don't consider Buster Keaton's The General a masterpiece? Or Murnau's Sunrise? There are several classic masterpieces on blu already.

JediFonger

Jan 18, 2010

you know what would be funny?... chaplin in ... 3-D!

Icedburden

Jan 18, 2010

I will get these Day 1.... Chaplin was and still is the man.

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Brad1963

Jan 18, 2010

this is a German company. Criterion probably will still release in the U.S. If these are region free I may pu City Lights though.

RIKANA

Jan 18, 2010

You know, I've never seen a full Chaplin film before, bits and pieces. I think I'll rent them on blu-ray. and buy the ones I like. Black and White films look soo pretty on blu.

I'm happy, that he is getting the blu treatment!

RI

Randy Watson

Jan 18, 2010

Fuck yes, my favourites. I hope Limelight and The Circus get released shortly afterwards.

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fdm

Jan 18, 2010

Ah, missed the Germany part. (What I get for early a.m. reading.)

Cory Lendon

Jan 18, 2010

"The Gold Rush" on BD is a dream come true. This and Kino's ventures into Blu are
going to make for an amazing year.

dmarvin

Jan 18, 2010

Arkadin - Thanks for the info on WB losing the Chaplin rights. It only makes sense that Kino would have jumped all over them since they are specialists in releasing silents to home video.

Edit: I guess Kinowelt & Kino are different companies.

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nathanp

Jan 18, 2010

I'm sure it will be a set, pretty damn good set too, it's all his best stuff!

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Arkadin

Jan 18, 2010

yeah Kinowelt is behind the amazing German bd of "dances with wolves" that has been winning raves.
I have it, and it is an amazing looking disc.
They do a great job generally on their titles.

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Top HT gallery

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Blu Titan

Jan 18, 2010

Excellent! I'll spend top dollar for this!

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Shanester

Jan 18, 2010

Chaplin on Blu is worth owning for anyone!!

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TJS_Blu

Jan 18, 2010

According to a post in the Criterion forum. Criterion won the US distribution rights.

Minimejer05

Jan 18, 2010

Will be getting all of Chaplins films!

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Russell_L

Jan 19, 2010

I've got a few of these on Warner DVDs--the transfers are very good and they are full of great supplements and features. I'll be holding on to them until I can be sure that the new Blus look as good or better and the most of all of the features/supplements are there....

mfedley

Jan 19, 2010

I've got some Kinowelt BD & HD DVD imports and they have all been top quality (such as Dances With Wolves and Terminator 2 HD DVD). As both of these titles were released in Germany by quite a bit before being released in other countries (and I've heard comments that other countries had different transfers - I may be wrong though), they may have even been restored by Kinowelt which would be a VERY GOOD THING!!!

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Bluyoda

Jan 19, 2010

This is fantastic news. I have been wondering for some time now, when Chaplin movies might see the light of day on Blu-Ray!!! Great selection as well.
Oh, I just saw that it's in Germany, so I'll be waiting until the beloved Criterion studio releases them in the U.S! It can only be matter of time now! Ha,ha