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I recently got the Criterion release, and had forgotten that Chaplin reissued it with scenes cut out and a new score. This includes the deleted scenes in the Special Features, but it got me wondering if the 1921 version existed, and if so, why Criterion didn't include it.

BTW, I know it must exist, but I meant has it been publicly released? Mainly just wondering what the differences in the scores are.

The uncut (and far superior IMO) version was released on laserdisc and DVD by David Shepard through Image, with Chaplin’s reissue score edited to fit. It’s the only version I will ever watch. There was no earlier recorded score for it; I have no idea which music was contained in the original cue sheets, but perhaps some of the knowledgeable folks here might know.

Thanks. So, the laserdisc had it, but none of the DVD/Blu-rays have? That's odd. Rights issue? I had a lot of silent laserdiscs, but not that one unfortunately. Sorry, just saw you did say the Image DVD had it. I think I recently got rid of that when I ordered the BR. Ugh.

According to SilentEra, the DVD is the one from 2000, the one they call the CBS/Fox Home Video version on this page:

http://www.silentera.com/video/kidHV.html

There are some currently on eBay.

Rick

Thanks, but after rooting around, it turns out that I did not get rid of my Image DVD of it. Hurrah.

While the Criterion is the 1971 edit the image quality is nothing short of breathtaking. I have all the David Shepard DVDs from 2000 for completeness (as well as the ReelClassicDVDs of The Kid and Shoulder Arms which have entirely different takes) but I thought it was money well spent on the Criterion.