Amazon.co.uk: Charlie Chaplin - The Essanay Films - Vol. 1 [1915]: Kalpana (IV), Sindhuja, Harisree Asokan, Premkumar, Jagathi Sreekumar, P.K. Radhakrishnan: DVD

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Synopsis
Culled from his one year period at Essanay Film Manufacturing Company in 1915, this two disc set features a batch of Chaplin movies where the man himself had full control of all aspects of the film-making process. Includes "The Champion," "His New Job," "A Night Out," "A Jitney Elopement," "By The Sea," "Work," "In The Park" and the classic "The Tramp."

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28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

Chaplin's Essnay films have not looked this good in years, 13 Nov 2003

By A Customer

This first volume of Chaplin films by BFI contains the first 8 films Chaplin made for Essnay in 1915, they are:
His New Job, A Night Out, The Champion, In the Park, A Jitney Elopement, The Tramp, By the Sea and Work.
Six of the films are two reelers and two are one reelers.

The films are important because they represent Chaplin's transitional period from the knock about comedy of Keystone to the more mature Mutual films.

Some the films such as 'In the Park' and 'By the Sea' could just as easily have been made at Keystone, while such as the 'Champion' and 'The Tramp' are undisputed classics.

The films on this DVD have been restored by the film historian David Sheppard and contain many scenes not seen in years. All the films inter titles have also been reinstated so it is now actually possible to follow the plot of the films. (Unlike many editions seen on video and DVD over the years). The music which plays while the films are on is also very good.

Overall this is a very good package, I would recommend it and volume two to any one who likes silent comedy or Chaplin films. Even if you own the films in previous editions these sets are worth buying since you will be able to see the films in the best condition possible.

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13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

The Essanay films are worth a look, 20 Nov 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Charlie Chaplin - The Essanay Films - Vol. 2 [1915] (DVD)

This the second volume in the BFI Essanay collection contains the last seven films Chaplin made for Essanay, plus the film that they put together from 'left overs' once he had left (Tiple Trouble), the films are:

A Woman
The Bank
Shanghaid
His Regeneration
A Night in the Show
Burlesque on Carmen
Police
Triple Trouble.

The films represent Chaplins transitional stage from Keystone to Mutual and really do deserve reaccessment. Two of the films - 'The Bank' and 'Police' do infact rival his work at Mutual, while 'Burlesque on Carman' minus the boring scenes inserted by Essnay featuring Ben Turpin can be seen to be actually quite a good film.

The only real dud on the DVD is 'His Regeneration', but only because it is a film that Chaplin only makes a short appearance in.

The presentation and picture quality of this DVD, like all other BFI DVD's, is superb and the music great.

I would like to recommend that you buy this DVD (along with volume one) you will not be disappointed.

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