Reviews of silent film releases on home video. Copyright © 1999-2025 by Carl Bennett and the Silent Era Company. All Rights Reserved.

Unknown Chaplin (1983)

This delightful three-part documentary, produced by Photoplay Productions and directed by Kevin Brownlow and David Gill (originally for Thames Television in England), presents an examination of the working methods of Charles Chaplin, the moody genius, illustrated with previously unreleased outtake footage sourced not from the Estate of Charles Chaplin but from the infamous pirate film collector, Raymond Rohauer, and (via a private film collector) the 16mm footage shot by Ralph Barton on the set of City Lights (1931) documenting Chaplin working out an important sequence.

The documentary, narrated by James Mason, is a loving portrait of the self-demanding, self-critical Chaplin working mainly on his Mutual contract films and City Lights and is richly rewarding for his fans. Perhaps even a tear or two will show up unexpectedly?

Previously available on home video in the VHS videotape and laserdisc formats, the 2005 A&E DVD release was most welcome. However, wouldn’t it be great to have a dehissed and digitally remastered Blu-ray Disc edition of this wonderful document?

This long-awaited DVD edition has been mastered from 35mm prints of the broadcast version containing the unreleased footage that have a bit of dust, speckling, emulsion scuffing, and other minor flaws.

The three parts of the documentary are accompanied by wonderful orchestral music composed and conducted by Carl Davis.

Supplemental material includes the featurette “The Story Behind Unknown Chaplin” with Kevin Brownlow (13 minutes); the featurette “The Making of The Count” with film historian Frank Scheide featuring footage not available for the documentary, with a brief section of delightful piano music by Neil Brand (12 minutes); the 1918 unreleased short fundraising film “Chaplin Meets Harry Lauder” presented with music performed on piano by Neil Brand (8 minutes); and Chaplin biographical information (4 text screens).

This cherished home video edition is highly recommended but is extremely hard-to-find these days.

This Region 0 NTSC DVD edition has been discontinued and is . . .

Other PHOTOPLAY PRODUCTIONS DOCUMENTARIES available on home video.

Other silent era-related DOCUMENTARIES available on home video.

Other SHORT COMEDY FILMS of the silent era available on home video.