Chaplin Mutuals 90th Anniversary Edition back in print

[DShepFilm]

These are the versions with the Carl Davis scores, "The Gentleman Tramp," and "Chaplin's Goliath". After a couple of years out of print, (scalpers have been selling new copies for $200 on amazon.com), the set is finally back as pressed DVDs. Back orders are being shipped now, and copies should soon be available at normal prices (retail is $60 for the 4-disc set, and of course they will be widely discounted).

It may take a while for them to show up at amazon, B&N, Deep Discount or your other favorite retailer, but like St. Nicholas, they will soon be there.

After a year pestering Image Entertainment, they finally did it ...

David Shepard

[Scoundrel]

That's wonderful news.

I look forward to the eventual upgrade of these classics on Blu ray as well.
Thanks, David.

[Doug Sulpy]

Ditto, that.

Glad to see the Amazon/Ebay sharks undercut.

[Andrew Greene]

Great, now I can get a back-up copy!

[Richard--W]

Since I already have the DVD set, I'll buy the Mutuals again when they come to blu-ray.

[WaverBoy]

I've already got this, but great news for those who don't!

I'd love to see these mastered in HD for Blu-ray, with the Winston Sharples/Gene Rodemich musical scores and some judiciously placed sound effects re-recorded to match. These excellent bouncy scores, originally found on the versions reissued by Van Beuren Studios in 1932 (and then in the slightly tweaked Blackhawk versions with thankfully restored intertitles), have never been bettered (sorry, Carl Davis). The original cue sheets for these scores survive, so it wouldn't be an impossibility. And, contrary to what some believe, they are NOT needle-drops; they were compiled and performed especially for these films by bandleaders Sharples and Rodemich, with some of New York's best session players of the time, including Benny Goodman.

[Roscoe]

Does this mean that the Mutual films won't be coming out via the Criterion Collection?

[jhdk]

Criterion is only releasing the Chaplin films owned by the Chaplin Estate, which are all of the independent films he made after co-founding United Artists along with the First National shorts he did under contract shortly before and during the early years of UA. The Mutuals, Essanays, and Keystones are outside of the estate's control.

[Roscoe]

Thanks, JHDK, I hadn't been aware of that.

[Doug Sulpy]

The Mutuals, Essanays, and Keystones are outside of the estate's control.

... which is a very good thing.

[Smari1989]

I mean to recall, possibly through a quote from Chaplin's manager late in life, that Chaplin declined the opportunity to assure himself the rights of the Mutuals, he did not even try. Do I remember correctly? Apparently, Chaplin did not think quite as highly of the films in retrospect as his fans do, even though he regarded the making of them as perhaps "the happiest years of my career." One can understand why to a degree; they are generally less complex than the First Nationals, but that's also part of their strength. More play and pure fun, plain and simple.

[coolcatdaddy]

The only bad thing about this set and the thing that keeps me from taking it out more often is the extreme window-boxing. These are older masters and the window-boxing made some kind of sense on NTSC 4:3 tv sets where you didn't really know how much the picture would be cropped on an individual set. With flat screen sets and projection, you get the whole frame and it makes the image look very small.

[WaverBoy]

The mild windowboxing in this set is nothing compared to the headscratching picture-frame job on most of Milestone's CUT TO THE CHASE set. I'm still wondering what happened with that.

[Roscoe]

I'm looking for these films on amazon, and the only thing I'm really seeing is the Complete Restored Essanay and Mutual Classics box set, put out by Image Releasing. Is this the right version?

[DShepFilm]

Although these films have been back in print for several weeks, amazon.com apparently didn't know it and the only new copies available there were from scalpers @ something close to $200. I contacted Image Entertainment earlier this week and asked someone to awaken amazon.com; she did so, and they placed their order yesterday. Wait just a little longer and they should have the set available at a reasonable price. What you want is "Chaplin Mutual Comedies, Restored 90th Anniversary Edition."

David Shepard

[moglia]

Although I will probably wait for Amazon, is this available anywhere else yet? I checked Barnes&Noble, ImportCD's and did google + yahoo searches but came up dry

[DShepFilm]

Thanks for your message, Moglia. I sent it on to Image Entertainment. No wonder our royalties are so anemic!
David S

[moglia]

Any news on if this are available yet?



Edit:

http://www.amazon.ca/The-Chaplin-Mutual ... 677&sr=8-1" target="_blank

I see Amazon Canada has a few copies but between the difference in exchange rate + shipping it's about $75. What I don't understand is why it costs 30% less to have items shipped from Amazon UK to the US than it does from Amazon.CA

Hoping e-tailers in US get these shortly....

[jhdk]

I did a thorough online search for any online retailer carrying this and turned up with nothing outside of used copies and the usual high OOP prices from Ebay and Amazon Marketplace sellers from the original retail release. I hope this hasn't been stalled.

[Roscoe]

Within the past couple of months, as DShepFilm said, The 90th Anniversary Mutuals DVD was available on Amazon for about $50 or so, and it seems to be gone again, they're back to the overpriced used copies. What's up?

[DShepFilm]

I contacted Image Entertainment again. They have plenty of stock and say 'this is unbelieveable'. They are banging on amazon.com again.

I think amazon might well consist of a huge building full of servers, warehouses full of stock shelved, pulled and packed by robots, and two or three actual human beings in India.

[Gagman 66]

David,

Hmm, Rich Oliveri, formally of Sunrise Silents told me just last night that they had the DVD's in stock less than two weeks ago. Now he can't seem to find them. I'll tell him that he should be able to order the direct from Image? Correct? I don't need the release because I got it when it first came out back in 2006. I had mentioned on a few other sites though when I first read the post that these were back in print again for those who would like to know.

[Mr. Bear]

If more materials pop up, give it three more years and we'll have the 100th Anniversary Edition.

[DShepFilm]

Image Entertainment does not sell retail to individual consumers.

[Roscoe]

Any news on this? Amazon is still only displaying expensive "used" copies.

[Mark07]

Hi, I was wondering if there has been any update on this? I've been searching and all I can find are the inflated used copies.

[DShepFilm]

I'm sorry for the delay. Image is having a struggle with amazon.com, that has marked it 'discontinued' although there are a gazillion copies available. Image keeps telling me it will be straightened out soon. Amazon.com is great to buy from but apparently very difficult to deal with if you're a vendor; the largest problem is getting hold of a human who can intervene in the system.

David Shepard

[Clem Dickey]

Hi, I was wondering if there has been any update on this? I've been searching and all I can find are the inflated used copies.

About $58 at J&R. Just pennies off list, but better than the scalpers. http://www.jr.com/product/movie/pv/_1159774V/" target="_blank" target="_blank.

[Mark07]

Hi, I was wondering if there has been any update on this? I've been searching and all I can find are the inflated used copies.

About $58 at J&R. Just pennies off list, but better than the scalpers. http://www.jr.com/product/movie/pv/_1159774V/" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank.

Is $58 a good price for this? I know it's rare but from what I'm hearing there's a ton of copies still out there. Also, does anyone think this would make it to Blu-Ray? Also, the description says its two discs while the Amazon description says it has four. Which is correct?

[Roscoe]

Finally back on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Chaplin-Mutual-Co ... ry+edition" target="_blank