Chaplin Today: Modern Times (2003)
*** (out of 4)
This episode in Philippe Truffault's series on Chaplin takes a look at his 1936 masterpiece MODERN TIMES. Filmmakers Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne give their opinions on the film as way as their thoughts about what Chaplin was trying to do with it. I've found the entire "Chaplin Today" series to be rather hit and miss but I think this one here is pretty good because of the detail we're given about the making of the film. We get quite a bit of detail about what was going on after the release of CITY LIGHTS and how Chaplin took that film on a world tour and by the time he got back to America he felt as if he didn't recognize the place. This, along with what was being done with machines, made the artist come up with this story. We also learn about a few scenes that were shot with the film but not used as well as the alternate ending, which was shot but not edited together. Fans of the film and Chaplin will enjoy hearing these stories and we also get some nice behind-the-scenes photos. The stuff dealing with the Dardenne's is also fairly entertaining as it's clear they're both entertained by the film and certainly very enthusiastic.
*** (out of 4)
This episode in Philippe Truffault's series on Chaplin takes a look at his 1936 masterpiece MODERN TIMES. Filmmakers Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne give their opinions on the film as way as their thoughts about what Chaplin was trying to do with it. I've found the entire "Chaplin Today" series to be rather hit and miss but I think this one here is pretty good because of the detail we're given about the making of the film. We get quite a bit of detail about what was going on after the release of CITY LIGHTS and how Chaplin took that film on a world tour and by the time he got back to America he felt as if he didn't recognize the place. This, along with what was being done with machines, made the artist come up with this story. We also learn about a few scenes that were shot with the film but not used as well as the alternate ending, which was shot but not edited together. Fans of the film and Chaplin will enjoy hearing these stories and we also get some nice behind-the-scenes photos. The stuff dealing with the Dardenne's is also fairly entertaining as it's clear they're both entertained by the film and certainly very enthusiastic.