Customer Reviews

Gentleman Tramp: Charlie Chaplin [VHS]

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This is the documentary that started my love affair with Charlie Chaplin and silent film. I was curious about the real Charles Chaplin after seeing "Chaplin" with Robert Downey Jr. in the mid-1990s, so when I saw the VHS version of The Gentleman Tramp I decided to give it a look. Not only is it a fantastic introduction to Charlie's films, but it is full of wonderful stills and film clips of Chaplin and his family. Another bonus is that the score is made up entirely of Chaplin's compositions. It is narrated by Walter Mattau, with readings by Jack Lemmon and Sir Laurence Olivier.
The DVD includes 2 versions of the documentary (one theatrical, one shortened for television) and a booklet that were not on the VHS I had. I am so glad that this wonderful record of Charlie's life is now on DVD so that more people can fall under the spell of The Little (Gentleman) Tramp!

is that this film is essential viewing for anyone who loves film, not just Chaplin. True, it is the greatest portrait of Chaplin as an artist, and for that reason alone the film is priceless, but for anyone who is a lover of cinema, this is a film whose every frame is saturated with love for not only it's subject, but for the craft of film itself. It is also essentail viewing for any fan of documentary and anyone who is interested in learning how to properly do justice to a subject in film. The film makers were of course lucky to have such a fascinating person to document, but the craft of the film is impeccable. The cinematography by Nestor Almendros, legendary DP for "Days of Heaven", is gorgeous but never slick. Richard Patterson's editing is so technicaly assured and artisticaly informed that the film flows with the ease and grace of a piece of music from the High Romantic period, think Mahler's Eighth Symphony. The narration, a chore shared by Walter Matthau, Jack Lemon and Laurence Olivier, is pitch perfect. And the use of Chaplin's own written music as the basis for the musical score for the film is a stroke of genius. Do not pass up the chance to see this film, you will love it.

It was an enjoyable, imformative piece. Very well put together. I recommend it to all silent movie buffs or those who like Charlie Chaplin. It shows some of his funnist clips.

If you think you know something about the history of producing/directing movies you must see a Tramp that creates this industry: Charlie Spencer Chaplin! The one and only.

Carlito Camargo

In 1975, filmmaker Richard Patterson produced a documentary on Charles Chaplin which
was the first such film that included scenes from later films including City Lights, Modern Times,
The Great Dictator, Verdoux, Limelight, etc. It also contains footage of Chaplin from decades
worth of newsreels, home movies, the historic Oscar telecast from 1972 and footage taken of him
at his home in Vevey in 1974. He is the only person who had full access to Charlie and Oona and
was able to film them at their home. This loving tribute concludes with a final walk down the road as we see Chaplin, now using his cane as a real aid and his wife Oona walk down a grassy path. His final filmed trip down the road gives us comfort as he is not alone. Walter Matthau, Laurence Olivier and Jack Lemmon provide
various narration as well as some the finest voice talents in Hollywood including Len Weinrib, Alan Oppenheimer and Richard Dawson.

There have been countless documentaries on Charlie; some have merit (Harry Hurwitz' The Eternal Tramp" and "The Funniest Man in the World") and others are painful to watch.

"The Gentleman Tramp" is, in my opinion, the finest documentary on Chaplin and is not a
talking heads documentary. Rather, it unfolds in pictures and story through the use of
transcripts, film sequences, news articles, memorabilia and all in the space of seventy eight minutes.
It's visual style and swift pace makes it one of the best and most entertaining film documentaries
you're likely to see. Richard Schickel lifted certain sequences from "The Gentleman Tramp" (and without permission) for inclusion into his disjointed attempt at a Chaplin documentary.

Once available on VHS (and on twenty five 16mm prints released to libraries and universities), Mr.
Patterson has produced eight hundred limited edition DVD sets of his loving and sometimes brutally honest
depiction of the Little Tramp. The film was mastered from the original film elements and is breathtaking
to behold. The sharp visual quality and the clean, crisp sound were personally supervised by Mr. Patterson to insure the best transfer possible. This is one film you will treasure for years to come. If you love the documentaries of Kevin Brownlow and want to see rare and amazing footage of Charlie Chaplin throughout his entire life, you will want to own this award winning film.