8.4 | / 10 |
Users | 4.7 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.7 |
A prospector searches for fortune in the Klondike and discovers romance.
Starring: Charles Chaplin, Mack Swain, Tom Murray (I), Henry Bergman, Malcolm WaiteDrama | 100% |
Romance | 35% |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.33:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: LPCM Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Charlie Chaplin's "The Gold Rush" arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The disc contains the preferred by Chaplin newly restored 1942 version of the film as well as a new reconstruction of the silent 1925 original version, with a soundtrack by Timothy Brock. The supplemental features include European trailers for the film; exclusive video interview with Timothy Brock; new audio commentary with Chaplin biographer Jeffrey Vance; new program tracing the film's history from its original release to the rerelease and reconstruction; short documentary film featuring filmmaker Idrissa Ouedraogo; and more. The disc also arrives with an illustrated booklet featuring an essay by film critic Luc Sante and James Agree's review of the 1942 version. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".
Hard to digest
The screencaptures included with our review appear in the following order:
1. 1925 version: 1-20.
2. 1942 version: 21-39.
1925 version (89 minutes, 1080p):
The following statement by Kevin Brownlow and David Gill appears before the film: "The Gold Rush was released in 1925. Chaplin reissued it with synchronized music and narration in 1942. He removed all the titles, rearranged some sequences and discarded several scenes. The original 1925 version disappeared. But a 35mm copy had been made by a private collector. By using this together with the 1942 reissue, and three fragments preserved by the National Film and Television Archive, it has been possible to reconstruct the film almost exactly as Chaplin first released it. The picture quality varies considerably between the different sources. The subtitles have been remade with the original wording. This is an opportunity to see Chaplin's masterpiece close to its original form, but it should still be regarded as 'work in progress'.
This new digital restoration of the original 1925 version of The Gold Rush by Cineteca di Bologna at L'immagine Ritrovata and Criterion is far more impressive than the restoration for the preferred by Chaplin 1942 version of the film, which two years ago MK2 licensed to British distributors Park Circus. Despite various clarity fluctuations, it looks far better balanced, with a number of close-ups also conveying a much more stable grain structure (see screencapture #4). The best news, however, is that the mild sharpening that pops up on the 1942 version is practically eliminated here. As a result, depth and fluidity are substantially improved, giving the film a much more convincing organic look (see screencapture #17). Color balance is also improved. To sum it all up, I think that this new restoration and reconstruction of the 1925 version of the film looks far more appealing in high-definition than the 1942 version. (Note: A restored 1925 version of The Gold Rush was also included on the Park Circus release of the film, but only on a separate PAL-encoded DVD. Also, on the Park Circus DVD the 1925 restoration runs at approximately 96 minutes, while on the Criterion release the new restoration runs at approximately 89 minutes).
1942 version (72 minutes, 1080p):
There are no sizable discrepancies between Criterion's high-definition transfer and the one Park Circus used for their Blu-ray release of Chaplin's film in the UK. Contrast levels are slightly toned down and compression is better, while color reproduction is slightly more convincing, with the blacks being possibly better saturated. However, detail and clarity are practically identical. The mild sharpening noticeable on the Park Circus release has also been retained. I still like this restoration quite a lot as it represents a major upgrade in quality over the R1 DVD release of The Gold Rush which Warner Brothers produced, but I think that the new restoration for the 1925 version of Chaplin's film is clearly superior. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray disc. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free PS3 or SA in order to access its content).
There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray disc: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, for the 1925 version of The Gold Rush, and English LPCM 1.0 track, for the 1942 version of the film. For the record, Criterion have provided optional English SDH subtitles for 1942 version.
The new restoration and reconstruction of the 1925 version of The Gold Rush features a 2007 score by composer Timothy Brock, based on Chaplin's score for the 1942 rerelease. The English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track handles the score very well - the strings sound notably rich and lush while the woodwinds blend well with them but are still easy to recognize. The flute solos in particular are wonderful. For the record, there are no audio dropouts or distortions to report in this review. The English LPCM 1.0 has a limited dynamic amplitude, but this should not be surprising. The narration is crisp and stable.
The inclusion of the new restoration and reconstruction of the 1925 version of The Gold Rush in high-definition makes Criterion's Blu-ray release a clear winner. I personally prefer the 1925 version of the film over the definitive 1942 version and could not be any more pleased with its new digital restoration by Cineteca di Bologna at L'immagine Ritrovata and Criterion. It looks great. As expected, the disc also contains plenty of supplemental material, including a very interesting new interview with composer and conductor Timothy Brock. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
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