TCM shows the cut version of THE KID (1921)

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Unfortunately, TCM is now running the "official" versions of the Chaplin films (i.e. the 1970s re-releases) that Chaplin decided to cut, re-arrange and generally alter.

Was he entitled to do so? Of course, they were his films, he created them. But these are not the versions that made him the most popular entertainer in the history of the world during the 1910s and 20s.

Just for what it's worth, I'll go through here and explain the differences between the Image DVD releases (the "original" versions) and the Warner/MK2 releases (the 70s versions).

THE FIRST NATIONAL SHORTS-these are a special case to begin with. Due to deteriorating negatives, Chaplin had the films reconstructed in the 1940s from the "B" camera takes (which were still very well-preserved). The films were still more or less what audiences had seen back in 1918-23-all the scenes were there, just different takes for some sequences. These are the versions presented on the Image DVDs. Basically, its as original as you're going to find.

Now, on the Warner release, they used the 70s versions. These are from the same source as the 1940s reconstructions, but have additional scenes cut from them. Basically, there was no good reason to cut these scenes other than to "update" the films, and in my mind, this is no different than the pointless re-editing done on earlier Chaplin shorts back in the 20s. The versions included in THE CHAPLIN REVUE also use stretch printing, designed to slow the films to sound speed but actually ruining the balletic rhythm of the action.

THE KID-Again, same situation as above. Chaplin reconstructed the film in the 40s-same scenes, just different angles on some shots. Nothing major. Presented in this format on the Image DVD.

On the Warner DVD, there are several entire sequences missing; mainly the "plot" footage involving the kid's mother and her artist lover. There are also additional scenes of the mother regretting her decision to abandon her child. These scenes give the film a much fuller quality and emotional impact; their cutting strikes me as totally unnecessary and even detrimental.

A WOMAN OF PARIS-the 70s reissue on the Warner disc omits an opening subtitle along with about 9 minutes of "plot" footage.

THE GOLD RUSH-This is one case where the Image and Warner DVDs both have something to offer. The Image DVD presents the 1942 reissue version (it was the only high-quality print available at the time), but in the original silent aperture. David Shepard had found an original camera negative of the 1942 version (minus subtitles), and layed the soundtrack over that to create the DVD version. The full screen area is visible and contains the 1942 narration and music.
The Warner DVD includes the 1942 version but in its cropped "full frame" version so that the left side of the screen is slightly cut off to accomodate an optical soundtrack. But they redeemed themselves by including the beautiful restoration of the original 1925 version. Unless you really *really* like the 1942 version, I'd say go with the Warners DVD in this one case.

THE CIRCUS-Image and Warner DVDs the same, except that the Image DVD uses more "original" opening titles, as opposed to the ones with Chaplin singing over them used in the 70s version. (I say "original" because they technically are not; THE CIRCUS is the one Chaplin-United Artists film that the Chaplin estate does not hold a true original print of. Only prints of the re-release exist in the vault).

CITY LIGHTS-same on both DVDs, except the Image version is proper silent frame aperture (1.37:1) and includes both the original music score and the 1989 re-recording conducted by Carl Davis.

MODERN TIMES-Yes, the Warners DVD looks splendid. Unfortunately, its also missing the last verse of Charlie's nonsense song. Also, the effect of the opening titles is ruined by a freeze-frame with updated copyright information.

THE GREAT DICTATOR, MONSIEUR VERDOUX, LIMELIGHT-same on both (both include the deleted scenes from LIMELIGHT as extras)

A KING IN NEW YORK-In this instance, the Image DVD is the only way to go. A whopping seven minutes have been cut from the 70s version on the Warner DVD. I think this film is almost always double-billed with A WOMAN OF PARIS because of the limited interest in each title. If you can find this one on Image, it's well worth it.

In addition to all this-
the Warner DVDs were mastered for PAL standard so appear slightly sped up on NTSC players. The running times are affected slightly (MODERN TIMES, 87 minutes-83 minutes on Warner DVD); THE GOLD RUSH (72 minutes, 69 minutes on Warner DVD), etc.

Unfortunately, all the Image DVDs are long out of print (they went out of print in October 2001) and there's no way the Chaplin Estate would ever allow those original versions out again, *especially* now that the Warners DVD set was released which has now become the "official version" (even TCM will only show these new versions now), so I'm afraid if you missed them the first time around it will be nearly impossible to find copies now unless you can find some on eBay (though amazon may still carry some used?)

Matt

I have two versions of "The Kid". One is a VHS copy from "The Charlie Chaplin Centennial Collection" which also has "The Idle Class" on the same cassette. That version is about 50 minutes. The other one I have is a 68 minute version of "The Kid" in a DVD box set called "The Artist In His Prime Chaplin The Definitive Collection". I must say that even if the longer version has extra scenes, I'd perfer the shorter version because it has an amazing musical score that Chaplin wrote himself and that makes the movie so much better. Also those extra scenes in the 68 minute version are not really all that great. They are just more scenes with Edna Purviance, not Chaplin or Coogan. Don't get me wrong, Edna was great, I am just saying that those scenes didn't make the movie any better.

"Roads? Where we're going we don't need roads!"